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Professional Curriculum

Professional Curriculum

Requirements for Class of 2027*

Curriculum subject to revision
*Students must complete the curriculum that is current for their class.

pharmd

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.

View Curriculum

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

    Recitation

     1.5

    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

    Recitation

    2

    PHARM 6611

    Foundations of Interprofessional Education

    0.5

    Total Credits

     

    16

    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

     3

    PHARM 6248

     Pharmacy Practice Skills Lab III

     0.5

    PHARM 6250

    Recitation

     2

    Total Credits 

     

    16.5

    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

    Recitation

     2

    Total Credits 

     

    16.5

     

    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

    Recitation

    2

    PHARM 7352

    Principles of Project Development

    3

    PHARM 7841

     Professional Development Seminar I

     0.5

     

    Electives

     3-5

    Total Credits  

     

    15.5-17.5

    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 II

     0.5

    PHARM 7842

    Professional Development Seminar II

     0.5

    PHARM 7851

    Project Development Practicum I

     2

     

    Electives

    4-6

    Total Credits  

     

    15-17

    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 III

     0.5

    PHARM 7852

    Project Development Practicum II

     2

    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

    PHARM 7853

    Project Development Practicum III

    2

    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.

    Recommended Links

    PharmD/Doctor of Pharmacy Professional Curriculum

    Tuition Information

    Administration Process

    Pre-Admission Requisite

    Ability-based Outcome Expectations

    Vaccination & Immunization Guidelines