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Pre-Pharmacy (2-Year) + Pharm.D (3-Year)

Overview

Develop your pharmacy skills and begin your training early to accelerate your path to into our ACPE-accredited Pharm.D program and build connections to rewarding pharmacy careers.

Pharmacists serve on the front lines of medicine as a critical component of patients’ health—whether working in the lab, the community, government, or in a clinical setting.

At D’Youville, we know that dedicated undergraduate students want to earn their professional credentials as quickly as possible. That’s why we’ve developed an Early Assurance Program, which allows our pre-pharmacy undergraduates to earn their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree in just five years, unlike traditional programs which can take over 8 years to complete.

During the first two years in the Early Assurance program, you’ll take undergraduate classes (60-61 credits) followed by three years of coursework in D'Youville's ACPE-accredited School of Pharmacy's Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Why Choose D'Youville?

  • Studies show that teamwork across clinical specialties improves patient outcomes. D'Youville's unique interdisciplinary education lab offers the opportunity for you to practice treating patients (played by actors) alongside a team of students from 7 other healthcare majors at D'Youville - all under the supervision of a skilled instructor.
  • D'Youville Pharm.D graduates achieve excellent scores on national and state licensing exams; Our graduates report a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation.

Learn more about the opportunities our three year program offers you.

What you'll gain:

  • Supervised pharmacy practice experiences in the first semester of your third year of college (or first year in the professional program)
  • Specialized advisement through the School of Pharmacy and participate in research opportunities only available to Pre-Pharmacy students.

Hear From a First-Year Pharmacy Student at DYU

Practice Experience

Experiential education is one of the core elements of D’Youville’s pharmacy program. And while pre-pharmacy students do not begin supervised pharmacy practice experiences until they begin the Pharm.D program, throughout their studies they receive learning and experience which will help them to excel in their clinical experiences as they move into their Pharm.D studies.

The Office of Experiential Education coordinates and manages all aspects of experiential education for the School of Pharmacy once students begin their graduate studies. From introductory rotations to advanced experiences with innovative and progressive pharmacy practices, the Office of Experiential Education works with students, preceptors, and faculty to ensure a highly successful learning experience.

The Office of Experiential Education is willing and able to place students in rotations in pharmacies anywhere within the U.S. and in several international locations as well. Some international opportunities include Haiti, Uganda, Ecuador, Turks and Caicos, London and China.

D’Youville’s pre-pharmacy program emphasizes such vital skills as:
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Communication in both written and oral modes
  • Time management
  • Organizational competencies

Explore Courses In Pre-Pharmacy

  • Explore the area of biomedical science that most interests you and fits your career path from microbiology to anatomy, molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology, and more. Take that learning even further in the lab through hands-on learning in the subject

  • Learn to speak in front of an audience and practice techniques like preparing and delivering a speech, adapting your speech to the situation, and discovering various presentation styles in a comfortable workshop atmosphere.

  • Apply your passion for a liberal art to discover more about a particular interest. Dig into history, learn more about the fine arts, explore the mind with philosophy, learn a foreign language, and more.

Admission Requirements

At D'Youville, we are committed to selecting students who are academically well-rounded and committed to meeting the challenges of a high-quality education. If you have been successful in a traditional college preparatory program in high school, you should be well-prepared for the academic challenges at D'Youville.

First Time in College Student Requirements
  • Submitted application for admission
  • Official high school transcripts
    • An overall weighted GPA of 85 with successful completion of high school graduation requirements and three years of math, history, english, and science.
Transfer Admission Required Review Criteria:
  • Submitted application for admission
    • Applications are free of charge and can be found on our apply webpage.
  • Official transcripts from ALL previously attended colleges/universities
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.5

Early Assurance To Direct Admission

This program gives talented first-years the advantage of securing a seat in the D’Youville School of Pharmacy’s (DYCSOP) four-year Pharm.D degree program after completing two years of prerequisite undergraduate course work. The Early Assurance to Direct Admission program offers a significant advantage to those qualifying students by not requiring the PCAT while guaranteeing a seat within the School of Pharmacy. 

Online Military Pharm Tech Pathway (18 Months)

Our unique, online military pharm tech pathway is designed for active duty pharmacy technicians in the military to complete course prerequisites and prepare for our Pharm.D program in only 18 months. With online classes, you'll be able to complete courses while still continuing your duties. Since you've likely already completed important coursework, you'll be able to transfer in nearly of third of your required courses, setting you on an accelerated path to acceptance and your pharmacy career.

Credit Type Credits
Credits Taken at D'Youville 42
Transfer Credits Accepted 19
Total Credits 61

 

Careers

Our program prepares you for general pharmacy practice.

A Pharmacist's Role

Pharmacists do a lot more than just dispense medications. Today's pharmacists serve on the front lines of medicine as a critical component of patients’ health—whether working in the lab, the community, government, or in a clinical setting. 

Today’s pharmacists act as part of an integrated healthcare team, educating patients on the use of both prescription and over-the-counter medications, advising physicians and other healthcare professionals on the best use of therapeutic medications, and offering advice about drug interactions and side effects.

Pharmacists also participate in the research and development of new drugs, consult on drug manufacture and usage, and inform public health policy in relation to new and existing medications. 

Industries & Settings

Pharmacists work in a variety of healthcare settings in a variety of roles including:

Community pharmacists working in retail settings dispensing medications, advising patients on drug effects and interactions, and providing primary health care services such as flu and shingles vaccinations.

Clinical pharmacists working in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. Clinical pharmacists work as part of an integrated healthcare team in the hospital. They provide advice on dosage and timing of medications, efficacy of specific pharmaceuticals and their alternatives, and the role of medications in the treatment of a variety of health conditions and diseases.

Consultant pharmacists providing advice on medications to institutions such as hospitals or health insurance companies. Some consultant pharmacists also provide direct consultation to patients through their own private practices.

Pharmaceutical industry pharmacists working in the pharmaceutical industry in areas ranging from marketing to sales to research.

Job Outlook

Pharmacists are in demand and well compensated. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median wage for pharmacists in 2014 was over $120,950. 

For more information about the job outlook for pharmacists, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Related Programs

Interprofessional

Pharmacy students at D'Youville learn to work as part of a collaborative healthcare team through Interprofessional Education Labs