UW School of Pharmacy - Academic & Student Programs

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy is proud of its strong commitment to excellence and the recognition given to its faculty, students and graduates for their outstanding educational, research and service activities. The School’s Doctor of Pharmacy Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

The UW School of Pharmacy, established in 1894 as the 51st school of pharmacy in the United States, has the primary mission to prepare graduates for entry into a life-long career in the profession of pharmacy as providers of pharmaceutical care, defined as healthcare services and health promotion and disease prevention activities to insure that medications are used safely, effectively and in a cost-efficient manner to improve a patient’s well being and quality of life. Because the provision of pharmaceutical care requires knowledge generated from basic and applied research, research is inseparable from the educational mission.

The second mission of the School is to support research and graduate education and to foster the interest of students who seek to engage in research in both its professional and graduate programs.

A third mission is to promote lifelong learning of pharmacists by facilitating opportunities for postgraduate and continuing education.

For a copy of the School of Pharmacy's learning goals, please click here. You will need adobe acrobat reader to view.

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is the sole degree endorsed by national pharmacy organizations and the only professional degree in pharmacy accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the national pharmacy accrediting agency.

The limited class enrollment allows for individualized attention from instructors while still enjoying the benefits of attending a large university. Instructional methods emphasize the critical thinking, problem-solving and clinical skills necessary to: provide rational drug therapy, reduce medication-related problems, promote healthy lifestyles and disease prevention, optimize health outcomes, enhance patient adherence and render care in a changing health care system . The School aspires to foster a commitment to life-long learning and provide an environment where students develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills consistent with the profession’s high standards.

UW PharmD students are involved in a wide variety of projects beyond the world of academics. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities that prepare them to tackle our health care system’s critical challenges. The list below is a small sample of student projects and involvement.

Students are invited to serve on a number of School of Pharmacy Committees including:

Unified Professional Pharmacy Organizations of Washington
(UPPOW)
UPPOW includes membership to the Washington State Pharmacy Association, the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the National Community Pharmacists Association. Students have the opportunity to explore career options, participate in community outreach and legislative activities, attend continuing education seminars, craft initiatives with students from other schools of pharmacy and meet pharmacy leaders from around the country.

Kappa Psi
Kappa Psi is the third largest pharmacy organization in America. The Beta Omicron Chapter at the UW School of Pharmacy offers its members many opportunities to participate in professional and community service activities.

Rho Chi Society
The Rho Chi Society, encourages and recognizes excellence in intellectual achievement and fosters fellowship among its members. Further, the Society encourages high standards of conduct and character, and advocates critical inquiry in all aspects of pharmacy.

Phi Lambda Sigma
Phi Lambda Sigma promotes the development of service and leadership qualities in the advancement of pharmacy.

Lambda Kappa Sigma
LKS is an international professional pharmacy fraternity that promotes the cultural, social, intellectual and professional development among its members. Emphasis is placed on women’s health issues.

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists is the international professional association that provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to advance the practice of consultant and senior care pharmacy.

Students may take selected courses as electives or complete the entire program series to earn a certificate concurrently with their PharmD degree. During their tenure in the PharmD Program, students will be provided with information about these certificate opportunities

Biomedical and Regulatory Affairs
(Sponsored by the School of Pharmacy and the School of Law)
This program is designed for individuals seeking an introductory or expanded understanding of regulatory affairs for the drug and medical device industry, and for others seeking training positions in the field. Program participants gain a comprehensive overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective regulatory affairs and compliance specialist. Such specialists oversee the design, development, testing and production of drugs, biotechnology- derived therapeutics, or medical devices.

Pharmacy Management Certificate Program
(Sponsored by the School of Pharmacy and the School of Business)
Eligibility - restricted to full-time students enrolled in the PharmD Program. Selection for the program is based upon academic accomplishment in professional courses, school activities, a statement of goals and objectives, previous experience and a personal interview.

This program is designed to prepare students for ownership and for management positions in community pharmacies, institutional pharmacies and retail chain organizations. Participants complete courses in marketing, human resource management, accounting and pharmacy management as well as a 10-week paid summer management internship in one of the collaborating partner organizations.

Plein Certificate in Geriatrics
Eligibility – Pharmacists and pharmacy students
This program is designed to train pharmacists to become specialists in geriatrics to meet the needs of older adults in all practice settings. Certificate Program graduates will possess the values, knowledge and skills to provide consultations on drug therapy and education on geriatric pharmacotherapy for patients, health care professionals, students and the lay public.

Teaching Certificate in Pharmacy Education
Eligibility - PharmD students must have successfully completed the first professional year; for others, the certificate is currently limited to those in the UW system. This program prepares current and future pharmacy educators for academic teaching in pharmacy.

Dual degree programs require that a student first apply and be accepted as a UW School of Pharmacy PharmD student. During their tenure as a PharmD student, interested students can contact the Departments affiliated with the Dual Degree Programs to inquire about opportunities and application.

PharmD and PhD in Pharmaceutics
This program provides graduate training in pharmaceutics concurrent with clinical training in the PharmD Program. Graduates of this dual degree program are qualified to conduct research in drug formulation, delivery and disposition, drug interactions and related areas within the pharmaceutical industry or in academic research. Drug interactions and Pharmacogenetics are a focus of the Department of Pharmaceutics.

PharmD and PhD in Medicinal Chemistry
This program provides graduate training in medicinal chemistry concurrent with clinical training in the PharmD Program. Graduates of this dual degree program are qualified to conduct research within the pharmaceutical industry or in academic science. Research includes a broad spectrum of activities including studies pursuant to investigations of the interactions of both drugs and toxic substances with biological systems, and the relationship of chemical structure and dynamics to biological effect and function. Drug metabolism is a focus of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry.

PharmD and MS in Pharmaceutical Outcomes, Research and Policy (extended program)
This program provides graduate training in pharmaceutical outcomes research and policy concurrent with clinical training in the PharmD Program. Graduates of this dual degree program provide pharmacoepidemiologic, pharmacoeconomic and policy information, through research and scholarship, to government, the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, and managed care organizations.

Individuals who wish to practice pharmacy in the United States must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an accredited college or school of pharmacy, complete state-specific required internship hours, meet other licensing requirements and pass licensing examinations. Washington State uses the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) to test knowledge, skills and judgment as an entry-level pharmacist and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) to test knowledge and judgment on both federal and state laws and rules.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy notified the School that in 2006, University of Washington School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy graduates achieved a pass rate of 96.59% on the NAPLEX and 95.31% on the MPJE as first-time candidates. Pass rates of UW graduates may be found here.

The University of Washington School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Program is an outstanding program fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) does not rank the institutions that provide pharmacy education in the US, nor endorse any publication that ranks pharmacy degree programs. AACP further states that the
subjective factors that should go into any ranking system are not adequately addressed by any of the known publications that currently rank schools. Applicants should carefully choose a pharmacy degree program based upon factors that reflect their learning needs, including program content, geographic location, faculty, facilities, experiential training opportunities, class size, student demographics, extra-curricular opportunities and cost. Potential applicants can utilize the “Search and Compare US Pharmacy Degree Programs” tool on the AACP website.

University of Washington’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 311 West Superior Street, Suite 512, Chicago, IL 60610, 312–664– 3575, 1–800–533–3606; FAX 312–664–4652. ACPE standards may be viewed at: www.acpe-accredit.org. Questions regarding these standards may be directed to the Office of Academic and Student Programs at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy or the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.