Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
PCOM Georgia
Curriculum
The program is configured in a curricular format in which students complete:
- the pre-professional phase (three or four years) of general education,
- biomedical and sciences instruction at undergraduate colleges the last four professional years of pharmaceutical sciences, and
- pharmacy practice instruction at the PCOM GA facility, as well as
- clinical experiences at clinical sites throughout Georgia and the southeast.
Most terms are 13 week period, corresponding to the academic calendar used by PCOM academic programs in both Philadelphia and Georgia. The extension of coursework over the three terms of each academic year provides the opportunity for the across-the-curriculum development of skills.
The curriculum is composed of courses in:
- biomedical,
- pharmaceutical,
- social/behavioral/administrative, and
- clinical sciences.
A number of elective specialty track concentrations are available to allow students to enhance their knowledge of pharmacy related topics in specific areas.
There are four Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) in which students are given exposure to pharmacy practice in a variety of different specialty areas and begin their hands-on experiences. The final year of the program consists of the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) in which students are required to complete eight different rotations. These rotations consist of five weeks in a particular pharmacy practice site.
Required rotations are:
- General Medicine
- Ambulatory Care
- Hospital Practice
- Community Practice
Elective rotations will include rotations such as (but not limited to):
- Community Management
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases Pediatrics
- Compounding Pharmacy
- Pharmaceutical Industry Management
A milestone progression examination will be given during the first, second, and third professional years. These examinations assess knowledge and skills acquired during the curriculum. Students that do not pass the milestone progression exam will be allowed to take a remediation exam. Failure to pass the remediation examination will prevent a student from progressing to the next professional year or graduating late and may result in dismissal from the program.
This curriculum, including active learning skills development time, is designed to develop the knowledge, professional skills, professional attitudes and values that are required for an entry-level pharmacist.
Requirements for Graduation
Each candidate for the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) must be of good moral character and have completed satisfactorily all academic requirements in the program of study. All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years from the date of initial matriculation.
PharmD graduates must demonstrate that they have acquired competency in six basic areas of:
- knowledge,
- skills,
- abilities,
- behaviors and attitudes:
- pharmacy knowledge and practice skills,
- patient care skills,
- communication/interpersonal skills,
- professionalism,
- understanding and skills in the use of information and empirical evidence, and
- skills in systems-based practice.
Licensure
In general, in order for candidates to take the pharmacist licensure examination, state boards of pharmacy will require successful completion of the requirements for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited institution. In Georgia, applicants for pharmacist licensure must be at least 18 years of age, have graduated from an ACPE-accredited school/college of pharmacy. PCOM Schools of pharmacy allow students to claim credit for 1,440 hours obtained during experiential rotations (IPPES and APPEs), An applicant may register with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy as a pharmacy intern if he or she is registered in an accredited school/college of pharmacy. All students at the PCOM School of Pharmacy – Georgia Campus are required to obtain their Georgia intern license during the first term, and the School will assist with the application process. Any student found to be ineligible to be licensed as a pharmacy intern in the state of Georgia, at any time during his or her tenure at the PCOM School of Pharmacy – Georgia Campus, will be dismissed from the program. PCOM students must maintain their intern license in order to legally participate in the experiential pharmacy rotations. The licensure requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy interns vary by state, and it is recommended that applicants inquire with the board of pharmacy in the state where they intend to practice if they have any questions.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Hours | |
| PHAR 120G | Pharmacy Practice I: Foundations in Therapeutics and Clinical Reasoning | 2 |
| PHAR 110G | Anatomy Physiology and Pathophysiology I | 4 |
| PHAR 150G | Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations | 4 |
| PHAR 117G | Principles of Drug Action I | 2 |
| PHAR 109G | Personal and Professional Development I | 1 |
| PHAR 118G | Integrated Case Studies I | 1 |
| PHAR 041G | Professionalism Portfolio I | 0 |
| INDP 100G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| PHAR 134G | Biostatistics | 2 |
| PHAR 115G | Anatomy Physiology and Pathophysiology II | 4 |
| PHAR 145G | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 2 |
| PHAR 137G | Principles of Drug Actions II | 4 |
| PHAR 161G | Patient Skills Lab I | 1 |
| PHAR 122G | Integrated Case Studies II | 1 |
| PHAR 041G | Professionalism Portfolio I | 0 |
| INDP 100G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| PHAR 133G | Health Information Retrieval & Informatics | 1 |
| PHAR 132G | Integrated Case Studies III | 1 |
| PHAR 138G | Principles of Drug Actions III | 5 |
| PHAR 141G | Pharmaceutics | 4 |
| PHAR 162G | Patient Skills Lab II | 1 |
| PHAR 139G | Self-Care and Holistic Wellness I | 2 |
| PHAR 041G | Professionalism Portfolio I | 0 |
| PHAR 199G | ||
| INDP 100G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| PHAR 173G | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience, Community | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| PHAR 208G | Research Methods | 1 |
| PHAR 214G | Integrated Case Studies IV | 1 |
| PHAR 221G | Health Care Systems and Policy | 2 |
| PHAR 231G | Pharmacotherapy I | 5 |
| PHAR 256G | Patient Care Skills Lab III | 1 |
| PHAR 269G | Biopharmaceutics | 4 |
| PHAR 042G | Professionalism Portfolio II | 0 |
| INDP 200G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| PHAR 228G | Pharmacy Administration and Management and Entrepreneurship | 2 |
| PHAR 224G | Medical Microbiology and Immunology | 3 |
| PHAR 232G | Pharmacotherapy II | 5 |
| PHAR 251G | Integrated Toxicology and Patient Safety | 2 |
| PHAR 253G | Personal and Professional Development II | 1 |
| PHAR 215G | Integrated Case Studies V | 1 |
| PHAR 042G | Professionalism Portfolio II | 0 |
| INDP 200G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| PHAR 209G | Public Health and Pharmacoepidemiology | 1 |
| PHAR 241G | Integrated Infectious Disease | 3 |
| PHAR 229G | Pharmacotherapy III | 5 |
| PHAR 233G | Pharmacy Practice II Topics in Patient Care | 3 |
| PHAR 254G | Patient Care Skills Lab IV | 1 |
| PHAR 216G | Integrated Case Studies VI | 1 |
| INDP 200G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 042G | Professionalism Portfolio II | 0 |
| PHAR 299G | ||
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| PHAR 263G | IPPE Clinical | 0 |
| PHAR 265G | IPPE Community | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| PHAR 308G | Literature Evaluation and Evidence Based Practice | 1 |
| PHAR 327G | Integrated Basic and Applied Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| PHAR 333G | Advanced Pharmacotherapy I | 5 |
| PHAR 352G | Patient Care Skills Lab V | 1 |
| PHAR 315G | Integrated Case Studies VII | 1 |
| INDP 300G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 043G | Professionalism Portfolio III | 0 |
| Elective Track, take two 1-credit electives in area of Ambulatory Care/Acute Care Medicine/Managed Care | 2 | |
| PHAR 174G. Take once only. Offer fall and winter. | 0 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| PHAR 309G | Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes | 1 |
| PHAR 318G | Self Care and Holistic Wellness II | 3 |
| PHAR 334G | Advanced Pharmacotherapy II | 5 |
| PHAR 353G | Personal and Professional Development III | 1 |
| PHAR 316G | Integrated Case Studies VIII | 1 |
| INDP 300G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 043G | Professionalism Portfolio III | 0 |
| Elective Track, take two 1-credit electives in area of Ambulatory Care/Acute Care Medicine/Managed Care | 2 | |
| PHAR 174G. Take once only. Offer fall and winter. | 0 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| PHAR 368G | Pharmacy Law and Ethics | 3 |
| PHAR 314G | Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine | 1 |
| PHAR 335G | Advanced Pharmacotherapy III | 5 |
| PHAR 354G | Patient Care Skills Lab VI | 1 |
| PHAR 317G | Integrated Case Studies IX | 1 |
| INDP 300G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 399G | ||
| Elective Track, take two 1-credit electives in area of Ambulatory Care/Acute Care Medicine/Managed Care | 2 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| Students take two 4 Credit Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Courses (APPE) PHAR 4XXEG | 8 | |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| Students take four 4 Credit Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Courses (APPE) PHAR 4XXEG | 16 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| Students take two 4 Credit Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Courses (APPE) PHAR 4XXEG | 8 | |
| PHAR 499G | 0 | |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 155 | |
- 1
Each student will be randomly assigned IPPE (Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience) during the second year.
- 2
Five days in Summer (June or August) No tuition is charged nor is there any financial aid eligibility as this is not half time.