The recent pandemic has resulted in a tremendous spike in the scope of pharmacists throughout the world. Although the epidemic has subsided, the increase in demand for pharmacists continues to grow as the health sector is looking for ways to prepare against such catastrophes.
That said, a majority of science students are attracted to this booming field as a plethora of opportunities for pharmacists have been unearthed following the pandemic. However, like most STEM fields, it is necessary to find a reputed school for pharmacy degree programs.
This article explores acclaimed schools offering pharmacy programs on multiple levels. Stay put to learn about different programs, admission criteria, and opportunities with a degree in pharmaceutical sciences.
What Can You Learn In A Pharmacy Degree Program?
Pharmacy is the study of the origin and chemistry of medicines. It is a broad discipline covering everything from origin to properties, preparation, effect, and usage of medicines. A degree program in pharmacy includes the study of physiology, microbiology, pathology, and pharmacology.
A degree in pharmacy exclusively focuses on promoting improved health by advising patients regarding medicinal use. In addition, students learn about pharmaceutical laws and standards. You will learn a wide range of topics in pharmacy classes, prominently chemistry and physiology.
It is not limited to understanding medicinal drug creation, properties, and usage but also refers to many other aspects, including ensuring the safe and effective use of medicinal or therapeutic drugs.
What Is The Route To Become A Licensed Pharmacist With A Pharmacy Degree?
Wondering what the route to becoming a licensed pharmacist is? We have got you!
- Enroll in a four-year bachelor's pharmacy degree at a college
- Join a master's degree or enroll in a four-year professional program
- Apply for licensing exams. There are two licensing exams to practice in America: the North American Pharmacist Licensing Exam (NAPLEX) and the Multi-State Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE)
After acquiring a degree and passing the licensing exam, you will become eligible to practice. A licensed pharmacist is knowns as the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). You will be positioned to advise patients about medications and work in laboratories to study and formulate drugs.
Schools That Offer Pharmacy Degree Programs
Pharmacists are highly demanded in the modern healthcare landscape. Every pharmacy enthusiast wishes to opt for a school that offers the best pharmacy degree so that they can build a progressive career path. However, students often struggle to search for pharmacy schools to pick the best one.
The appropriate way to rank universities is by assessing the NAPLEX pass rate of students of pharmacy schools. NAPLEX is a licensing exam; it is a complex test, and a majority of students with undergraduate degrees in pharmacy fail to pass it. Assessing a university based on its NAPLEX passing rate will tell you about its quality of education, as only students from reputed schools are able to pass the test.
Following is a comprehensive list of the top pharmacy schools in the United States offering quality education in pharmacy degree programs.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, NC
Based in North Carolina Chapel Hill, The University of North Carolina is a prestigious public research institute. It has the USA's largest school of pharmacy, known as UNC's Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
Students from the U.S. and outside can opt for its high-ranking PharmD undergraduate degree program, where they can;
- Obtain Foundation classes in the first year
- Take pharmacy classes on immersion and patient care in the second and third years.
- Pursue APPEs tailored to their specific interests.
The University offers programs to equip students with theoretical and practical knowledge to prepare them for a flourishing career in pharmacy. Furthermore, it provides a variety of pharmacy programs. Here is why the University of North Carolina is a high-ranked pharmacy school:
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| PharmD/MPH joint degree | |
| PharmD/MBA joint degree | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceuticals | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Options and Policy | |
| MS in Pharmacy Administration and Leadership | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 98.5% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
University of Minnesota — Twin Cities, MN
Located in the twin city of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy ranks amongst the best pharmacy schools in the U.S. Students with prior experience of two years in pharmacy or any other healthcare department can take admission without extensive formalities. Students from the University of Minnesota have access to high-paying career opportunities in the field of pharmacy after completing their pharmacy degrees.
The main focus areas of the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy include the discovery and development of drugs, rural pharmacy, and neuroscience. The institute not only aids in getting national but also international work and placement opportunities in India, Haiti, and Italy.
Here is why the University of Minnesota's College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top pharmacy schools:
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| PharmD/MBA dual degree program | |
| PharmD/MHI dual degree program | |
| PharmD/MPH dual degree program | |
| MS in Social and Administrative Pharmacy | |
| M.S. in Pharmaceutics | |
| Ph.D. in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics | |
| Ph.D. in Social and Administrative Pharmacy | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 97.4% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
The University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan is a top-ranked institute with a legacy of excellence in research, learning, teaching, and practicing different areas of study. Around eighty-five students are admitted annually to the College of Pharmacy.
For starters, you can enroll in the basic four-year PharmD program, where you are required to complete hands-on experience during the four for a minimum of 1,900 hours. Moreover, students also get a chance to practice hospital pharmacy, drug information, and community practice in their 4th year to complete their APPEs.
Additional information about the University of Michigan's College of Pharmacy includes:
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| PharmD/MBA dual degree program | |
| PharmD/Ph.D. dual degree program | |
| PharmD/MPH dual degree program | |
| M.S. in Integrated Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry | |
| Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacy | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 96% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
University of California, San Diego — San Diego, CA
Located in the most popular destination in North America, the University of California is a public grant university with multiple departments. Out of its many reputable departments, one is U.C. San Diego's Skaggs School of Pharmacy, founded in 2002.
This institute is a top choice for students as, in 2020, all students passed the NAPLEX exam. Moreover, the institute also offers pharmacy classes about marine pharmacology with the U.C. San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The School of Pharmacy offers an excellent PharmD program where students learn courses like histology, anatomy, drug study design, and laboratory science during the first three years. Additionally, they are required to work in a pharmacy or any other healthcare facility for a minimum of 300 IPPE hours to attend their 4th year of the degree.
Besides the degree program, there are various options available at UoC's pharmacy school. Here is the essential information about the U.C. San Diego's Skaggs School of Pharmacy:
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| Joint B.S. in Chemistry/PharmD degree | |
| Dual PharmD/Ph.D. Program | |
| Master's Degree in Drug Development and Product Management | |
| Ph.D. Program in "Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Development" | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 100% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
The University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, IL
The University of California's College of Pharmacy ranks among the top 10 pharmacy schools due to its exceptional programs. Their innovative and diverse patient-centered courses make it a top choice for students looking for pharmacy school options.
The University of Illinois's Pharmacy School hosts students from different states and countries. With twenty-five percent of first-class students and twenty-five percent of underrepresented minorities, it is one of the most diverse pharmacy schools in the U.S.
Furthermore, this College of Pharmacy won a Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2019.
With campuses in Chicago and Rockford, it allows students to gain experience in government and private laboratories to broaden their learning horizons. Moreover, UIC's College of Pharmacy focuses on Urban and rural Pharmacy so that students can concentrate on specific areas.
Some necessary information includes:
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmacy | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 89.5% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
University of Kentucky — Lexington, KY
Based in Lexington, the University of Kentucky's College of Pharmacy is the go-to pharmacy institute for many students. It comprises the world's largest research program, and in 2020 alone, it published 200-peer reviewed articles.
It has an excellent international ranking, and students from the 4TH year of PharmD can go abroad to countries like Ecuador, China, Scotland, England, Poland, and Thailand to take one of their six-week rotations.
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 91.8% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
University of Florida — Gainesville, FL
With an extensive faculty and excellent educational services, the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy has become one of the country's largest pharmacy schools. The institute has three campuses in Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Orlando.
Pharmacy students from the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy are known to easily obtain residency or job opportunities after completing their pharmacy degree as the University is affiliated with several world-class academic health centers. One of its prominent healthcare centers is the U.F. Health, based in the Southeast, connecting 14,000 UF College of Pharmacy graduated students living in 50 states and 40 countries.
The University offers theoretical and practical pharmacy knowledge to prepare students for competitive fieldwork. Their programs are designed to ensure that you avail maximum research opportunities during and after your pharmacy degree. Additionally, the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy provides adequate laboratory experiences to increase your exposure to the field of pharmacy.
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences | |
| The 2020 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 88.9% |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, TX
The University of Texas at Austin's Pharmacy programs are the top choice of students in Texas, as it offers unique pharmacy classes which encompass a problem-based approach and are more integrated.
Their programs are designed to teach students how to create and prescribe medicinal drugs and provide the services patients need before, after, and during treatment. The institute prioritizes teaching the absolute "pharmacist patient care" model to ensure the best healthcare outcomes.
The four-year PharmD program at their Pharmacy College comprises a six-week rotation in the final year so that students can explore different career options. Additional information about the University of Texas at Austin's Pharmacy College includes:
| Pharmacy Centric Programs | PharmD |
|---|---|
| M.S. in Pharmacotherapy | |
| M.S. in Health Outcomes | |
| Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery | |
| Ph.D. in Health Outcomes | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmacotherapy | |
| Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology | |
| The 2017 Passing Rate For NAPLEX | 0.973 |
| Length of PharmD Program | 04 years |
Are You Struggling With College Pharmacy Classes?
Despite enrolling in the top-ranked pharmacy schools, students still struggle to understand pharmacy due to its complexity. In such cases, hiring a private tutor may help.
A private tutor from credible platforms like Superprof will help you learn this subject more efficiently and thoroughly with complete and unhindered attention, unlike college classrooms with many students. You can get the answers to your questions immediately without waiting for your turn. Moreover, learning pharmacy with a private tutor is more accessible, affordable, and convenient. Keep in mind also that high school chemistry lessons are essential for building a solid foundation in the subject.
Want To Take Online Pharmacy Classes With Superprof?
Are you looking for a credible private tutoring platform? Head straight to Superprof, as we are home to highly skilled STEM tutors. With years of experience, verified reviews, and affordable rates, our adept private tutors will help you ace your college pharmacy courses.
We use advanced technology and gear to ensure a smooth online education experience. Superprof's online pharmacy classes focus on empowering students to overcome their academic and professional challenges. We offer career counseling along with tuition so that students can learn about the qualifications required to become licensed pharmacists and decide whether the field is suitable for them.
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