The Doctorate in Pharmacy is the minimum degree required to become a practicing pharmacist. Because it is a graduate degree requiring high levels of scientific and medical knowledge, only schools with medical and other health science programs, such as the University of Washington or University of California at San Francisco, offer PharmD degrees. Students undergo significant classroom instruction as well as laboratory sections, research and clinical practicums in professional pharmacy settings. PharmD education leads to careers in retail and hospital pharmacies as well as opportunities with pharmaceutical companies.
Some schools of pharmacy also offer advanced degrees, most commonly the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacy. PhDs are research degrees requiring students to participate in pharmacological research and develop new findings. As a result, only research institutions offer them. Schools like the University of Washington, which participates in privately and publicly funded research programs, offer the PhD, which can take six or more years to complete. This degree is most beneficial to pharmacists looking to move beyond pharmacy practice and engage in careers in research and instruction.
Select research institutions, such as University of California at San Francisco, offer pharmacy programs that combine with other health care and science disciplines to form specialized dual-degree tracks. These include combining PharmD programs with a Masters in Public Health for students interested in management or health care administration careers, and PharmD combined with either a Master of Science in Clinical Research or a PhD in Pharmacy for those interested in pharmaceutical and academic research careers.
PharmD programs require students to begin preparation during their undergraduate studies. Students must get foundations in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, microbiology calculus and statistics. They must also be well-rounded and able to communicate, which is why many schools require humanities, social sciences, English composition, and economics. Every school of pharmacy has its own standards. Undergraduates should review the requirements of the schools they favor for their intended PharmD degree and plan their coursework accordingly.