Core Curriculum
A minimum of 190 units of professional study is required for the PharmD degree in addition to a set of specific graduation requirements. The core curriculum is approximately 70% of the units required for graduation and consists of 130 units.
In the core curriculum, students complete:
- 116 units of didactic courses
- Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and
- 14 units of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).
Students complete 60 units of required pathway courses as well as elective coursework to meet the graduation requirement of 190 units. The majority of the core curriculum is completed in the first 7 quarters. A variety of electives are offered to assist students in selecting a pathway and provide exposure to current issues and practices in pharmacy.
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Year 1 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall Quarter |
15 core units total |
Winter Quarter |
15.5 core units total |
Spring Quarter |
14.5 core units total |
Pharmacy Practice I
|
3.5 |
Pharmacy Practice II
|
3.5 |
Pharmacy Practice III
|
3.5 |
Biopharmaceutics
|
3.5 |
Biochemistry
|
4 |
Gross Anatomy
|
3 |
Thermodynamics
|
4.5 |
Advanced Organic Chemistry
|
3 |
From Biologics to Devices
|
3 |
Biostatistics
|
2.5 |
Histology
|
2 |
Drug Metabolism
|
3 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Pharmacy Law & Ethics
|
3 |
Genetics & Pharmacogenetics
|
2 |
Pharmaceutical Calculations
|
1 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Electives - Pathway Introductions
|
1 |
Electives |
1-2 |
Electives |
2 |
Electives |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Year 2 |
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Fall Quarter |
17 core units total |
Winter Quarter |
16.5 core units total |
Spring Quarter |
15.5 core units total |
Immunology
|
3 |
Therapeutics
|
3.5 |
Therapeutics
|
6 |
Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
|
5 |
Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
|
5 |
Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
|
4.5 |
Physiology
|
5 |
Physiology
|
3 |
Microbiology
|
2 |
Pharmacokinetic Variability
|
2.5 |
Pharmacokinetics
|
3 |
Health Policy
|
3 |
Applied Drug Information
|
1.5 |
Study Design
|
2 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Elective |
2-3 |
|
|
Electives |
1 |
|
|
Year 3 |
|||||
Fall Quarter |
13.5 core units total |
Winter Quarter |
8.5 core units total |
Spring Quarter |
12-15 core units total |
Therapeutics
|
6 |
Therapeutics
|
6 |
APPEs |
0 or 12 |
Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
|
4.5 |
Management
|
2 |
Electives / Pathway |
0 or 15 |
Pathology
|
3 |
Drug Information
|
0.5 |
|
|
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
|
0 |
|
|
Elective / Pathway |
2 |
Elective / Pathway |
2-7 |
|
|
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive examination is administered to all students upon completion of Fall quarter of the third year. The purpose of this examination is to test the readiness of students as they are about to begin their clinical coursework, and it must be successfully completed before any student may begin required Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs).
Year 4
In the fourth year, students complete pathway-specific courses and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). See the Pathway Curriculum for additional information on requirements, courses, and sample schedules.
Note: The requirements for graduation, including policies and specific courses, are subject to periodic review and may be changed as determined by the faculty of the School.
Go To: Curriculum Overview

