Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private institution that opened in 1855 and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school boasts a 100 percent job placement rate for its pharmacy program, as of October 2010. Students in Butler's Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program typically spend two years completing prerequisite courses in mathematics, science and humanities and then apply for admission to the professional phase of the program.
The professional phase of the program lasts for four years and allows would-be pharmacists to complete either a traditional course of study or research-intensive curriculum. The latter program is geared toward students who do not wish to work directly in the field, but rather conduct research studies into new drugs or other pharmaceutical related topics. Students in the traditional program. complete brief clinical rotations with medical facilities, retail hospitals. Prior to graduation, an extended 10-month internship is also required. Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also offers a joint Pharm.D. and Master of Business Administration program.
The Purdue University College of Pharmacy is in West Lafayette, Indiana, about 65 miles northwest of Indianapolis and 90 miles south of Gary. This public college tied for ninth among all pharmacy schools in the United States in the 2008 "U.S. News and World Report" rankings.
To qualify for admission and consideration to the school's Pharm.D. program, students must first complete two years of undergraduate coursework at Purdue or any other accredited college or university. Prerequisite courses include organic chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology as well as mathematics and social sciences. Students in the professional phase of the program spend four years at the Purdue University College of Pharmacy completing the course requirements. Among these are classes in dosing, patient safety, community health care and toxicology. Prior to graduation, all students participate in clinical rotations in an outpatient clinic, an inpatient hospital and a community pharmacy. The college also offers a joint Pharm.D. and Ph.D. program for students who wish to earn a doctoral degree in a scientific field such as medical chemistry.
Established in 1859, the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy is the oldest academic unit of the public University of Illinois system. The college has about 650 students in its professional pharmacy program and also tied for ninth among all schools of pharmacy in the "U.S. News and World Report" 2008 rankings.
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy admits about 160 students per year into its Pharm.D. program. Applicants must have two years of undergraduate coursework experience in the natural and social sciences and mathematics to qualify for admission. Undergraduate coursework can be completed at any accredited college or university. In addition to coursework in drugs and drug therapy, the four-year Pharm.D. program requires admitted students to take courses related to leadership, communication and patient education. The entire final year of the program is spent in clinical internships through a variety of settings in the Chicago area. The university also offers both a joint Pharm.D. and Ph.D. program and a joint Pharm.D. and Master of Science in Health Informatics.