PharmD (Post-Bachelor) Course Description
| COURSE DESCRIPTION | Course Code | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapy I | DPH511 | 2 |
| This advanced-level course is designed for PharmD students with a strong interest in clinical practice, aiming to deepen their expertise in evidence-based pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular, thrombotic and renal disorders. The course focuses on optimizing therapeutic strategies through a comprehensive understanding of pathophysiology, clinical presentation, therapeutic goals, and the rationale behind drug selection based on current clinical guidelines and literature. This is in addition to presenting the students with the pharmacological, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of the drugs used to treat these diseases. Students will engage in high-level, case-based learning centered around complex cardiovascular and renal scenarios, with a strong emphasis on acute and specialized care settings. Through interactive discussions, critical appraisal of patient cases, and student-led presentations, learners will be encouraged to evaluate therapeutic options, justify clinical decisions, and anticipate complications. This course fosters the development of clinical reasoning and patient-centered care skills, preparing students to deliver safe, effective, and individualized pharmacotherapy across both high-acuity and chronic care environments. | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapy II | DPH512 | 2 |
| This advanced-level course is tailored for PharmD students interested in clinical practice, focusing on evidence-based pharmacotherapy for infectious and respiratory diseases. Emphasizing current guidelines and literature, it integrates knowledge of pathophysiology, clinical presentation, therapeutic goals, and drug properties, including pharmacologic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacokinetic aspects. Students will engage in case-based learning around complex clinical scenarios, particularly in acute and specialized care settings. Through interactive discussions, critical case appraisal, and student-led presentations, learners will evaluate therapeutic options, justify clinical decisions, and anticipate complications. The course fosters advanced clinical reasoning and patient-centered care skills, preparing students to deliver safe, individualized pharmacotherapy in both high-acuity and chronic care environments, strengthening their expertise in managing diverse patient populations. | ||
| Evidence Based Practice | DPH513 | 1+1 |
| This course introduces students to the principles and application of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in pharmacy and clinical decision-making. Students will learn how to apply EBP in drug information, systematic reviews and analyze clinical literature for its quality, impact and applicability in practice. It emphasizes the integration of best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values. Students will gain skills to critically appraise literature to apply evidence, conduct systematic reviews, and develop evidence-informed therapeutic guidelines to support optimal patient care. Students will then apply the learning to address the clinical questions to support optimal care in the patient. Students will be able to demonstrate skills across the five domains including asking a defined question, literature searching, critical appraisal, integrating evidence into clinical practice and self-reflection. | ||
| Advanced Clinical Case Discussions in Pharmacotherapy I | DPH514 | 0+2 |
| This course is designed for postgraduate PharmD students with a strong interest in clinical practice, aiming to refine their skills in evidence-based pharmacotherapy for infectious diseases, cardiovascular, and renal disorders. It provides an in-depth exploration of complex clinical scenarios, with a focus on optimizing patient-centered care in acute and specialized settings, the course uses complex case-based learning to challenge students in critically evaluating clinical scenarios and applying current guidelines and literature. Students will engage in advanced case-based discussions, focusing on challenging infectious disease, respiratory, endocrine, cardiology and renal cases. Learning will be enriched through interactive methods such as critical analysis of patient cases, debates on controversial treatment strategies, and student-led, encourage learners to defend therapeutic decisions, anticipate complications, and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams. The course ultimately prepares students to deliver optimized, individualized pharmacotherapy across high-acuity and chronic care environments. | ||
| Patient Assessment and MTM Skills | DPH515 | 0+2 |
| This course is designed to prepare future pharmacists with the essential competencies required to deliver high-quality, evidence-based patient care across diverse healthcare environments. Through practical, scenario-based training, students will develop hands-on skills tailored to real-world clinical situations and the most in-demand services within various care settings. The simulated skills‑lab course bridges foundational competencies with advanced, therapy‑specific skills required of clinical pharmacists in healthcare settings. Through simulations, role‑play, digital‑tool workshops, learners refine patient‑centered communication, documentation, physical‑assessment techniques, order verification, counselling on drugs, and inter‑professional collaboration. The course scaffolds practice from pharmacist patient care process to integrated management of anticoagulation, diabetes, and preventive care, emphasizing cultural competence, ethics, and reflective self‑development. | ||
| Clinical Pharmacokinetics and TDM | DPH516 | 1+1 |
| This course provides advanced knowledge and applied skills in clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). Students will explore core pharmacokinetic parameters, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME), and differentiate between linear and non-linear pharmacokinetic profiles. Emphasis is placed on patient-specific dosing adjustments across diverse populations, including those with renal and hepatic impairment, pediatric and geriatric patients, pregnant individuals, and the critically ill. Students will apply pharmacokinetic principles to design individualized drug regimens and interpret drug concentration data for commonly monitored medications. The course also develops clinical documentation skills through the structured writing of pharmacokinetic consult notes, preparing students to make safe, effective, and evidence-based therapeutic decisions in real-world healthcare settings. | ||
| Pharmacy Elective III - Drugs in Sport | DPH517 | 2 |
| This course introduces students to the scientific, regulatory, and ethical aspects of drug use in sports. Topics include the history of doping, the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) framework, and the pharmacology of performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic agents, stimulants, and hormones. Students will examine health risks, therapeutic use exemptions, dietary supplements and anti-doping detection methods. Emphasis is placed on the pharmacist's role in promoting athlete safety, preventing inadvertent doping, and supporting clean sport practices. Through case studies and applied learning, students gain critical skills in evaluating substances, counseling athletes, and contributing to the evolving field of sports pharmacy. | ||
| Pharmacy Elective III - Clinical Problems in Parenteral Nutrition | DPH518 | 2 |
| This course introduces the clinical and technical aspects of parenteral nutrition (PN), emphasizing patient-specific formulation, metabolic management, and sterility. Students will learn to conduct nutritional assessments, customize PN for specialized populations, and collaborate within interdisciplinary teams. By combining lectures, case studies, and simulations, this course equips Pharm D students with the practical skills to deliver safe, evidence-based PN therapy. | ||
| Directed Research I | DPH519 | 0+2 |
| In Directed Research I, students will conduct advanced clinical research projects independently under the mentorship of a faculty supervisor. The course emphasizes developing focused research questions, designing structured proposals, and ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards through Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission. Students will strengthen their ability to maintain accurate documentation, apply appropriate clinical research methods and data-handling techniques, and perform preliminary analysis. Progress and emerging findings will be communicated through professional written and oral formats, preparing students for more advanced analysis and dissemination in Directed Research II. | ||
| SEMESTER 2 | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapy III | DPH521 | 2 |
| This advanced Pharmacotherapy course provides an in-depth exploration of neuropsychiatric disorders, integrating pathophysiology with evidence-based treatment strategies. Emphasis is placed on the rational selection, optimization, and monitoring of pharmacological therapies for conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy. The course highlights clinical considerations, treatment resistance, adverse effect management, and the role of personalized medicine. Through case-based learning and critical appraisal of current guidelines, students will strengthen their ability to apply advanced pharmacotherapeutic principles in neuropsychiatric care. | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapy | DPH522 | 2 |
| This advanced course explores the therapeutic use of medications in treating neoplastic, hematologic, hormonal and gastrointestinal disorders. Emphasizing evidence-based decision-making, students will integrate principles from pathology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical pharmacy to manage complex cases. Topics include combination chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and stem cell transplantation, with attention to common cancers, special populations, and ethical considerations. Learners will gain a deep understanding of treatment strategies and their clinical applications, developing skills to evaluate and select optimal therapies. The course will be delivered through lectures, case studies, or problem-based learning formats. | ||
| Advanced Pharmacotherapy V | DPH523 | 2 |
| This course is designed to expand the PharmD students' clinical decision-making abilities in managing complex pharmacotherapeutic challenges associated with rheumatologic, immunologic disorders, and special thyroid populations. Utilizing evidence-based medicine, students will analyse advanced clinical cases, apply pharmacologic principles, and participate in collaborative learning environments. Active learning strategies—such as flipped classrooms, group discussions, TBL, and debates—will be used to develop practical skills for optimal patient care in acute and chronic conditions. | ||
| Advanced Clinical Case Discussions in Pharmacotherapy II | DPH524 | 0+2 |
| This course is designed for postgraduate PharmD students with a strong interest in clinical practice, aiming to refine their skills in evidence-based pharmacotherapy for neoplastic, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatologic, hematologic, immunologic disorders. It provides an in-depth exploration of complex clinical scenarios, with a focus on optimizing patient-centered care in acute and specialized settings, the course uses complex case-based learning to challenge students in critically evaluating clinical scenarios and applying current guidelines and literature. Students will engage in advanced case-based discussions, focusing on challenging neoplastic, gastrointestinal, rheumatologic, hematologic, immunologic cases. Learning will be enriched through interactive methods such as critical analysis of patient cases, debates on controversial treatment strategies, and student-led, encourage learners to defend therapeutic decisions, anticipate complications, and collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams. The course ultimately prepares students to deliver optimized, individualized pharmacotherapy across high-acuity and chronic care environments. | ||
| Prescribing Skills | DPH525 | 0+2 |
| This course aims to strengthen students’ competencies in prescribing, medication monitoring, effective communication with patients and healthcare providers, interpretation of clinical data, and pharmaceutical calculations. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully undertake the Prescribing Skills Assessment (PSA) examination. | ||
| System-Based Care & Population Health | DPH526 | 2 |
| This course explores the multifaceted nature of system-based care and its integration with population health principles. It examines the distinct roles, responsibilities, and interprofessional collaboration among healthcare providers and programs within today’s healthcare systems. Special attention is given to evaluating the quality of care delivered to diverse and vulnerable populations. The course emphasizes equipping future clinical pharmacists with the skills to design and implement targeted, population-specific interventions aimed at improving health outcomes, addressing social determinants of health, and shaping healthcare policy. | ||
| Pharmacy Elective IV - Critical Care | DPH527 | 2 |
| This course immerses pharmacy students in real-world clinical challenges commonly encountered in critical care settings, including the Medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Surgical ICU, Neuro-Critical Care Unity, Cardiac Care Unit, and Emergency Department. Students will explore the therapeutic rationale for managing selected conditions, with emphasis on evaluating treatment options, understanding their benefits and limitations, recognizing potential complications, and applying appropriate monitoring parameters. | ||
| Pharmacy Elective IV - Clinical Trials | DPH528 | 2 |
| This course will provide information on the fundamentals of clinical trials. The contents of this course will focus on aspects of developing research questions and defining endpoints, recruitment, randomization, blinding, data management & quality, monitoring, study closeout, and presentation /interpretation of results. The student will be implementing clinical research protocols including ethical issues and regulatory imperatives designed to protect human subjects in clinical research, adverse event reporting, protocol/proposal development and publications. | ||
| Directed Research II | DPH529 | 0+3 |
| The Directed Research II course develops essential research skills in pharmacy practice, focusing on data analysis, interpretation of results, and integration with existing literature. Students will learn to prepare scientific manuscripts, deliver effective research presentations, and apply strategies for academic publishing and dissemination. The course equips participants to contribute to evidence-based pharmacy practice and scholarly advancement. | ||
| Introduction to Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience | DPH426 | 1 |
| This course is designed to prepare students for success in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). It provides structured opportunities to develop essential knowledge and skills through case studies, collaborative group activities, evaluations, therapeutic topic reviews, and student–preceptor panel discussions. Didactic lectures supplement each activity to reinforce learning objectives. The course structure is informed by feedback from former APPE students, preceptors, and faculty, with the goal of clarifying expectations and reducing common uncertainties surrounding the APPE. Upon completion, students will be equipped to complete required APPE documentation, critically evaluate rotations, preceptors, and practice sites, avoid frequent student errors, accurately document clinical interventions, review medical charts, and demonstrate readiness for therapeutic decision-making and other professional practice responsibilities. | ||
| SEMESTER 3 SUMMER SEMESTER | ||
| Advanced Community Pharmacy | DPH531 | 5 |
| This course is designed to prepare students for success in advanced community pharmacy practice. It is a comprehensive, hands-on experience in the contemporary community pharmacy setting. Through direct patient care, students will refine and apply advanced clinical, communication, and operational skills necessary for successful pharmacy practice. Emphasis is placed on medication therapy management (MTM), patient counseling, immunization delivery, point-of-care testing, health screenings, and collaboration with other healthcare providers. Students will also participate in business operations, workflow optimization, inventory management, and regulatory compliance.
Throughout the rotation, students will demonstrate professional judgment, practice evidence-based decision-making, and engage in public health and wellness initiatives. Preceptors will provide structured guidance and regular feedback to help students transition from learners to competent entry-level practitioners. By the end of the experience, students will be expected to deliver patient-centered care independently, document clinical interventions accurately, and contribute meaningfully to the operations and services of a community pharmacy practice. | ||
| Year 2 | ||
| Mandatory Rotations | ||
| Hospital Pharmacy Operations | DPH601 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) hospital pharmacy rotation in a hospital or health system pharmacy, where they will apply the broad clinical and practice skills learned throughout the first years of the curriculum, under the mentorship of a licensed pharmacist preceptor. Students will have the opportunity to identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems and manage medication therapy to ensure that medications are appropriate, safe, effective, and used correctly. Students will collect, analyze and disseminate patient information to the healthcare team, interview patients when appropriate and utilize drug information references while providing direct patient-centered care. Students will also discuss the relationship between medication distribution and clinical pharmacy services within the hospital setting. Evaluate prescription orders and identify and communicate the appropriateness of specific pharmacotherapeutic agents, dosing regimens, dosage forms, routes of administration, and delivery systems to prescribers, nurses, patients, and caregivers as appropriate. They will accurately perform calculations, when appropriate and demonstrate competency with compounding sterile products. Understanding and familiarity with USP 797/800 practices. | ||
| Ambulatory Care | DPH602 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) ambulatory care clinical rotation in a clinic or office practice environment working with a multidisciplinary health care team, where they will apply the broad clinical and practice skills learned throughout the first years of the curriculum, under the mentorship and guidance of a licensed pharmacist preceptor. Students will apply principles of pharmacotherapy to patient care and be familiar with clinical practice guidelines and discuss the disease state, clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of drugs commonly used in the area of specialty when appropriate. They will have the opportunity to evaluate therapeutic regimens of patients seen in the specialty area when appropriate and utilize drug information references while providing direct patient-centered care. Students will identify, resolve, and prevent medication-related problems and manage medication therapy to ensure that medications are appropriate, safe, effective, and used correctly. They will discuss the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and treatment options for common diseases seen in the ambulatory care setting. This is in addition to interviewing patients seen in the specialty area, when appropriate and apply principals of practice management. Students will be expected to function as an effective member of the interprofessional healthcare team while displaying cultural sensitivity while providing care (including major public health issues) and using appropriate communication strategies to communicate effectively with members of the healthcare team. | ||
| Internal Medicine | DPH603 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) inpatient hospital pharmacy rotation in an internal medicine practice setting working with a multidisciplinary health care team, where they will apply the broad clinical and practice skills learned throughout the first years of the curriculum, under the mentorship of a licensed pharmacist preceptor. Students will apply principles of pharmacotherapy to patient care and discuss the disease state, clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of drugs commonly used in the area of specialty when appropriate. They will evaluate therapeutic regimens of patients seen in the specialty area when appropriate and utilize drug information references while providing direct patient-centered care. Students will identify, resolve, prevent and report medication-related problems and manage medication therapy to ensure that medications are appropriate, safe, effective, and used correctly. This is in addition to discussing the pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and treatment options for common diseases seen in the inpatient setting while applying principles of pharmacotherapy to patient care. Students will have the opportunity to develop a monitoring plan for patients in the acute care setting when appropriate. They will describe the clinical pharmacology of commonly used medications in the inpatient setting while functioning as an effective member of the interprofessional healthcare team. All of these activities are expected to be done while displaying cultural sensitivity while providing care and using appropriate communication strategies to communicate effectively with members of the healthcare team. | ||
| Infectious Diseases | DPH604 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) inpatient hospital pharmacy rotation in an infectious disease practice setting working with a multidisciplinary health care team, where they will apply the broad clinical and practice skills learned throughout the first years of the curriculum, under the mentorship of a licensed pharmacist preceptor. Students will apply principles of pharmacotherapy to patients with infectious diseases and discuss the disease state, clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of drugs commonly used in this area. They will evaluate therapeutic regimens of patients with infectious diseases and utilize drug information references while providing direct patient-centered care. Students will identify, resolve, prevent and report medication-related problems and manage medication therapy to ensure that medications are appropriate, safe, effective, and used correctly. This is in addition to participating in antibiotic stewardship programs at the site. Students will have the opportunity to develop a monitoring plan for patients in the acute care setting when appropriate. They will describe the clinical pharmacology of commonly used medications in the inpatient setting while functioning as an effective member of the interprofessional healthcare team. All of these activities are expected to be done while displaying cultural sensitivity while providing care and using appropriate communication strategies to communicate effectively with members of the healthcare team. | ||
| Critical Care | DPH605 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) critical care rotation in an intensive care unit (ICU), working with a multidisciplinary health care team under the guidance of a licensed pharmacist preceptor. They will apply principles of pharmacotherapy to critically ill patients, focusing on disease states, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and the clinical pharmacology of drugs commonly used in critical care. Students will evaluate therapeutic regimens, develop monitoring plans, and utilize drug information resources to ensure that medication therapy is appropriate, safe, effective, and tailored to the needs of complex patients.
Emphasis will be placed on the management of acute, life-threatening conditions such as sepsis, shock, respiratory failure, and multi-organ dysfunction, as well as the safe use of high-risk medications including antimicrobials, anticoagulants, sedatives, and vasopressors. Students will function as effective members of the interprofessional team by identifying, resolving, and preventing medication-related problems, while communicating recommendations clearly and with cultural sensitivity. | ||
| Elective – Any Two (One Clinical, One Non-Clinical) | ||
| Cardiology | DPH606 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Geriatrics | DPH607 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Oncology | DPH608 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Pediatrics | DPH609 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Disease State Management | DPH610 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Leadership and Management | DPH611 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Quality Assurance and Quality Control | DPH612 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Academic Pharmacy | DPH613 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
| Pharmaceutical Industry (Marketing, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, etc.) | DPH614 | 5 |
| Students will complete a 5-week (200 hour) pharmacy elective rotation in areas of high interest, where they are given opportunities to experience and perform activities from a broad menu of opportunities. Rotations may include additional community, hospital or clinical experiences, specialty pharmacy practice experiences involving focused clinical areas, compounding, research, academia, industry, drug information, and others. | ||
Remedial Courses | ||
| Tailored Pharmacotherapy | DPH520 | 0 |
| The Tailored Pharmacotherapy (Remedial) Course is designed for incoming Postgraduate PharmD students who have not completed an integrated pharmacotherapy curriculum during their Bachelor of Pharmacy studies. This course serves to strengthen foundational clinical knowledge and bridge academic gaps, ensuring readiness for advanced PharmD coursework and experiential training. The course focuses on essential disease states and therapeutic principles across selected high-impact areas, including cardiology, renal disorders, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and infectious diseases. Through a combination of evidence-based lectures, interactive case discussions, and problem-solving exercises, students will review core pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, and clinical decision-making skills. | ||