Professional Curriculum
Requirements for Class of 2028*
Curriculum subject to revision
*Students must complete the curriculum that is current for their class.
Curriculum
The PharmD program represents a collaborative effort of the four academic departments of the College of Pharmacy, i.e., the departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Molecular Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Pharmacotherapy.
The curriculum begins with a strong foundation in the basic, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences with introductory practice experiences, culminating with a wide variety of advanced experiential opportunities and seminar presentations. This strong basic science background emphasizing the clinical sciences fully prepares our graduates to understand new scientific and biomedical knowledge and develops their pharmacy mastery to optimize pharmaceutical care to the benefit of the patient and healthcare practice and outcomes.
A number of courses in the curriculum emphasize written and oral communication skills. Medication and patient safety, cultural competence, health literacy, health care disparities, ethical and social responsibilities, and other competencies needed to work as a member of an interprofessional team are woven throughout the curriculum in didactic and experiential course work.
The curriculum also provides the background and experiences that help develop abilities for lifelong learning. Our graduates are more apt to update their skills and implement changes in practice to benefit their charges, in addition to succeeding as accomplished, caring, and innovative practitioners.
Read more about our program's Ability-Based Outcome Expectations
Curricular Goals
- Prepare pharmacists in a research-intensive, academic health center to be exemplary professionals who enable progress in healthcare by incorporating biomedical research advances into practice, serve as medication experts, and who advocate for and defend the public health.
- To educate and train clinical-scientists and clinician-educators to be effective leaders in academic pharmacy.
National Accreditation and Standards of the Curriculum
The College of Pharmacy is fully accredited by the American Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) under the guidelines effective July 1, 2016. The Professional Pharmacy curriculum meets the educational requirements of the University of Utah Graduate School (UU General Catalog - Grad School Regulations & Information) and meets the educational requirements for licensure nationally as well as in the State of Utah (Guideline 9.1 and Utah DOPL Utah 2007 Rx Practice Act 58-17b & Rules R156-17b).
Outcomes of the Professional Curriculum
Graduates of the University of Utah Doctor of Pharmacy Program will be able to optimize patient-centered and population-based care in a variety of practice settings. Graduates shall be able to:
- Apply fundamental scientific, analytic and problem-solving skills to all areas of pharmacy practice
- Communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
- Work collaboratively on healthcare teams
- Base patient care/practice decisions on sound science and best evidence
- Apply medication safety and quality-improvement principles to pharmacy practice
- Manage medication-use systems
- Promote public health and wellness
- Practice in an ethical, culturally aware and professional manner
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and leadership
Professional Curriculum by Year
First Year | Fall Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 5110 | Foundations of Biochemistry | 4 |
| PHARM 5120 | Foundation of Pharmaceutics | 4 |
| PHARM 5130 | Foundations of Immunology/Pathology | 1.5 |
| PHARM 5140 | Foundations of Patient Centered Care | 4 |
| PHARM 5144 | Foundations of Drug Information | 1 |
| PHARM 5145 | Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab I | 0.5 |
| PHARM 5150 | CSI | 1.5 |
| PHARM 5841 | PDS | 0.5 |
| Total Credits | 16.5 |
First Year | Spring Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 5111 | Foundations of Biotechnology & Molecular Biology | 3 |
| PHARM 5141 | Community Practice | 3 |
| PHARM 5142 | Foundations of Pharmacy: Law/Ethics/Risk Mitigation | 4 |
| PHARM 5143 | Foundations of Professional Practice: Community Agency Practicum | 3 |
| PHARM 5146 | Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab II | 0.5 |
| PHARM 5151 | CSI | 1 |
| PHARM 6611 | Foundations of Interprofessional Education | 0.5 |
| PHARM 5841 | PDS | 0.5 |
| Total Credits | 15.5 |
Second Year | Fall Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 6252 | Integrated Pharmacotherapeutics I | 8 |
| PHARM 6240 | Drug Information & Literature Evaluation I | 3 |
| PHARM 6242 | Pharmaceutical Compounding & Drug Delivery Systems/Laboratory | 2 |
| PHARM 6248 | Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab III | 0.5 |
| PHARM 6250 | CSI | 2 |
| PHARM 6841 | PDS | 0.5 |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
Second Year | Spring Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 6253 | Integrated Pharmacotherapeutics II | 8 |
| PHARM 6220 | Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics | 3 |
| PHARM 6241 | Drug Information & Literature Evaluation II | 3 |
| PHARM 6248 | Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab IV | 0.5 |
| PHARM 6251 | CSI | 2 |
| PHARM 6842 | PDS | 0.5 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Third Year | Summer Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 7640 | Core Community Rotation | 4 |
| PHARM 7641 | Core Institutional Rotation | 4 |
| Electives | 0-4 | |
| Total Credits | 8-12 |
Third Year | Fall Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 7355 | Integrated Pharmacotherapeutics III | 4 |
| PHARM 6713 | Interprofessional Experience: Chronic Disease Management | 0.5 |
| PHARM 7340 | Leadership and Management for Pharmacists | 2 |
| PHARM 7349 | Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab V | 0.5 |
| PHARM 7350 | CSI | 1 |
| PHARM 7841 | Professional Development Seminar | 0.5 |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 14.5 - 16.5 |
Third Year | Spring Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| PHARM 7341 | Advanced Therapeutics | 6 |
| PHARM 6623 | Interprofessional Experience: Medical Error Disclosure | 0.5 |
| PHARM 7342 | US Health Care Policy | 2 |
| PHARM 7842 | Professional Development Seminar | 0.5 |
| PHARM 7851 | Project Development Practicum I | 2 |
| PHARM 7343 | Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab VI | 0.5 |
| Electives | 7 | |
| Total Credits | 15.5 - 17.5 |
Fourth Year | Summer Semester
| Course | Credits |
| APPE Block 1 | 6 |
| APPE Block 2 | 6 |
| Total Credits | 6-12 |
Fourth Year | Fall Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| APPE Block 3 | 6 | |
| APPE Block 4 | 6 | |
| APPE Block 5 | 6 | |
| PHARM 7843 | Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| Total Credits | 14.5-20.5 |
Fourth Year | Spring Semester
| Course | Name | Credits |
| APPE Block 6 | 6 | |
| APPE Block 7 | 6 | |
| APPE Block 8 | 6 | |
| PHARM 6614 | Interprofessional Experience: Transition of Care | 0.5 |
| PHARM 7844 | Professional Development Seminar IV | 0.5 |
| Total Credits | 15-21 |
* Students participate in seven, 6-week rotations. One (1) APPE Block will be a scheduled "Off" block. Rotations may be taken in any order subject to CORE ELMS Rotation scheduling lottery
Curriculum subject to revision. Students must complete the curriculum that is current for their class.