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The courses as they are described here are subject to change through normal academic channels. New courses and changes in existing courses are approved by the College of Pharmacy Curriculum Committee and the Faculty. Students are eligible for graduation when they successfully complete the required 174 credits in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program.

First Year Course Descriptions

The 5000 series is assigned to didactic blocks in the Basic Science Foundations and Professional Practice Foundation blocks for the first-year pharmacy students (P1).

PHRM 5111 Foundations of Clinical Pharmacy Practice (5 credits)

The Foundations of Clinical Pharmacy Practice (PHRM 5111) is designed to introduce the student to the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for successful completion of the Pharm.D. curriculum, and to begin to develop foundation skills for patient-centered practice. General topics include contemporary pharmacy practice issues and the role of the pharmacist as a health care provider, written and verbal communication skills, ethics, law, professionalism, pharmaceutical care, drug information, the US health care system (history, overview, stakeholders, providers, public health policies, and the Food and Drug Administration), health care financing (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and managed care), patient counseling skills, selected skills development, and an introduction to pharmacy practice (community pharmacy and hospital pharmacy) clerkships (IPPE).

PHRM 5112 Self-Care Therapeutics (4 credits)

This course reinforces the knowledge, skills, and attitudes introduced in PHRM 5111. Written and verbal communication skills and team collaboration skills are further developed through the use of SOAP notes and simulated patient encounters. General topics include the factors that lead patients to self-diagnose and self-treat their medical conditions, the role of the pharmacist in self-care therapeutics, the proper selection and use of nonprescription medications and dietary supplements, patient assessment skills utilizing QuEST/SCHOLAR method, nonprescription and dietary supplement product counseling, and contemporary pharmacy practice issues, laws, and regulations. Prerequisite: PHRM 5111.

PHRM 5113 Research Methods and Biostatistics (1 credit)

This block focuses on an introduction to research methodology and biostatistics. Students will use these tools in this block to begin to review and evaluate peer-reviewed clinical studies. They will continue to use these tools in subsequent blocks to evaluate clinical studies pertaining to specific therapeutics topics.

PHRM 5221 Phramacological Basis of Therapeutics I (3.5 credits)

This series of courses (PHRM 5221, 5222, 5223 and 5224) integrates pharmacology, pathophysiology, medicinal chemistry and toxicology building on the principles acquired in biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology. The objective of these courses is to present the principles of dru-receptor selectivity, mechanisms of action of drugs, and the rationale for their therapeutic use. The series of courses focus on pharmacodynamics (how the drug affects the body's fucntions) and pharmacokinetics (how the body handles the drug) and provides an integrated, scientific basis for understanding desired effects (therapeutic uses) and undesired side effects (adverse effects or drug-induced toxicity). The series focuses on the human system and provides the organizational knowledge and background relevant to the pharmacy practice sequence of courses presented in the second and third years. Principles addressing cellular, tissue, and organ physiology provide a conceptual framework to introduce pharmacology by emphasizing commonalities of drug mechanism with drug classification. Prototype drugs in each pharmacological class are provided for comparing and contrasting with other agents in the same class and/or for other drugs used therapeutically but with different mechanisms of action. Fundamental principles are emphasized with the intent of providing their relevance for prevention and treatment of disease using therapeutic agents, most of which can be considered as modifications of intrinsic, biological compounds.

PHRM 5221 begins with an introduction to pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology, as well as introducing agents that affect the autonomic nervous system (parasympathetic and sympathetic agents). PHRM 5222 focuses on agents used to treat cardiovascular disorders, asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders. PHRM 5223 covers CNS agents (sedative-hypnotics, anti-seizure agents, antipsychotics, and antidepressants), analgesics, and drugs acting on the endocrine system including diabetes. PHRM 5224 covers chemotherapeutic agents, nutritional biochemistry, and toxicology of specific agents.

PHRM 5222 Phramacological Basis of Therapeutics II (3 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 5221. Prerequisite: PHRM 5221.

PHRM 5223 Phramacological Basis of Therapeutics III (3.5 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 5222. Prerequisite: PHRM 5222.

PHRM 5224 Phramacological Basis of Therapeutics IV (3 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 5223. Prerequisite: PHRM 5223.

PHRM 5301 Pharmaceutics/Biopharmaceutics I (3.5 credits)

This block introduces the student to physicochemical principles and their applications in order to develop an understanding of the manufacture, compounding, and proper use of liquid (homogeneous and disperse systems), solid dosage forms (tablets and capsules), topicals, suppositories, aerosols, novel drug delivery systems, and veterinary products. The course includes a laboratory component in which students are required to compound various dosage forms and perform analytical studies related to them. Pharmaceutical calculations are an independent element; students must accurately determine the quantities of active and inactive ingredients required to prepare a dosage form. The pharmaceutical calculations component is required to be satisfactorily passed independent of other course content.

PHRM 5302 Pharmaceutics/Biopharmaceutics II (3.5 credits)

Pharmaceutics / Biopharmaceutics II deals with the physicochemical principles involved in formulating / compounding dosage forms such as parenterals, radiopharmaceuticals, ophthalmics and liposomes. The course discusses important issues in pharmaceutical technology, including the formulation and delivery of peptide, protein, and oligonucleotide drugs. Gene therapy and pharmacogenomics are also presented. The course includes a laboratory component in which students are required to compound various dosage forms and perform analytical studies related to them. Pharmaceutical calculations is an independent element; students must accurately determine the quantities of active and inactive ingredients required to prepare a dosage form. The pharmaceutical calculations component is required to be satisfactorily passed independent of other course content. Prerequisite: PHRM 5301.

PHRM 5401 Immunology (3.5 credits)

This course introduces students to the basics of immunology including, cells, organs and effector systems involved in both cell mediated and humoral mediated immune activity. Topics include regulatory interactions between different components of the immune system and the deleterious effects of aberrant immune processes. The focus is on an understanding of disease state immunopathology, immunopharmacology and immunotherapeutics.

PHRM 5501 Pharmacokinetics (3 credits)

PHRM 5501 introduces students to the principles and basic concepts of pharmacokinetics, including compartmental modeling, distribution of drugs, volume of distribution, half-life and clearance concepts. Wherever appropriate, clinically relevant examples are used to emphasize these principles. Information will also include the relevance of pharmacokinetics in drug action and toxicity. Students will be encouraged to apply pharmacokinetic principles to clinical situations. The course will demonstrate the use of pharmacokinetic principles and essential equations in predicting plasma drug concentrations as well as changes in plasma drug concentrations that accrue over time. Prerequisites: PHRM 5301 and PHRM 5302.

PHRM 5601 Overview of Clinical Practice (3 credits)

This course is intended for International Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy students (IPBP students admitted with advanced standing in the PharmD program) whose educational pharmacy experience has been outside of the US. The introductory course provides important information on topics such as the drug distribution system in the US, drug information, literature evaluation, biostatistics, the structure of the US health care system, and health care issues in the USA. The purpose of building the knowledge base of the IPBP is to allow them to be at par with their peers in the entry-level program. Additionally, introduction to patient counseling skills, the use of the objective, structured clinical examination (OSCE) in evaluating a student's clinical knowledge and skills, immunization certification, and self-study on medical terminology further strengthens their foundation such that their knowledge, skills and attitudes are in concert with the entry-level PharmD program in terms of the overall provision of pharmaceutical care. Prerequisite: Admission to the IPBP program. Required of all IPBP students.

PHRM 5999 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience I (IPPE-I) (2 credits)

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience I (IPPE-I) introduces students to pharmacy practice in a community setting. Students are expected to become competent in the following areas: laws and regulations pertaining to the licensing and operation of a pharmacy, the licensing and functions of a pharmacist, a pharmacy intern, a pharmacy technician and a pharmacy clerk; Federal and State legend laws; Federal and State narcotic laws; receiving and interpreting prescriptions; processing third party prescriptions; preparing a prescription order; dispensing a prescription order. In addition, students will be practicing patient counseling on non-prescription medications; practicing communication skills to patients and other health care providers, observing management principles and financial reimbursement processes and maintaining a portfolio that reports, comments and reflects on these essential competencies. Students are required to complete two IPPE-I rotations to a maximum of 4 credits. Requisites: Concurrent or prior enrollment in PHRM 5111 or PHRM 5112.

Second Year Block Descriptions

The 6200 series describes the didactic curriculum for second year pharmacy students (P2). The 6300 series denotes the didactic curriculum for the first half of the third year (P3).

PHRM 6201 Pharmacy Practice I (4 credits)

The series of Pharmacy Practice blocks presents topics and accompanying skills that lay the foundation for the practice of pharmacy. This block provides an introduction to drug information, research methodology, and biostatistics in preparation for review and evaluating peer-reviewed clinical studies that are periodically assigned in this and the Pharmacy Practice blocks that follow. The block also introduces homeostasis, review anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, medical terminology, and laboratory interpretations or common procedures used in diagnosing patients. Students will continue to use these tools in subsequent blocks to evaluate therapeutic topics.

PHRM 6202 Pharmacy Practice II (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6201. This block focuses on nutrition-related topics, but also covers fluids and electrolytes, renal physiology, and acid-base disorders. Accordingly, the overall goal of this block is to equip pharmacy students with elemental tools essential for providing pharmaceutical care as well as to integrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide an individualized nutritional pharmacotherapeutic plan for a given patient.

PHRM 6203 Pharmacy Practice III (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6202. This block focuses covers diseases affecting the gastrointestinal and the hepatobiliary systems. Specific emphasis is placed on the pharmacological treatment of peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and alcoholic liver disease.

PHRM 6204 Pharmacy Practice IV (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6203. Hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemias are the focus of this block. These three major disease states exhibit comorbidity that can complicate pharmacotherapy. Emphasizing the treatment of these disease states allows the reintroduction of disease states covered in other blocks, thus allowing for the introduction of complicating factors and serves to improve students' critical thinking skills. Accompanying diagnostic procedures for these disease states allows the integration of content with further skills development. Block materials from previous blocks are reinforced throughout this block, and reinforcement of content from this block will occur in subsequent blocks.

PHRM 6205 Pharmacy Practice V (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6204.This block is designed to allow the student an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge in the content areas previously covered in the second year blocks. Students will engage in team case discussions, which incorporate and integrate aspects of those disease states previously covered. In addition, students will continue to expand their knowledge of individual drug therapies by the construction of individual drug cards. Skills (e.g., counseling, patient education, calculation applications, drug information applications) relevant to the practice of pharmacy will be practiced in this block. Students will receive certification for the administration of immunizations. Prerequisite: PHRM 5113.

PHRM 6206 Pharmacy Practice VI (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6205. This course covers pulmonary topics, including asthma (adult and pediatric) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Students learn the proper use of inhalers, spacers, nebulizers and peak flow meters. This block also provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to manage pharmacotherapeutic regimens in endocrine-related diseases, such as thyroid disorders and reproductive medicine. Gender-related health concerns are also addressed.

PHRM 6207 Pharmacy Practice VII (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6206. This block contains epidemiology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy as they relate to cardiovascular disease including arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and thromboembolic diseases. Accordingly, the overall goal of this block is to enable students to integrate their knowledge of these topics in the context of formulating an individualized pharmacotherapeutic plan for a given patient with cardiac disease(s).

PHRM 6208 Pharmacy Practice VIII (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6207. The purpose of this block is to enable students to integrate the pathophysiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and therapeutic knowledge in the management of specific disease states. The content of the block will span psychiatric diseases, substance abuse and toxicological states. Students are provided the opportunity to practice clinical problem assessment and therapeutic drug monitoring in preparation for providing pharmaceutical care. Management of acute and chronic pain is also covered in this block. Certification in smoking cessation is provided in this block.

PHRM 6209 Pharmacy Practice IX (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6208. This block focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and pharmacotherapy relevant to diseases affecting the central nervous system, including dementias, epilepsy, headache, pain, parkinsonism, and stroke. The main goal of this block is to provide students with the fundamental knowledge, skills and attitudes required to provide optimal pharmaceutical care to patients with neurologic disorders.

PHRM 6210 Pharmacy Practice X (4 credits)

Continuation of PHRM 6209. This block is designed to allow the student an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge in the content areas previously covered in the second year blocks. Students will engage in team discussions, which incorporate and integrate aspects of those disease states previously covered. Skills (e.g., counseling, patient education, calculation applications, drug information applications) relevant to the practice of pharmacy will be practiced during this block. Students will receive instruction on the pharmacist's role in investigational drug services. The final examination comprehensively covers content material taken to this point.

Third Year Block Descriptions

PHRM 6301 Pharmacy Practice XI (4 credits)

A continuation of topic areas begun in the second year, this block is an integrated approach to microbiology, antimicrobial pharmacology and infectious disease syndromes. The initial part of the block deals with the identification, laboratory diagnosis, epidemiology and modes of spread of the medically important pathogens. Pharmacology of the major classes of antimicrobial agents will be discussed. The latter part of the block will focus on the microbiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, diagnosis, clinical features, preventive and infection control measures associated with major infectious syndromes due to common bacteria and parasites.

PHRM 6302 Pharmacy Practice XII (4 credits)

This block is an extension of PHRM 6301 with a focus on special patient populations and opportunistic infections including fungal and viral infections. Pharmacology of antiviral and antifungal agents and the applications in treating infections will be discussed. The latter part of the block will focus on basic pharmacology of immunotherapeutic agents and their applications in transplantation.

PHRM 6303 Pharmacy Practice XIII (4 credits)

This block provides students an overview of pharmacy practice management in the community and hospital pharmacy settings. Students are familiarized with the conceptual underpinnings and applications of operations of pharmacy practice management, such as marketing, financial analysis, human resource management, purchasing and inventory control. Disease state management is emphasized as an important component of community pharmacy practice management. In the hospital setting, the importance of drug information, utilization review and clinical therapy guidelines and protocols is stressed.

PHRM 6304 Pharmacy Practice XIV (4 credits)

This block provides students with an understanding of the basic fundamentals of pharmacoeconomics (PE) and its value to decision making in health care. The block introduces students to the concepts and terminology associated with pharmacoeconomics including cost-of-illness, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility and decision analysis models. Other topics include an evaluation of the humanistic impact of drug therapy on quality-of-life outcomes, and use of sensitivity analyses in increasing the external validity of PE studies. Students will read and evaluate different types of PE studies published in the scientific literature. Student teams will be responsible for reading and analyzing selected PE literature and writing a comprehensive evaluation of each article using their knowledge of research methods, biostatistics and pharmacoeconomics

PHRM 6305 Pharmacy Practice XV (4 credits)

The objective of this block is to provide an introduction in the pathophysiology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic knowledge in the management of hematological disorders, hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Students will receive instruction in the following areas: appropriate cancer screening and prevention information to the general public; basic pharmacology of the commonly used antineoplastic agents in clinical settings; supportive care in oncology and patient specific treatments; and appropriate treatments for the common types of hematological disorders.

PHRM 6306 Pharmacy Practice XVI (4 credits)

This block is designed to allow the student an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge in the content areas previously covered in the second and third year blocks. Students will engage in team discussions, which incorporate and integrate aspects of those disease states previously covered. Skills (e.g., counseling, patient education, calculation applications, drug information applications, and skills associated with monitoring diseases) relevant to the practice of pharmacy will be practiced during this block. The block will end with a series of examinations covering content areas and skills learned and practiced during the previous blocks. Students must pass all examinations administered in this block before they will be allowed to proceed to the APPE.

PHRM 6999 Introductory Practice Experience II (IPPE-II) (4 credits)

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience II (IPPE-II) introduces students to pharmacy practice in an institutional setting. Upon completion of the IPPEs, the pharmacy intern will be able to behave in a professional and ethical manner; articulate the pharmacist's roe as a member of the health care team; communicate accurate and appropriate medical and drug information to a pharmacist, preceptor or other health care professional in a clear and concise manner; adhere to all State and Federal laws and regulations as a pharmacy intern in the practice setting; assess prescription or medication orders for completeness, authenticity and legality; verify that dose, frequency, formulation, and route of administration on prescription or medical orders are correct; accurately enter patient information into the patient's pharmacy profile or medication record; select the correct drug product, manufacturer, dose and dosage form and prepare it for dispensing; assure that the medication label is correct and conforms to all State and Federal regulations; communicate pertinent information to the patient to encourage proper use and storage of medications; assist patients seeking self care; and maintain a portfolio that reports, comments and reflects on these essential competencies. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of PHRM 5999 and didactic courses in the first and second years. Not open for PharmD students entering the program prior to 2008.

Required Rotations

PHRM 7110 Ambulatory Care Externship (8 credits)

Supervised patient care experience in an outpatient setting under the supervision of a preceptor or faculty member of the College of Pharmacy.

PHRM 7120 Institutional Care Externship (8 credits)

Supervised patient care experience in a hospital or other institutional setting under the direct supervision of a preceptor or faculty member of the College of Pharmacy.

PHRM 7210 Ambulatory Care Clinical (8 credits)

Supervised clinical pharmacy experience emphasizing the development of pharmaceutical care skills in an out-patient setting.

PHRM 7220 Institutional Care Clinical (8 credits)

Supervised clinical pharmacy experience emphasizing the development of pharmaceutical care skills in a hospital or other institutional setting such as a long term care facility.

Elective Rotations

PHRM 7330 Elective clerkship I (8 credits)

Supervised education in clinical, administrative or research settings that provide additional experience in specialty areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, infectious disease, drug information, oncology, pharmaceutical research, pharmacy administration, etc.

PHRM 7340 Elective clerkship II (8 credits)

Supervised education in clinical, administrative or research settings that provide additional experience in specialty areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, infectious disease, drug information, oncology, pharmaceutical research, pharmacy administration etc. Prerequisite: PHRM 7330.

PHRM 7350 Elective clerkship III (8 credits)

Supervised education in clinical, administrative or research settings that provide additional experience in specialty areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, infectious disease, drug information, oncology, pharmaceutical research, pharmacy administration etc. Prerequisite: PHRM 7340.

Second Half, 4th Year Elective Coursework

After having successfully completed the APPE component of the curriculum, students are eligible to go on to their Advanced Electives. During the second half of the P-4 year, 16 credits of advanced elective coursework and 2 credits in the comprehensive review and assessment are required.

The 8000 series are designed for advanced elective coursework and the comprehensive assessment/review weeks. The advanced elective program is a capstone experience designed to prepare the student for his/her role as an entry level practitioner. Electives are offered in areas such as research, teaching, and advanced clinical practice. A project is required of each student. Finally, each student completes a required comprehensive two-week review and assessment at the end of the program.

PHRM 8200 Elective Coursework (4 credits)

Advanced level coursework in an area of special interest beyond that presented as part of the previous didactic coursework of the Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum. Repeatable to a maximum of 16 credits.

PHRM 8400 Advanced Electives (16 credits)
Advanced clinical educational experiences in an area of special interest beyond that provided as part of the previous clinical coursework of the Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum. Repeatable to a maximum of 16 credits.

PHRM 8600 Research Electives (16 credits)

Supervised participation in pharmacy related research under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Repeatable to a maximum of 16 credits.

PHRM 8800 Other Electives (4-16 credits)

Individualized, supervised educational experiences in an area of special interest related to pharmacy practice beyond that provided by previous coursework in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum and not eligible for credit within PHRM 8200, 8400 or 8600. Repeatable to a maximum of 16 credits.