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School of Pharmacy

UCSF School of Pharmacy
UCSFSchool of PharmacyPharmD Degree ProgramCurriculumCore Curriculum Overview

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:

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.

Year 1

Fall Quarter

15 core units total

Winter Quarter

15.5 core units total

Spring Quarter

14.5 core units total

Pharmacy Practice I
CP 111

3.5

Pharmacy Practice II
CP 112

3.5

Pharmacy Practice III
CP 113

3.5

Biopharmaceutics
BPS 111

3.5

Biochemistry
Biochem 112

4

Gross Anatomy
Anat 116

3

Thermodynamics
Pharm Chem 111

4.5

Advanced Organic Chemistry
Pharm Chem 113

3

From Biologics to Devices
BPS 113

3

Biostatistics
BPS 112

2.5

Histology
Anat 115

2

Drug Metabolism
PC 114

3

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 119 A

0

Pharmacy Law & Ethics
CP 115

3

Genetics & Pharmacogenetics
BPS 115

2

Pharmaceutical Calculations
CP 110

1

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 119 B

0

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 119 C

0

Electives - Pathway Introductions
CP 155: Introduction to Pharmacy Pathways and Careers

1

Electives

1-2

Electives

2

Electives

2

 

 

Year 2

Fall Quarter

17 core units total

Winter Quarter

16.5 core units total

Spring Quarter

15.5 core units total

Immunology
Micro 121

3

Therapeutics
CP 120

3.5

Therapeutics
CP 121

6

Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
PC 121 / PCol 121

5

Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
PC 122 / PCol 122

5

Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
PC 123 / PCol 123

4.5

Physiology
Physio 121

5

Physiology
Physio 122

3

Microbiology
Micro 120

2

Pharmacokinetic Variability
BPS 121

2.5

Pharmacokinetics
BPS 122

3

Health Policy
CP 123

3

Applied Drug Information
CP 125

1.5

Study Design
CP 124

2

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 129 C

0

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 129 A

0

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 129 B

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
CP 130

6

Therapeutics
CP 131

6

APPEs

0 or 12

Pharmaceutical Chem / Pharmacology
PC 131 / PCol 131

4.5

Management
CP 134

2

Electives / Pathway

0 or 15

Pathology
Path 135

3

Drug Information
CP 135B

0.5

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 139 A

0

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences
CP 139 B

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

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