Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in Claremont, CA, prepares students for the increasingly diverse roles pharmacists play in providing healthcare. Whether at the corner pharmacy or in the corporate sector, KGI educates PharmDs for the future.

The pharmacy field is evolving rapidly. A deeper understanding of the chemical, physical, and biological bases of life—together with advances in information technology—have launched a new era of personalized medicine. Breakthroughs in biopharmaceuticals and gene and stem cell therapies—along with the convergence of therapeutics, diagnostics, and devices—are altering medical care. Meanwhile, new emphasis is being placed on achieving better overall patient outcomes while simultaneously improving the cost effectiveness of our entire healthcare delivery system.

These advances and challenges mean the pharmacist’s role is more vital than ever. Pharmacists are instrumental in every stage of patient care—from coordinating clinical trials that lead to innovations in treatment to managing chronic disease through direct care.

KGI Offers $40,000 Presidential Scholarships for PharmD Students

Apply before March 1 to be automatically considered!

Curriculum

The PharmD curriculum ensures a clear and defined focus on the diverse set of skills needed for the evolving range of opportunities in pharmacy. Students take courses that provide them with foundational content, exposure to emerging topics, as well as elective courses and rotations within the certificate program. Generally, the overall curriculum is arranged into four categories: basic sciences, clinical skills, professional development, and experiential education.

KGI’s integrated curriculum combines the foundational science content with the clinical and therapeutic content for each disease state and organ system. For example, when the students are studying Cardiology, in the morning they learn about the pathophysiology of a particular disease and then they study the drugs to treat that disease and the chemistry and mechanism of the drugs. That same day, clinical faculty talk to the students about how to use the drugs safely and effectively in various patient populations. In this way, the basic science topics serve as the foundation upon which the clinical topics are built.

Connections to Industry

“Pharmacy” is a loaded term. There’s more than one type of pharmacist. Within the profession, you’ll find positions such as:

• Ambulatory care pharmacy
• Clinical pharmacy
• Compounding pharmacy
• Home care (infusion) pharmacy
• Hospital pharmacy
• Regulatory pharmacy

For KGI PharmD graduates, career opportunities extend beyond retail pharmacy. While the majority of the Class of 2019 entered the pharmacy profession, another substantial group—18 percent—entered fellowships or jobs within the pharmaceutical industry.

How does KGI’s PharmD program introduce students to industry? A wide range of networking and coursework opportunities, including:

• Introduction to Industry course required for all first-year students
• Certificate in Medical and Clinical Affairs option, which includes elective courses related to industry and experiential education rotations in industry
• Industry speakers visiting campus in-person or virtually each year
• Student organizations, including the Industry Pharmacists Organization (IPhO). KGI’s IPhO student chapter was the first IPhO student organization in Southern California.
• KGI Fellowship Program

Certificates / PharmD+

Along with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, KGI graduates receive a certificate in one of four areas.

• Medication Therapy Outcomes (MTO)
• Healthcare Management (HCM)
• Health Information Technology (HIT)
• Medical and Clinical Affairs (MCA)

Ready for What’s Next?

If there’s anything we can do, be sure to connect with our admissions team. You can also check out more information on cost and aid and how to apply.

Download the Program Info Sheet