Doctor of Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy Competencies
A pharmacist is a medication expert whose obligation is to deliver pharmaceutical care. Pharmaceutical care is "the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving a definite outcome that improves a patient’s quality of life" (Hepler and Strand). A pharmacist's functions include, but are not limited to:
- Identifying, preventing and/or resolving drug-related problems.
- Preventing disease and promoting good health practices through rational drug therapy.
- Providing drug information to the public.
- Educating other health care professionals about appropriate drug therapies.
- Collaborating with other health care professionals to improve health outcomes, especially as they relate to the appropriate use of medications.
- Ensuring that medications are delivered to the patient in a safe manner.
Many practice areas are covered by these responsibilities. The curriculum is designed to develop the competencies of graduates, allowing them to assume these responsibilities as well as the all of the current curricular outcomes expected of Doctor of Pharmacy graduates detailed on the School of Pharmacy website under the Curriculum Policies and Procedures section at: https://pharmacy.umkc.edu/current-students/curriculum-policies.html
Admission Requirements
The doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree provides minimum and advanced level competencies necessary for the graduate to assume a pharmacist's professional responsibilities and qualify for national and state pharmacist licensure examinations. The program of study emphasizes clinical sciences and training experiences. The training of doctor of pharmacy students concentrates on rational drug therapy decision-making within the inter-professional health care team. For consideration, an applicant must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. The School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee reviews applicants’ academic transcripts closely. All college credits and grade points are factored into the cumulative college GPA. Repeated course grades are averaged together for overall cumulative and science/math GPA calculations meaning that the original grade and the repeated grade will both count toward GPA.
Doctor of Pharmacy Minimum Pre-Pharmacy Course Requirements
A minimum of 57 credit hours of pre-professional, college level coursework, including the specified requirements listed below, must be successfully completed, with a grade of C- or higher, prior to the fall of the entering class year of the professional pharmacy program of study. Applicants should note that admission is competitive and that meeting the minimum requirements is not a guarantee of admission.
Equivalent, pre-pharmacy courses must be completed at UMKC or any regionally accredited college or university. Applicants should contact the UMKC Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs to ensure proper course equivalents have been met. Second year college pre-pharmacy courses, listed below, must be successfully completed within five years prior to admission entry date. Applicants with elective space during their pre-pharmacy preparation should consider courses that shape their understanding of the human condition. Courses in psychology, sociology, ethics, and anthropology, will assist a student in assuming their role in caring for people. Completion of additional communication studies courses is also encouraged.
Pre-Pharmacy Courses / Minimum Semester Hours
| Year I | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Chemistry I & II with Labs | 8 |
| Calculus with Analytical Geometry1 | 4 |
| General Biology I & II 2 | 6 |
| Physics with Lab3 | 4 |
| English Composition I & II | 6 |
| Public Speaking or Communication Studies Course | 3 |
| American History I or II or Introduction to Political Science course covering U.S. Constitution | 3 |
| 34 | |
| Year II | Credits |
| Organic Chemistry I & II with Labs4 | 8 |
| Cell Biology4 | 3 |
| Human Anatomy with Lab4,5 | 4 |
| Microbiology with Lab4 | 4 |
| Medical Terminology4 | 1 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Electives completed at student discretion | |
| 23 | |
| Total Credits: 57 | |
| 1 | Calculus courses that are less than 4.0 credit hours or that do not include analytical geometry will not meet the minimum requirement. |
| 2 | Preparatory or introductory biology courses will not meet the minimum requirement. |
| 3 | Physics courses must be at least algebra and trigonometry based. |
| 4 | NOTE: Second year college pre-pharmacy courses must be successfully completed within five years prior to Fall admission entry date. |
| 5 | Successful completion of two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs will meet the Human Anatomy requirement. Comparative or Vertebrate Anatomy courses will not meet the Human Anatomy requirement. |
General CLEP credits will not be accepted to fulfill the mathematics, biology, physics, or chemistry requirements. Advanced Placement Program scores through the College Board are accepted for some pre-pharmacy courses. Check acceptable scores and courses at http://www.umkc.edu/registrar/transfer-credit/default.asp. Contact an academic advisor in the School of Pharmacy regarding minimum score requirements and course transferability. Official scores from the College Board must be sent to the UMKC Records Office for evaluation.
Pharmacy Assurance Program (PAP)
UMKC School of Pharmacy offers the Pharmacy Assurance Program for high school students with a strong interest in and aptitude for science and math and excellent communication skills. Students who meet the PAP criteria for admission from high school have an assured seat in the Pharm.D. program if the minimum specified requirements from PAP to the Pharm.D. program are achieved during their collegiate freshmen and sophomore years. The minimum eligibility criteria to apply for PAP include 1) a non-weighted high school GPA at the end of the junior year of 3.5 or higher; or 2) a non-weighted high school GPA at the end of the junior year of 3.0 or higher and a minimum ACT composite of 25 or higher or SAT equivalent; and meet the UMKC core requirements through high school curricular units. Students wanting to apply for the Pharmacy Assurance Program must complete and submit the following: the on-line UMKC Application For Admission and fee; Pharmacy Assurance Application; official high school transcripts through semester six; official college transcripts of dual credit courses as applicable; official ACT/SAT scores, as applicable; and one reference letter. The priority deadline to apply for the PAP is March 1st.
Additional information regarding degree program and admission requirements is located on the UMKC School of Pharmacy Pharm.D. Admissions webpage located at https://pharmacy.umkc.edu/admissions/index.html Applicants with questions regarding admission should contact
UMKC School of Pharmacy
Office of Student Affairs
2464 Charlotte Street, Suite 1219 / Kansas City, MO / 64108
(816) 235-1613/ Fax (816) 235-5562
pharmacy@umkc.edu
Application Procedures
Applications for the doctor of pharmacy program are accepted between July 15 through June 1 for consideration for admission to the class entering the following fall. Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program is competitive and meeting minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee admission. New students are admitted to the doctor of pharmacy program only in the fall of each year.
The Early Action program is a non-binding option for applicants who would like the application process to be complete early in the school year. Early Action applicants will be considered for one of the first two interview dates. In addition to completing the PharmCAS application, Early Action applicants must arrange for PharmCAS to receive all of their official transcripts and fees by the September 15 deadline.
As part of the process for application to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, all of the application steps and instructions must be adhered to carefully and all required documents must be submitted no later than the June 1 deadline, unless otherwise stated. Applicants must:
- Complete and submit the PharmCAS application with all supporting and required documentation and fee. The PharmCAS application is located at http://www.pharmcas.org/. Official transcripts(s) from each college and/or university attended showing all coursework attempted and completed through the Fall term prior to admission entry date must be submitted to PharmCAS;
- Although the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is not required, applicants may choose to submit PCAT scores for consideration by the Admissions Committee if the applicant believes it will strengthen their academic profile. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Pharmacy Student Affairs Office to discuss the strength of their application;
- Submit an electronic PharmCAS reference from specified categories only as noted on the UMKC Doctor of Pharmacy application; references from relatives, friends, or co-workers will not be accepted.
- Complete and submit a UMKC Doctor of Pharmacy Application for Admission and application fee. The UMKC Pharm.D. Application for Admission is located at https://pharmacy.umkc.edu/admissions/pharm-d-application.html
- Meet and adhere to the UMKC School of Pharmacy Minimal Technical Standards for Admission, Matriculation and Graduation as part of the Pharm.D. Application. Students admitted to the Pharm.D. program must continue to meet and adhere to these standards throughout their tenure in the Pharm.D. program;
-
International applicants must complete the UMKC International Undergraduate Application for Admission (http://www.umkc.edu/isao/ ) in addition to the PharmCAS Application and the UMKC Doctor of Pharmacy Application. Copies of all materials submitted to the International Student Affairs Office must be sent to the Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs. The minimum TOEFL [Test of English as a Foreign Language] score required for Pharm.D. applicants is 560 [paper-based]; 220 [computer-based]; 83 [internet-based]. International applicants whose native language is not English or who received their education in a country where the first language is not English must
- Meet the UMKC English Proficiency requirements
- Complete the English Evaluation Examination prior to the first semester of enrollment
- Follow recommendations from the UMKC Applied Language Institute.
- Complete a formal interview, if selected, at the School of Pharmacy as a factor for admission. Applicants are notified by e-mail before their scheduled interview. Applicants should note that meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not automatically qualify an applicant for an interview. Based on the academic and application credentials of the applicant and the applicant pool, the school will select candidates for an interview. Students who do not qualify for the interview will receive written notice.
Notification of Acceptance
Admission to the Pharm.D. program is competitive. Applicants will receive written notification of the school's decision concerning their applications.
Official supplementary college transcripts must be submitted to the Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs upon completion of winter/spring and summer coursework. Final acceptance is contingent on submission and clearance of a criminal background check, good academic and behavioral standing, successful completion (grade of C- or higher) of the specified minimum hours of required pre-pharmacy courses and any other coursework completed during the winter/spring and/or summer terms prior to admission. Those applicants approved for admission will be required to confirm their acceptance and submit an advance deposit to guarantee their place in the entering class. This deposit is applied to the first term's educational fees and is not refundable. Admitted students are required to attend the School of Pharmacy orientation sessions.
Curricular Requirements
The doctor of pharmacy degree program provides broad and general preparation in professional areas of practice with the intent that, on completion, graduates will be able to practice at a level sufficient to perform the established functions of a pharmacist. In addition, the Pharm.D. program prepares the student for advanced levels of professional practice. The major emphasis is on the clinical sciences and drug-related patient care.
This program is designed to provide advanced education and training in clinical pharmacy and drug information with particular emphasis on interprofessional team participation in the delivery of health care. To enable students to concentrate solely on this advanced professional coursework, those entering the doctor of pharmacy program are strongly encouraged to limit their work and/or intern hours during the academic year.
Because pharmacy is a profession undergoing rapid change, the curriculum is subject to continual review and modification. As society's needs for specific types of pharmaceutical service change, the curriculum will change as well. To assure the best pharmacy education for its students, the School of Pharmacy reserves the right of making judicious changes and improvements in course sequence, course content, or other program requirements at any time that must be completed and adhered to in order to meet graduation degree requirements.
Pharm.D. Graduation Requirements
To graduate, Pharm.D. candidates must successfully complete the 4 year curricular course requirements as listed in addition to the pre-pharmacy course requirements listed above.
To graduate, students must successfully complete all credit and non-credit requirements as listed and in effect at the time of completion. Within these hours, the following credit hour minimums must be met:
Pharm.D. Admission Pre-Pharmacy Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 Prerequisites | ||
| CHEM 211 & 211L | General Chemistry I and Experimental General Chemistry I | 5 |
| MATH 210 | Calculus I | 4 |
| BIOLOGY 108 | General Biology I | 3 |
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| GEFSE 101 | First Semester Experience | 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 Prerequisites | ||
| CHEM 212R & CHEM 212LR | General Chemistry II and Experimental General Chemistry II | 5 |
| PHYSICS 210 | General Physics I | 4 |
| BIOLOGY 109 | General Biology II | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 3 Prerequisites | ||
| BIOLOGY 218 & 218L | Introductory Anatomy and Introductory Anatomy Laboratory 1 | 5 |
| CHEM 321 & 321L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 | 4 |
| BIOLOGY 202 | Cell Biology 1 | 3 |
| COMM-ST 110 | Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | 3 |
| or COMM-ST 140 | Introduction to Communication | |
| or COMM-ST 277 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 4 Prerequisites | ||
| NURSE 125 | Medical Terminology 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 322R | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 322L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 | 1 |
| LS-MCRB 121 & 121L | Human Biology III (Microbiology) and Human Biology III (Microbiology) Lab 1 | 4 |
| STAT 235 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Select any one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | Marked Science courses must be completed within five years of Pharm.D. program start date. |
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Identifying, preventing and/or resolving drug-related problems
- Preventing disease and promoting good health practices through rational drug therapy
- Providing drug information to the public
- Educating other health care professionals about appropriate drug therapies
- Collaborating with other health care professionals to improve health outcomes, especially as they relate to the appropriate use of medications
- Ensuring that medications are delivered to the patient in a safe manner
Curricular Outcomes Expected of Doctor of Pharmacy Graduates
Doctor of Pharmacy graduates must possess the basic knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to independently practice pharmacy at the time of graduation. These Curricular Outcomes expectations are outlined in full on the UMKC School of Pharmacy website under the Curriculum Policies and Procedures section at: https://pharmacy.umkc.edu/current-students/curriculum-policies.html.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PHARM 7341 | 3 | PHARM 7344 | 3 | PHARM 7378 | 3 |
| LS-PHYS 399 | 3 | LS-PHYS 400 | 3 | ||
| LS-BIOC 370 | 4 | PHARM 7414 | 2 | ||
| PHARM 7101 | 2 | PHARM 7414L | 0.5 | ||
| PHARM 7110 | 2 | PHARM 7202 | 3 | ||
| PHARM 7151 | 1 | PHARM 7233 | 3 | ||
| Professional Electives 1.0 - 8.01 | 1 | PHARM 7361 | 2 | ||
| PHARM 7451 | 1 | ||||
| Professional Electives 1.0 - 8.01 | 1 | ||||
| 16 | 18.5 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PHARM 7245 | 1 | PHARM 7303 | 3 | PHARM 7379 | 3 |
| PHARM 7307 | 3 | PHARM 7405 | 4 | ||
| PHARM 7362 | 4 | PHARM 7308 | 3 | ||
| PHARM 7465 | 3 | PHARM 7363 | 4 | ||
| PHARM 7325 | 2 | PHARM 7405L | 0.5 | ||
| PHARM 7325L | 0.5 | PHARM 7334 | 1 | ||
| PHARM 7203 | 3 | PHARM 7331 | 1 | ||
| PHARM 7434 | 1 | PHARM 7331L | 0.5 | ||
| PHARM 7434L | 1 | PHARM 7345 | 1 | ||
| Professional Electives 1.0 - 8.01 | 1 | Professional Electives 1.0 - 8.01 | 1 | ||
| 19.5 | 19 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| PHARM 7420 | 7 | PHARM 7485P | 7 | Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE hours vary)3 | 4 |
| PHARM 7420L | 0.5 | PHARM 7485L | 0.5 | ||
| PHARM 7326 | 4 | PHARM 7466 | 3 | ||
| PHARM 7406P2 | 2 | PHARM 7389 | 2 | ||
| Professional Electives 1.0 - 8.01 | 2 | Professional Electives 1.0 - 8.01 | 2 | ||
| PHARM 7463 | 2 | ||||
| 17.5 | 14.5 | 4 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (hours vary)3 | 16 | Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (hours vary)3 | 16 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Total Credits: 147 | |||||
| 1 | A minimum of eight credit hours of professional elective course work must be successfully completed prior to enrollment in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE). Visit https://pharmacy.umkc.edu/current-students/curriculum-policies.html under the Curriculum and Registration section and review the Guidelines for Electives and the list of potential professional elective offerings. Students should choose electives and semester placement after consultation with a pharmacy academic advisor in the Office of Student Affairs and/or their faculty advisor. |
| 2 | PHARM 7406P IPPE: General Medicine I is a continuous introductory pharmacy practice experience completed over both fall and spring semesters. |
| 3 | Students must complete 36 credit hours of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences [APPE] over Semesters 6a-8. APPE prerequisites include satisfactory completion of all credit and non-credit degree and course requirements prior to Semester 6a of the professional curriculum. |
Because pharmacy is a profession undergoing rapid change, the curriculum is subject to continual review and modification. As society's needs for specific types of pharmaceutical service change, the curriculum will change as well. To assure the best pharmacy education for its students, the School of Pharmacy reserve the right of making judicious changes and improvement in course sequence, course content, or other program requirements at any time that must be completed and adhered to in order to meet graduation requirements.
Prospective Applicants are encouraged to:
- Visit http://pharmacy.umkc.edu to see equivalencies for schools in Missouri and Kansas to see how prerequisites will transfer to UMKC.
- Visit http://www.umkc.edu/registrar/transfer-credit/default.asp to review UMKC AP & IB course work minimums.