Program Overview

College of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa offers a comprehensive curriculum that creates building blocks for success as a practicing pharmacist. The state-of-the-art building allows students to actively engage with their instruction, instructors, and classmates. The college's close proximity to other healthcare colleges and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) allows students to engage in inter-professional experiences with students and practitioners from many disciplines.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad perspective that includes knowledge of healthcare systems, policy, and practice in local, national, and international settings. Students will become medication experts who pursue roles as practitioners, scientists, technologists, activists, and entrepreneurs.

First Year

The first year as a pharmacy student is focused on creating a foundation of knowledge and skills to build on. Students have early exposure to a pharmacy career when they observe practicing pharmacists in a variety of settings.

P1 Year

• P1 Fall Course List:
  • PHAR:8130: Foundations of Pharmacy Practice I
  • PHAR:8131: Engagement: Professional Skills and Values
  • PHAR:8134: Foundations of Health Services
  • PHAR:8135: Health Information Retrieval and Informatics
  • PHAR:8136: Foundations of Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • PHAR:8152: Fundamentals of Compounding
  • PHAR:8132: Continuing Professional Development
  • PHAR:8133: IPPE Career Exploration
• P1 Spring Course List:
  • PHAR:8151: Clinical Investigation I
  • PHAR:8140: Foundations of Pharmacy Practice II
  • PHAR:8148: Pharmacokinetics and Dose Optimization
  • PHAR:8149: Foundations of Pharmacology and Toxicology
  • PHAR:8150: Health, Wellness, and Disease
  • PHAR:8153: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Dermatology and Sensory
  • PHAR:8132: Continuing Professional Development
  • PHAR:8133: IPPE Career Exploration

Second Year

Second-year pharmacy students immerse themselves in Integrated Pharmacotherapy courses. These courses, organized by disease state or organ system, are the bridge between the first year of foundational knowledge and the fourth year when students apply their knowledge.

P2 Year

• P2 Fall Course List:
  • PHAR:8260: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Cardiovascular
  • PHAR:8256: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Renal, Fluids, and Electrolytes
  • PHAR:8254: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Endocrine
  • PHAR:8250: Applications of Pharmacy Practice I
  • PHAR:8276: Clinical Investigation II
  • PHAR:8132: Continuing Professional Development
  • PHAR:8207: IPPE Community
  • PHAR:8209: Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences Hospital
• P2 Spring Course List:
  • PHAR:8261: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Neurology and Psychiatry
  • PHAR:8263: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Infectious Diseases
  • PHAR:8265: Applications of Pharmacy Practice II
  • PHAR:8275: Advanced Health Services
  • PHAR:8132: Continuing Professional Development
  • PHAR:8207: Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences Community
  • PHAR:8209: Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences Hospital

Third Year

During the third year, pharmacy students continue to immerse themselves in the Integrated Pharmacotherapy courses. The associated hands-on skills training activities create a bridge between knowledge and application. Third-year students spend some time with fourth-year students on rotation and practice developing and presenting a patient case.

P3 Year

• P3 Fall Course List:
  • PHAR:8370: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Respiratory and Allergy
  • PHAR:8372: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Gastroenterology and Nutrition
  • PHAR:8352: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Musculoskeletal
  • PHAR:8374: Applications of Pharmacy Practice III
  • PHAR:8132: Continuing Professional Development
  • PHAR:8301: IPPE Clinical
• P3 Spring Course List:
  • PHAR:8353: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Genitourinary and Reproductive
  • PHAR:8371: Integrated Pharmacotherapy: Oncology and Hematology
  • PHAR:8378: Pharmacy Law and Ethics
  • PHAR:83XX: Applications of Pharmacy Practice IV
  • Professional Electives
  • PHAR:8132: Continuing Professional Development

Fourth Year

Students in their fourth year put the previous three years into practice in real-life pharmacy experiences. Students are fully immersed in the life of a pharmacist as they complete rotations in a variety of settings. Students can customize their education with these rotations according to their interests or career goals.

P4 Year

• P4 Summer: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (12 semester hours)
• P4 Fall: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (18 semester hours)
• P4 Spring: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (18 semester hours)

Personalize Your Education

Personalize your education through dual degrees, certificates, and elective courses.

PharmD Educational Outcomes

Students will become medication experts who pursue roles as practitioners, scientists, technologists, activists, and entrepreneurs. They will have a broad perspective that includes knowledge of healthcare systems, policy, and practice in local, national, and international settings.

Hands-On Skills Training

Learn skills in the award-winning Pharmacy Practice Learning Center. Students develop and practice skills such as giving immunizations and counseling patients during a five-part course series: Foundations of Pharmacy Practice I & II and Applications of Pharmacy Practice I, II, & III.

Service, Advocacy, and Development

Make an impact on your community, profession, and your own professional growth. There are many opportunities to expand your horizons and further develop as a professional.

Real-life Pharmacy Experiences

Use your developing knowledge and skills during the Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. Pharmacy students get real-life pharmacy experience as they participate in Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) during the first three years and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) during their final year.

Global Opportunities

Experience the world outside of Iowa and the United States. Pharmacy students have participated in diverse international experiences, including yearly service trips to Xicotepec, Fulbright educational opportunities, and rotations in the final year.