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Degree Overview

Doctor of Pharmacy

Kirsten Boggs-Mock, Doctor of Pharmacy, Class of 2019
South University Savannah's Doctor of Pharmacy program prepares graduates to thrive in their choice of pharmacy practice setting. The role of pharmacists in the medical field is changing and evolving to meet the demands of the profession and society. The Pharmacy degree curriculum at South University, Savannah is structured to produce graduates who can adapt to the profession’s changes while also maintaining high standards of pharmacy practice. South graduates excel in community practice, hospital practice, residency training, the pharmaceutical industry and business. Our curriculum provides students with four years of learning within three calendar years. The program develops graduates with the skills they need to provide excellent care to those they serve. In addition, our PharmD Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program is an option that can enhance student’s business skills. 
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Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education

South University Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500; Chicago, IL 60602-5109; 312-664-3575; www.acpe-accredit.org).

Read More On Accreditations

Admissions Calendar

Admissions Calendar 2019-2020

July 2019
Start Accepting Applications for 2019

September 2019 - April 2020
Admissions Interviews

April 1, 2020
Application Deadline

May 2020
Admissions Decisions Finalize

June 2020
Classes begin

Admission Requirements

Please see the South University academic catalog for program specific admissions requirements.

Career Outlook

Community/Independent Pharmacy Careers: Retail pharmacists dispense medications at drug stores or grocery stores. Some pharmacists own independent pharmacies and are able to provide more personalized care to their patients. Retail pharmacists are becoming more involved in direct patient care through such activities as counseling patients on disease states, including diabetes and hypertension, medication therapy management (MTM) and administering immunizations.

Clinical Pharmacy Careers: Clinical pharmacists work in a hospital or in a clinic setting as part of a medical care team. They typically visit patients with a physician and help to determine which medications and doses would be most effective for each patient's condition. In addition, they facilitate clinics which provide services such as anticoagulation and disease state management. They are more involved in drug therapy initiation and management than pharmacists in some other settings.

Long-term care: Long-term care facilities are homes where ongoing care is provided to the elderly or incapacitated individuals who are not in need of acute medical care but who are unable to care for themselves. Pharmacists in this setting review the medications of the patients living in these homes and provide recommendations to the providers of care.

Nuclear Pharmacy Careers: Nuclear pharmacists are responsible for measuring and delivering the radioactive materials which are used in digital imaging (MRI, CT, etc.) and other procedures in medical offices and hospitals. Due to the nature of the radioactive materials and how they are handled, nuclear pharmacists are typically required to start each work day very early, sometimes pre-dawn, as the radioactive materials must be delivered within a few hours of their use, or they lose their effectiveness.

Home infusion: These pharmacists are responsible for preparing intravenous medications for patients requiring such products as antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, or chemotherapy.

Academia: Pharmacists are an integral part of the faculty in Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy. In this setting, pharmacists are responsible for didactic teaching of clinical pharmacy courses and also serve as preceptors for students completing rotations, giving them the opportunity to observe clinical pharmacy activities.

Pharmaceutical Industry: Pharmacists are often employed by companies within the pharmaceutical industry to provide drug information, in depth information to healthcare providers, or facilitate clinical trials.

Pharmacy Management: Pharmacy District and Regional Managers supervise teams of pharmacy managers and staff pharmacists within a retail chain.

This list only represents a sample of the many practice opportunities that are available to pharmacists.

Curriculum

Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program Curriculum and Courses: 220.5 Credits
1st Quarter (Summer Quarter) 18 Credits
PHA3101 Biochemistry I, 3 Credit Hours
PHA3113 Pathophysiology I, 5 Credit Hours
PHA3118 Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, 4 Credit Hours
PHA3119 Professional Practice and Informatics, 2 Credit Hours
PHA3127 Pharmaceutical Calculations, 3 Credit Hours
PHA3145 Integrated Pharmacy Skills Laboratory I, 1 Credit Hour
2nd Quarter (Fall Quarter) 17.5 Credits
PHA3102 Biochemistry II, 3 Credit Hours
PHA3114 Pathophysiology II, 4 Credit Hours
PHA3116 Pharmaceutics I, 4 Credit Hours
PHA3136 Integrated Pharmacy Skills Laboratory II, 2 Credit Hours
PHA3150 Health Care Systems, 2 Credit Hours
PHA3152 Communications, 2.5 Credit Hours
3rd Quarter (Winter Quarter) 18 Credits
PHA3109 Microbiology/Immunology, 5 Credit Hours
PHA3110 Molecular Biology, 3 Credit Hours
PHA3117 Pharmaceutics II, 2 Credit Hours
PHA3124 Pharmacotherapy I, 2 Credit Hours
PHA3137 Integrated Pharmacy Skills Laboratory III, 2 Credit Hours
PHA3162 Integrated Sequence I, 4 Credit Hours
4th Quarter (Spring Quarter) 18 Credits
PHA4212 Pharmacokinetics I, 4 Credit Hours
PHA4225 Pharmacotherapy II, 3 Credit Hours
PHA4238 Integrated Pharmacy Skills Laboratory IV, 1 Credit Hour
PHA4254 Pharmacy Law/Ethics, 2 Credit Hours
PHA4264 Integrated Sequence II - Infectious Disease, 5 Credit Hours
PHA4265 Integrated Sequence III - Inflammation, 3 Credit Hours
5th Quarter (Summer Quarter) 16 Credits
PHA4280 Community Professional Practice Experience, 8 Credit Hours
PHA4281 Institutional Professional Practice Experience, 8 Credit Hours
6th Quarter (Fall Quarter) 18 Credits
PHA4228 Pharmacokinetics II, 3 Credit Hours
PHA4236 Leadership and Advocacy, 1 Credit Hour
PHA4335 Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatics, 3 Credit Hours
PHA4367 Integrated Sequence IV - Autonomics, 5 Credit Hours
PHA4368 Integrated Sequence V - GI/Hepatic Therapeutics, 3 Credit Hours

Elective 3 credit hours

7th Quarter (Winter Quarter) 16 Credits
PHA5333 Drug Information, Literature Evaluation, Research Design and Methods, 3 Credit Hours
PHA5353 Pharmacy Practice Management, 3 Credit Hours
PHA5369 Integrated Sequence VI - Cardiology, 7 Credit Hours
PHA5370 Integrated Sequence VII - Renal Therapeutics, 3 Credit Hours
8th Quarter (Spring Quarter) 17 Credits
PHA5331 Applied Pharmaceutical Care I, 4 Credit Hours
PHA5371 Integrated Sequence VIII - Central Nervous System, 6 Credit Hours
PHA5372 Integrated Sequence IX - Endocrine Therapeutics, 4 Credit Hours
  • Electives 3 credit hours
9th Quarter (Summer Quarter)
PHA5332 Applied Pharmaceutical Care II, 3 Credit Hours
PHA5350 Health Economics and Outcomes Assessment, 2 Credit Hours
PHA5351 Integrated Sequence XI - Hematology/Oncology, 3 Credit Hours
PHA5352 Complementary and Preventive Medicine, 2 Credit Hours
PHA5373 Critical Care, 4 Credit Hours
  • Electives 3 credit hours
10th, 11th, and 12th Quarters (Fall/Winter/Spring Quarters) 65 Credits

Advanced Professional Practice Experience Rotations*

Students are required to take the following:

PHA6500 Essential Knowledge of Practice Review I, 3 Credit Hours
PHA6501 Essential Knowledge of Practice Review II, 3 Credit Hours
PHA6502 Essential Knowledge of Practice Review III, 3 Credit Hours
PHA6525 APPE I: Advanced Community Rotation, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6526 APPE II: Ambulatory Care Rotation, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6527 APPE III: Inpatient General Medicine Rotation, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6528 APPE IV: Advanced Institutional Rotation, 8 Credit Hours

Students are required to take three of the following:

PHA6529 APPE V: Elective - Institutional Care Rotation I, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6530 APPE VI: Elective - Institutional Care Rotation II, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6531 APPE VII: Elective - Institutional Care Rotation III, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6532 APPE VIII: Elective - Community Care Rotation I, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6533 APPE IX: Elective - Community Care Rotation II, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6534 APPE X: Elective - Community Care Rotation III, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6535 APPE XI: Elective - Non-Patient Care Rotation, 8 Credit Hours
PHA6536 APPE XII: Elective - Administrative Rotation, 8 Credit Hours

One additional elective is available and will add one credit to the program for a total of 221.5 credit hours.

PHA6339 Grand Rounds, 1 Credit Hour

(Optional additional elective)

Note(s):

*Students are required to take 7 of the 12 listed rotations (56 credit hours) along with the 3 Essential Knowledge of Practice Review courses (9 credit hours) for a total of 65 required credit hours.  Students will take  PHA6525 , PHA6526 , PHA6527 , PHA6528 , PHA6500 , PHA6501 , PHA6502 and any combination of three of the following: PHA6529, PHA6530, PHA6531, PHA6532, PHA6533, PHA6534, PHA6535, PHA6536.  In addition, Grand Rounds (PHA6339) is an optional elective that students may elect to take in one of the last three quarters of the curriculum and will be scheduled at the discretion of the School of Pharmacy.

Prerequisites

All pre-pharmacy coursework must be completed prior to matriculation to the South University Doctor of Pharmacy program on or before May 25th of the program entrance year. The student must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each prerequisite course.

Prerequisites for June 2020

Course Title

Semester Hours

English Composition

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Literature (a)

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Biology I and II with Labs (b)

8 sem. hrs. (2 sem.) / 12 qtr. hrs.

Microbiology

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

General Chemistry I and II with Labs (b)

8 sem. hrs. (2 sem.) / 12 qtr. hrs.

Organic Chemistry I and II with Labs (b)

8 sem. hrs. (2 sem.) / 12 qtr. hrs.

Anatomy and Physiology I and II (c)

6 sem. hrs. (2 sem.) / 10 qtr. hrs.

Physics I (d)

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Economics

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Psychology or Sociology

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Public Speaking

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Calculus

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Statistics

3 sem. hrs. (1 sem.) / 5 qtr. hrs.

Electives (e)

6 sem. hrs. (2 sem.) / 10 qtr. hrs.

TOTAL

60-65 hours / 96-101 hours

Comments on above:

  • English, American or World Literature are preferred to meet the Literature requirement.  One English Composition is required.  A second English Composition course may be accepted in lieu of a Literature course at the discretion of the Office of Admissions.
  • These courses must include a “live” lab.   Students with science courses taken prior to 2012-2013 will be required to retake one modern Biology and one modern Chemistry course to meet the prerequisite requirements.
  • A lab is recommended but not required for Anatomy and Physiology I and II.  A separate course of Anatomy and a separate course of Physiology will be accepted in lieu of combined courses.
  • A lab is recommended but not required for Physics I.
  • Electives should in the Humanities, Social/Behavioral Sciences or Arts.  Substitutions may be accepted at the discretion of the Office of Admissions.

 

Outcomes

Domain 1: Foundational Knowledge

  1. Apply principles of chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology to medication safety and efficacy.
  2. Apply the principles of pharmaceutical science and calculations to drug design and drug delivery systems.
  3. Apply pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenomic principles to therapeutic strategies.
  4. Compare and contrast the physiology and biochemistry of normal body system function to that of abnormal function.
  5. Critically analyze literature related to drugs and diseases to enhance clinical decision-making.

Domain 2: Essentials for Practice and Care

  1. Collect subjective and objective patient information to identify medication and medical-related problems.
  2. Assess and analyze information to determine effectiveness of therapy, identify problems, and prioritize needs to achieve optimal patient care.
  3. Design an individual patient-centered care plan in collaboration with the patient and other health care professionals that is evidence-based and cost-effective to maximize desired effects.
  4. Implement the care plan in collaboration with the patient, caregiver, and other healthcare professionals.
  5. Follow-up and monitor the care plan to evaluate its effectiveness and modify the plan as needed.

Domain 3: Approach to Practice and Care of Individual Patients

  1. Demonstrate accurate, safe, and time-sensitive preparation, dispensing, and administration of pharmaceuticals.
  2. Manage pharmacy resources to optimize pharmacotherapy outcomes for individual patients.
  3. Educate patients and health care providers.

Domain 4: Approach to Practice and Care of Populations

  1. Demonstrate skills needed to participate in, or provide, preventive services.
  2. Apply research processes to ensure informed decision-making.

Personal and Professional Development

  1. Examine personal attributes that may enhance or limit personal and professional growth.
  2. Demonstrate responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of organizational position.
  3. Engage in innovative and creative methods to accomplish goals. 
  4. Demonstrate professional citizenship in the delivery of patient care, distribution of medications, and the promotion of wellness and disease prevention.
  5. Advocate for the profession and patients.
  6. Effectively communicate verbally and nonverbally when interacting with an individual, group, or organization.
  7. Demonstrate problem solving skills including the ability to think critically, exercise professional judgment, and articulate and defend a decision.
  8. Exhibit behaviors and values that are consistent with the trust bestowed to the profession by patients, other healthcare providers, and society.
  9. Demonstrate knowledge of, and compliance with, federal and state laws/regulations governing the practice of pharmacy.

Create Value for Stakeholders of the Health Care System

  1. Demonstrate the ability to create a business plan and/or strategy to launch a new service, product, or business line or improve an existing one.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to apply performance improvement strategies to monitor the quality of a service, product, or business.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to apply business and financial management tools to monitor the performance of a service, product, or business.

Handbooks

School of Pharmacy Handbooks

Download the School of Pharmacy Student Handbook below

Download the Experiential Education handbooks or rotation calendars/schedules for South University preceptors below.

School Overview

South University School of Pharmacy

The South University School of Pharmacy welcomes students into a learning community designed to facilitate critical thinking and develop problem-solving skills while providing the industry current technology and coursework essential for real-world practice. Our accelerated PharmD program is one of only a limited number nationwide and the only one in the Southeastern United States that provides four academic years of study within three calendar years.

Outstanding Education for Remarkable Careers

Success Stories

We're committed to helping our graduates make impact in their professional and personal lives. We applaud our pharmacy alumni and the difference they make. Check out what our graduates have to say.

Sonia Patel 2010
Sonia Patel Grad Alumni
Class of '10
Doctor of Pharmacy

“Being in a fast-paced, accelerated year-round program really helped me with organization, time management, and prioritization skills which are useful for any career—not just pharmacy. Both staff and faculty were very opening and welcoming and willing to help. It felt like a small community, and I always felt at home.”

Maria Alvarado Manning 2009
Maria Alvarado Manning Grad Alumni
Class of '09
Doctor of Pharmacy

“One of the most amazing things I've discovered about myself at South is my ability to organize people and motivate groups to work for the things they care about. I'm no longer the shy one. In fact, the conferences I've been able to attend, the leadership opportunities in student activities; all that I've found at South have allowed me not only to grow professionally, but to break further out of that quiet place I used to know.”

Christine Somers null
Christine Somers Grad Alumni
Class of '10
Doctor of Pharmacy

“I was a little older than students at most pharmacy schools, and I just wanted to get it all done, so South University's accelerated program and intensity appealed to me. The School really prepares you for what you'll be doing.”

Bill Trinh 2009
Bill Trinh Grad Alumni
Class of '09
Doctor of Pharmacy

“One of the biggest gifts that I've gotten from studying at South University, besides the incredible relationships and support from colleagues and faculty, is a new awareness about my future. In the past, I used to hope for a place to go, and now I know exactly where I want to go. I have supreme confidence in where I am headed. My experience at South has crystallized my desire to be an advocator and leader in the field of pharmacy.”

Andria Slaton 2008
Andria Slaton Grad Alumni
Class of '08
Doctor of Pharmacy

“I gained a vast knowledge in the practice of pharmacy and how to look at the bigger picture when it comes to patients. I also learned how to question and investigate certain situations in order to make better decisions on behalf of my patients.”

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