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Pharmacy, Pharm.D.

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Degree Program

A rewarding career in the healthcare industry

The University of Saint Joseph’s Doctor of Pharmacy program enables you to earn a Pharm.D. degree in just three years. The program promotes the emergence of competent and compassionate pharmacists who can advance pharmacy practice models, engage in community service, and foster the advancement of research and scholarship.

Emphasizing real-world application, USJ’s Pharm.D. program prepares you to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX) exam and pursue careers in clinical research, medical sales, pharmacology, product/process development, and beyond.

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2023-24 Pharmacy Scholarship Opportunity

Sister Mary Ellen Murphy ’50, Ph.D, DAA ’75, H’12 Pharmacy Scholarship

In celebration of the 90^th Anniversary of USJ, and former Professor of Chemistry, Mary Ellen Murphy, USJ is offering a $10,000 scholarship toward the first year of Pharmacy School.
This scholarship opportunity is available to students who submit a deposit. A pply now!

A member of Saint Joseph College’s Class of 1950, Sr. Mary Ellen Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with honors. She went on to receive her M.S. in Chemistry from Wesleyan University in 1958. In 1965, she earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Fordham University, and conducted NASA-sponsored doctoral research at the University of California–San Diego and Glasgow University in Scotland. Sr. Mary Ellen’s scholarship and scientific research at the University of California in San Diego and the University of Arizona included the analysis of moon rocks brought back form the Apollo 11 lunar mission in 1969. She served as a NASA consultant for the Viking Lander on Mars and as a member of NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous team in her role as a visiting scientist in the Laboratory of Extraterrestrial Physics, Astrochemistry Branch, at Goddard Space Flight Center. Sr. Mary Ellen Murphy’s contributions to Saint Joseph College as a gifted and respected Professor of Chemistry are significant in regard to the scope and breadth of courses she taught to both undergraduate and graduate students. She served in a variety of faculty and alumnae leadership capacities throughout the years. Additionally, the University of Saint Joseph benefitted from Sr. Mary Ellen’s counsel and expertise through her exemplary service on the Board of Trustees as an officer, committee chair, member of the Executive Committee, and as Trustee Emerita.

Career Paths with a Doctorate Degree in Pharmacy

At the University of Saint Joseph, we strive to cultivate well-rounded pharmacists who can not only dispense medication to patients but also advise patients about medicines and work with physicians on prescriptions.

After passing the NAPLEX exam, you can start your exciting career as a licensed pharmacist with a Pharm.D. degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacists make a median income of $128,710 per year.

Besides traditional drugstores or community pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, you can enter the field of pharmacy with such career options as a pediatric pharmacist, veterinary pharmacist, poison control pharmacist, and medical science liaison in various settings:

Hospitals
Emergency departments and trauma centers
State government agencies
Pharmaceutical manufacturers
Academia

USJ Pharm.D. Program Advantages

Experiential Learning

The University of Saint Joseph’s Doctor of Pharmacy program takes an experiential education approach. During the program of study, you can dive head-first into clinical practice in a community or institutional pharmacy to obtain hands-on experience. You can apply theoretical knowledge to a real-world setting and receive guidance from professional supervisors.

Small Class Sizes

The Doctor of Pharmacy program maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio to ensure students have the attention that they deserve. As a Pharm.D. student, you have the opportunity to build mentoring relationships with USJ’s faculty and receive personal guidance from them. With an engaging learning environment, you can also collaborate with your peers and expand your professional network.

Pharmacy Community Service

The University of Saint Joseph encourages students to serve the community and make a positive impact on people’s lives. Each Pharm.D. student completes at least 20 hours of health-related community service annually.

Co-Curricula

APhA – American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists in the United States. The association consists of more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in the profession.

NCPA – National Community Pharmacists Association
Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for independent pharmacy, representing 21,000 pharmacies and employing more than 250,000 individuals nationwide. Independent pharmacy is a $75.8 billion marketplace. Community pharmacists are local health care problem-solvers who can customize solutions to local health challenges for groups and employers.

Kappa Psi – Pharmaceutical Fraternity
Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Incorporated, is the largest professional pharmaceutical fraternity in the world with more than 6000 student members and more than 87000 alumi members. It was founded in 1879 at Russell Military Academy in New Haven, Connecticut as the Society of Kappa Psi.

AMCP – Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
AMCP is a professional organization representing the interests of pharmacists who practice in managed care settings. It publishes the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.

Rho Chi – International Honor Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Rho Chi is an international honor society for pharmaceutical sciences. It was founded on May 19, 1922, to “encourage high scholastic achievement and fellowship among students in pharmacy and to promote the pharmaceutical sciences.”

SGA – Student Government Association
As a member of the Student Government Association, you will become an advocate for students; facilitate effective communication between faculty, staff, and students; and promote a vibrant and inclusive campus community through club and leadership development.

ASHP – American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is a professional organization that represents pharmacists who serve as patient care providers in acute and ambulatory care settings. The organization’s 45,000 members include pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians.

Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program Curriculum

USJ’s Pharm.D. program employs a distinctive and innovative modified-block curriculum that takes three years to complete. Intending to increase your abilities to fulfill the expanding role of the pharmacist, the program curriculum includes 160 credits of in-depth study.

Anchored in a firm foundation in biomedical, pharmaceutical, socio-behavioral, and clinical science, the pharmacy program curriculum increases your skills and knowledge in providing superior patient care. With experiential education woven into the entire curriculum, you also have ample opportunities to get involved in pharmaceutical care and gain hands-on experience.

Learn more about the Doctor of Pharmacy program curriculum.

Pass Rate

For the 2022 graduation year, USJ’s pharmacy graduates are above the national average and have the best pass rate in Connecticut for first-time test takers of the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX) exam.

Pharm.D. Program Admission Requirements

Eligible candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree and present evidence of successful completion of the required prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.

Candidates need to apply through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) and submit the following materials for consideration:

Personal statement (minimum of 250 words) that describes your goals and reasons for pursuing a career in pharmacy
An official transcript from each college or university attended
Test scores from the PCAT, MCAT, DAT, or GRE are not required
Two professional letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a science professor or instructor and the other from a non-relative
If selected for an interview, you will be asked to provide your official college or university transcripts.

Review the detailed admissions requirements of the Pharm.D. program.

Pharmacy Newsletters

Apply to USJ’s Pharm.D. Program

Want to enter the field of pharmacy and start a meaningful and lucrative career in healthcare? Apply to the University of Saint Joseph’s Doctor of Pharmacy Degree program and earn your degree in just three years!

Have more questions about the Pharm.D. program? Contact us, or use the links below to learn more.

More about the Pharm.D. Program

FAQs

To become a pharmacist, students must earn a bachelor’s degree from a college or university where they take prerequisite courses in the sciences. Following their undergraduate degree, they must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.).

At USJ, students complete this degree in three years and graduate fully prepared to enter the competitive field of pharmacy. While many schools offer four-year programs, USJ’s three-year Pharm.D. program ensures you enter the field a full year earlier thanks to a proven and innovative modified block curriculum that includes:

Pharmaceutical Calculations
Pharmacochemistry
Pharmacy Law
Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics
Pharmacotherapeutics
Pharmacy Administration and Management

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