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.
Each term is a 13 week period, corresponding to the 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 concentrations are available to allow students to enhance their knowledge of pharmacy related topics in specific areas.
There are five 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, third and fourth 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. Schools of pharmacy in Georgia allow students to claim credit for 1,900 internship hours obtained during experiential rotations, 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 |
| INDP 100G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 041G | Professionalism Portfolio I | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| PHAR 134G | Biostatistics | 2 |
| PHAR 115G | Anatomy Physlgy Pathophys II | 4 |
| PHAR 145G | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 2 |
| PHAR 137G | Principles of Drug Action II | 4 |
| PHAR 161G | Patient Skills Lab I | 1 |
| PHAR 122G | Integrated Case Studies II | 1 |
| INDP 100G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 041G | Professionalism Portfolio I | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| PHAR 133G | Health Information Retrieval & Informatics | 1 |
| PHAR 141G | Pharmaceutics | 4 |
| PHAR 218G | Self Care & Holistic Wellness I | 2 |
| PHAR 217G | Principles of Drug Action III | 5 |
| PHAR 162G | Patient Care Skills Lab II | 1 |
| PHAR 132G | Integrated Case Studies III | 1 |
| INDP 100G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 041G | Professionalism Portfolio I | 0 |
| PHAR 199G | Milestone Progression Exam I | 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 169G | Biopharmaceutics | 4 |
| PHAR 231G | Pharmacotherapy I | 5 |
| PHAR 121G | Health Care Systems & Policy | 2 |
| PHAR 256G | Patient Care Skills Lab III | 1 |
| PHAR 214G | Integrated Case Studies IV | 1 |
| INDP 200G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 042G | Professionalism Portfolio II | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| PHAR 228G | Pharmacy Administration and Management and Entrepreneurship | 2 |
| PHAR 224G | Med Micro 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 |
| INDP 200G | Inter Professional Approach to Caring for the Communities | 0 |
| PHAR 042G | Professionalism Portfolio II | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| PHAR 209G | Public Health and Pharmacoepidemiology | 1 |
| PHAR 241G | Integrated Infectious Disease | 3 |
| PHAR 332G | Pharmacotherapy III | 5 |
| PHAR 313G | 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 | Milestone Progression Exam II | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| PHAR 263G | IPPE Clinical | 0 |
| PHAR 265G | IPPE Community | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| PHAR 308G | Lit Evaluation and Evidence Based Practice | 1 |
| PHAR 253G | Personal and Professional Development II | 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. Offered first three terms, take once | 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. Offered first three terms, take once | 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 043G | Professionalism Portfolio III | 0 |
| PHAR 399G | Milestone Progression Exam III | 0 |
| Elective Track, take two 1-credit electives in area of Ambulatory Care/Acute Care Medicine/Managed Care | 2 | |
| PHAR 174G. Offered first three terms, take once | 0 | |
| 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 | Capstone | 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. |
Admission to PCOM School of Pharmacy is competitive and selective. PCOM seeks well-rounded, achievement-oriented individuals whose maturity and dedication will lead them to a successful career as a pharmacist. Acceptance into the PharmD program by the Faculty Committee on Admissions is based on the applicant’s fulfillment of prerequisite coursework, grade point average (GPA), letters of recommendation, personal essay, experience, service and volunteer activities, and a personal interview. Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) test scores, while not required, are recommended. In addition to PCAT, PCOM also accepts other standardized professional and graduate tests for the Doctor of Pharmacy program, including the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Dental Admission Test (DAT), Optometry Admission Test (OAT), or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE).
Requirements for Admission
Satisfactory completion of the required prerequisite coursework from a regionally accredited college or university is necessary. A baccalaureate degree, graduate degree or other professional degree is not required for admission to the School of Pharmacy; however, students possessing a previous degree will be given additional consideration for admission. Prior to matriculation, competitive applicants must have completed the prerequisite coursework. There are no minimum GPA requirements, however, cumulative GPAs of 2.5 and above are considered competitive. All prerequisites must have a letter grade of C- or higher. All applications undergo a holistic review process whereby careful consideration is given to all the credentials presented by applicants.
Prerequisite courses are as follow:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Biology I and II with live lab credits (Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology or Zoology with live lab is also acceptable) 1 | 8 | |
| General Chemistry I and II with live lab | 8 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and II with live lab | 8 | |
| Calculus | 3 | |
| Anatomy & Physiology/Physiology with live lab | 4 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| English (6 credits Composition or 3 credits Composition and 3 credits Literature) | 6 | |
| Economics | 3 | |
| Speech | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science (e.g. History, Psychology, Sociology, Ethics) | 3 | |
| Humanities (e.g., Art, Foreign Language, Music, Religion) | 3 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
| 1 | Credits are listed as semester credits. To determine equivalent quarter credits, multiply semester credits by 1.5 (2 semester credits = 3 quarter credits). |
Application Steps and Schedule
PCOM School of Pharmacy participates in the centralized Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) for applicants applying to colleges and schools of pharmacy. Applications to PCOM School of Pharmacy consist of a completed PharmCAS Application.
Beginning in July, prospective pharmacy students may submit their application through PharmCAS at www.pharmcas.org. The PharmCAS application will include all undergraduate and graduate coursework, official transcripts and three letters of recommendation. PharmCAS applications must be completed and verified by the designated deadline on the PCOM PharmCAS school page; however, applicants are encouraged to apply well ahead of this date.
When the PharmCAS Application, including letters of recommendation, is received by the Office of Admissions, the application will be considered complete. Early application and fulfillment of all requirements are strongly recommended, because a rolling admissions process is followed with review of completed applications beginning in early Fall.
Interviews
Interviews begin in September and continue until the class has been selected. Students are required to present a valid government-issued ID upon arrival. During the course of the interview sessions, applicants will have an opportunity to tour the campus and speak with current students. PCOM conducts a panel interview that lasts approximately 30 minutes with faculty members from the School of Pharmacy.
Admissions Decisions
Interviewed candidates are usually notified within five weeks of the interview date. Accepted applicants are asked to remit a non-refundable tuition prepayment that will be credited to the student’s tuition account. The seat deposit timeline is:
- Prior to March 1, accepted applicants must pay $500 to hold their seat.
- Candidates accepted after March 1 must pay $500 to hold their seat.
PCOM requires all first year students to successfully complete a criminal background check prior to matriculation. The Office of the Dean must have this information on file prior to orientation; students will not be allowed to start classes without this information. Adverse events on a criminal background check may result in recension of acceptance offer to the program. Confirmed students will be notified as to how and when to begin the process.
Transfer Students and Advanced Standing
PCOM School of Pharmacy does not routinely accept transfer students; however, a transfer application may be considered under extenuating circumstances and depending on seat availability. A minimum of two years of study must be completed at PCOM for a student to receive the PharmD degree. No consideration will be given to students who wish to transfer solely to complete their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) at PCOM.
To be considered for transfer admission to PCOM the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Currently or recently enrolled at an ACPE-accredited college or school of pharmacy
- Never have been temporarily or permanently suspended, dismissed, or involved in any adverse action as a result of conduct violations or academic dishonesty
Candidates for transfer who meet these requirements must provide:
- A letter detailing the reason for the transfer request to the PCOM School of Pharmacy
- Official transcripts and syllabi of all coursework in the college/school of pharmacy
The Admissions Committee and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will consider transfer feasibility based on such variables as seat availability, student academic strength, and program-to-program curricular match. PCOM will evaluate all completed courses for the purpose of transfer credit. Because of curricular adjustments, transferring between pharmacy programs may result in extended time to graduation. Transfer students will ONLY be considered for fall term admission. All requests and supporting documentation for transfers must be submitted to the School of Pharmacy by June 15. A formal interview with the Admissions Committee members may be required.
Georgia Pharmacy Intern License
Students must obtain and maintain a valid, current Pharmacy Intern License issued by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy. This license must be obtained prior to the beginning of the Winter term of the first professional year. Licensing by the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy is not guaranteed by PCOM or PCOM School of Pharmacy.