Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program

The Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Medical College of Wisconsin is designed to prepare students for a career in pharmacy, with a focus on advanced practice skills, patient care, and pharmaceutical sciences. The program is a three-year curriculum that includes extensive training in pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical sciences, and clinical pharmacy.

Year One - 65 Total Credit Hours

The first year of the program is divided into four sessions: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Year 1 - Session 1: Summer

• PHAR 510 Biochemistry (3 credits): This course introduces students to the basic principles of biochemistry, with a focus on pharmaceutical applications.
• PHAR 511 Genetics & Clinical Immunology (3 credits): This course covers individual differences in metabolizing enzymes, transporters, and other biochemicals, as well as basic clinical immunology.
• PHAR 520 Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery I: Non-Sterile Products (4 credits): This course introduces students to the physicochemical properties of drugs and drug delivery systems.
• PHAR 549: Intro to Pharmacy Law and Ethics (1 credit): This course covers the foundational legal and safety regulations necessary for success in pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 530 Patient Care Laboratory I (2 credits): This laboratory course introduces students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 540 & 549 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice (2 credits): This course prepares students for introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs).
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Year 1 - Session 2: Fall

• PHAR 512 Human Anatomy & Physiology (3 credits): This course introduces students to the structure, function, and abnormalities of the human body.
• PHAR 521 Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery II: Sterile Products (4 credits): This course builds on the topics learned in Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery I, with a focus on sterile and parenteral products.
• PHAR 531 Patient Care Laboratory II (2 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 550 Health Care Systems & Patient Safety (3 credits): This course covers the structure and organization of health care systems and patient safety.
• PHAR 560 Self-Care & Wellness (3 credits): This course introduces students to the use of over-the-counter (OTC) and self-care medications.
• PHAR 541 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) I (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Year 1 - Session 3: Winter

• PHAR 561 Integrated Sequence (IS): Principles of Drug Action, Pharmacogenomics (5 credits): This course introduces students to concepts and general principles underlying drug action and therapeutics.
• PHAR 562 Integrated Sequence (IS): Infectious Diseases I (5 credits): This course covers the microbiology, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of infectious diseases.
• PHAR 532 Patient Care Laboratory III (2 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 551 Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits): This course introduces students to principles in research methods and study design, biostatistics, and literature evaluation.
• PHAR 542 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) II (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Year 1 - Session 4: Spring

• PHAR 563 Integrated Sequence: Renal & Cardiovascular (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of renal and cardiovascular disorders.
• PHAR 564 Integrated Sequence: Infectious Diseases II (5 credits): This course continues to explore the microbiology, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of infectious diseases.
• PHAR 533 Patient Care Laboratory IV (2 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 552 Population Health (3 credits): This course introduces students to the broad understanding of health and its determinants, major issues affecting population health, and management strategies for global, national, and community-based public health programs.
• PHAR 543 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) III (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Year Two - 68 Total Credit Hours

The second year of the program is divided into four sessions: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.

Session 5: Summer

• PHAR 660 Integrated Sequence: Advanced Cardiovascular (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and other acute cardiovascular conditions.
• PHAR 661 Integrated Sequence: Endocrine (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of endocrine disorders.
• PHAR 630 Patient Care Laboratory V (2 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 650 Practice Development & Management (3 credits): This course introduces students to a broad spectrum of business practices and methods vital to establishing and maintaining a successful innovative pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 640 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) IV (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Session 6: Fall

• PHAR 662 Integrated Sequence: Respiratory, Pain, Inflammation (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of respiratory, pain, and inflammatory disorders.
• PHAR 663 Integrated Sequence: Neurology & Behavioral Health (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of psychiatric and neurologic disorders.
• PHAR 631 Patient Care Laboratory VI (2 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 641 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) V (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• Electives (3 credits): Students may choose from various elective courses to customize their education.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Session 7: Winter

• PHAR 664 Immunological & Gastrointestinal Disorders (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of immunological and gastrointestinal disorders.
• PHAR 665 Integrated Sequence: Hematology & Oncology (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmaceutics, and pharmacogenomics of hematologic and oncologic disorders.
• PHAR 632 Patient Care Laboratory VII (2 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 642 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) VI (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• Electives (3 credits): Students may choose from various elective courses to customize their education.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Session 8: Spring

• PHAR 666 Integrated Sequence: Special Populations (5 credits): This course covers the application of didactic knowledge to tailoring treatment to focused populations.
• PHAR 667 Integrated Sequence: Critical Care, Toxicology, Substance Use (5 credits): This course covers the pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacotherapeutics, and pharmaceutics of critical care disorders, toxicology, and substance use.
• PHAR 633 Patient Care Laboratory VIII (3 credits): This laboratory course continues to introduce students to professional skills needed for contemporary pharmacy practice.
• PHAR 651 Pharmacy Law (2 credits): This course introduces students to federal and state statutes, regulations, and policies that govern the practice of pharmacy.
• PHAR 643 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) VII (2 credits): This course provides foundational activities that integrate knowledge and skills.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.

Year Three - 43 Total Credit Hours

The third year of the program is divided into two semesters: Fall and Spring.

Fall Semester

• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs): 4 rotations, 6 weeks each (24 credits)

Spring Semester

• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs): 3 rotations, 6 weeks each (18 credits)

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE)

APPEs provide students with hands-on experience in various pharmacy practice settings.

• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community (6 credits): This rotation provides experience in community pharmacy practice.
• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital/Health System (6 credits): This rotation provides experience in hospital or health-system pharmacy practice.
• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Ambulatory Patient Care (6 credits): This rotation provides experience in ambulatory patient care pharmacy practice.
• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Inpatient Care (6 credits): This rotation provides experience in inpatient care pharmacy practice.
• Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Elective (6 credits): This rotation allows students to choose from additional available learning experiences.

Additional Courses

• PHAR 8000: Pharmacy Licensure Preparation (1 credit): This course focuses on the application and reinforcement of principles taught previously in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program.
• PHAR 700 Personal & Professional Development (0 credits): This course provides opportunities for students to document competency in patient care and personal and professional development.