Curriculum
Curricular philosophy
It is expected that the curriculum will be driven by these principles:
- Students will be exposed to practice experiences, which are based upon the provision of pharmaceutical care that begins upon entry into the curriculum and continues throughout the four years of the curriculum.
- Pharmaceutical sciences and clinical sciences will be integrated throughout the curriculum with the goal of instilling upon our graduates the need for the continuation of basic science knowledge throughout their careers.
- Faculty will endeavor to deliver the curriculum to students utilizing the most effective means possible and will strive to incorporate new, effective approaches to teaching and learning.
- The curriculum will be "patient-focused" that trains students to be a primary care provider. This will involve teaching students patient assessment and advanced oral and written communications skills.
- Advanced practice experiences will be integrated into institutions and organizations that provide pharmaceutical care. Student experiences will be maximized at an organization such that they can deliver pharmaceutical care and begin to evaluate the outcomes of pharmaceutical care at that institution. These experiences will be reflective of practice environments entered after graduation.
- The curriculum will be responsive to changes required as a result of input from faculty, students, employers and alumni.
Curriculum for the graduating classes of 2020 and beyond
The renewed Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum went into effect with the first professional year class admitted starting the Fall 2016 semester. The curriculum was designed and implemented by the Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences to educate and prepare students for the evolving demands of the profession.
The curriculum is being implemented as follows:
- 2016-17: First professional year (P1)
- 2017-18: P1 + Second professional year (P2)
- 2018-19: P1 + P2 + Third professional year (P3)
- 2019-20: P1 + P2 + P3 + Fourth professional year (P4)
First Professional Year
| Course No. | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
| FALL P-1 | |||
| PHA 4105 | Pathophysiology I | 3 | P1 Standing |
| PSC 4115 | Pharmaceutics I | 3 | P1 Standing |
| PSC 4125 | Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences: Medicinal Chemistry / Pharmacology / Immunology | 3 | P1 Standing |
| PHA 4125 | Drug Literature and Foundations of Research | 3 | P1 Standing |
| PPR 4115 | Social Administrative Sciences and Professional Development I: Introduction to the Pharmacy Profession | 2 | P1 Standing |
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| Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
|
| WINTER P-1 | |||
| PHA 4205 | Pathophysiology II | 2 | PHA 4105 P1 Standing |
| PSC 4215 | Pharmaceutics II | 2 | PSC 4115 P1 Standing |
| PSC 4225 | Autonomic Pharmacology | 2 | PSC 4125 P1 Standing |
| PHA 4225 | Principles of Pharmacotherapy I: Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Allergy, Ophthalmology, and Basic Self-Care | 4 | PHA 4105 P1 Standing |
| PHA 4235 | Pharmacotherapeutic Problem Solving I: Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Allergy, Ophthalmology, and Basic Self-Care | 2 | P1 Standing |
| PPR 4245 | Patient Care Lab I | 1 | P1 Standing |
| PPR 4255 | Social Administrative Sciences and Professional Development II: Healthcare Systems and Social Aspects of Pharmacy | 2 | P1 Standing |
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| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
|
| SPRING P-1 | |||
| PPR 4315 | Pharmacy Jurisprudence | 2 | P1 Standing |
| PPR 4365 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience I | 1 | P1 Standing |
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| Minimum Semester Credit Hours | 3 |
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| P-1 Minimum Accumulated Credits | 32 |
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Bachelor of Health Sciences with a concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences awarded for students who have completed a minimum of 120 credit hours and a minimum of 30 credit hours at WSU.
Second Professional Year
| Course No. | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
| FALL P-2 | |||
| PSC 5115 | Pharmacokinetics | 2 | P2 Standing |
| PHA 5115 | Principles of Pharmacotherapy II: Nephrology, Cardiology | 5 | P2 Standing |
| PHA 5125 | Principles of Pharmacotherapy III: Endocrinology, Gynecology, Urology | 4 | P2 Standing |
| PHA 5135 | Pharmacotherapeutic Problem Solving II: Nephrology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gynecology, Urology | 2 | P2 Standing |
| PPR 5145 | Patient Care Lab II | 1 | P2 Standing |
| PPR 5155 | Social Administrative Sciences and Professional Development III: Practice Management | 2 | P2 Standing |
| PPR 5165 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience II | 1 | P2 Standing |
|
| Minimum Semester Credit Hours | 17 |
|
| WINTER P-2 | |||
| PPR 5215 | Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics | 2 | PSC 5115 P2 Standing |
| PHA 5215 | Principles of Pharmacotherapy IV: Infectious Diseases | 4 | P2 Standing |
| PHA 5225 | Principles of Pharmacotherapy V: Neurology, Psychiatry | 4 | P2 Standing |
| PHA 5235 | Pharmacotherapeutic Problem Solving III: Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Psychiatry | 2 | P2 Standing |
| PPR 5245 | Patient Care Lab III | 1 | P2 Standing |
| PPR 5255 | Social Administrative Sciences and Professional Development IV: Medication Use Process – Pharmacist Responsibility | 2 | P2 Standing |
| PPR 5265 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience III | 1 | P2 Standing |
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| Professional Elective Option (Directed Study Only)* |
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| Minimum Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
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| Minimum P-2 Year Credits | 33 |
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| Minimum Accumulated Credits | 65 |
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| SPRING/SUMMER P-2 | |||
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| Professional Elective Option (Didactic and/or Directed Study) |
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Third Professional Year
| Course No. | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
| FALL P-3 | |||
| PHA 6125 | Principles of Pharmacotherapy VI: Oncology, Advanced Immunology | 3 | P3 Standing |
| PPR 6115 | Applied Therapeutics in Self-Care | 2 | P3 Standing |
| PHA 6135 | Pharmacotherapeutic Problem Solving IV: Oncology and Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics | 3 | P3 Standing |
| PPR 6145 | Patient Care Lab IV | 1 | P3 Standing |
| PPR 6155 | Social Administrative Sciences and Professional Development V: Pharmacy Practice Development | 3 | P3 Standing |
| PPR 6165 PPR 6175** | Community Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience OR Hospital Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience | 2 | P3 Standing |
| FPH 7320 | Social Basis of Health | 3 | Dual Title Admission |
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| Professional Elective Option (Didactic and/or Directed Study)* |
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| Minimum Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
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| WINTER P-3 | |||
| First seven-week block | |||
| PHA 6235 | Pharmacotherapeutic Problem Solving V: Drug Induced Diseases | 2 | P3 Standing |
| Second seven-week block | |||
| PPR 6295 | Clinical Capstone | 2 | P3 Standing |
| Courses Taken for Entire Semester | |||
| PPR 6235 | Social Administrative Sciences and Professional Development | 2 | P3 Standing |
| PPR 6245 | Pharmacy Ethics and Professional Responsibility | 2 | P3 Standing |
| PSC 6285 | Pharmacy Seminar | 1 | P3 Standing |
| PPR 6165 PPR 6175** | Community Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience OR Hospital Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience | 2 | P3 Standing |
| FPH 7420 | Principles of Environmental Health | 3 | Dual Title Admission |
| FPH 7015 | Biostatistics | 4 | Dual Title Admission |
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| Minimum Semester Credit Hours | 18 |
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| Minimum P-3 Year Credits | 35 |
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| Accumulated Credits for Program | 100 |
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*A total of six credits of professional electives must be taken between the start of the P-2 Winter semester and completion of the P-3 Winter Semester; only Directed Study electives may be taken prior to Spring/Summer of the P-2 year as indicated in the PharmD program's elective policy. To view electives offered in the PharmD Program, click here.
** PPR 6165 and PPR 6175 are offered both semesters of the P-3 year with half of students alternating between each course.
Fourth Professional Year
| Course No. | Course Name | Credits | Prerequisites |
| Students must complete 5 required APPE courses and 2 elective APPE courses over the academic year.*** | |||
| PPR 7410 | Advanced Practice Patient Care 1 (Inpatient Acute Care) | 4 | P4 Standing |
| PPR 7420 | Advanced Practice Patient Care Core | 4 | P4 Standing |
| PPR 7430 | Ambulatory Care | 4 | P4 Standing |
| PPR 7550 | Advanced Practice General Hospital | 4 | P4 Standing |
| PPR 7560 | Advanced Practice General Community | 4 | P4 Standing |
| PPR 7530 | Advanced Practice Elective (Patient Care )*** | 4 | P4 Standing |
| PPR 7540 | Advanced Practice Elective (Non-Patient Care)*** | 4 | P4 Standing |
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| Total Credits for Year | 28 |
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| Accumulated Credits for Program | 124 |
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*** Student must take five (5) required APPE courses and two (2) APPE Electives. The two electives courses can be taken in any combination [i.e., two patient care electives (PPR 7530), two non-patient care electives (PPR 7540), or one of each type (PPR 7530 and PPR 7540)].
Curriculum for the graduating classes of 2017, 2018, and 2019
Students who entered the Doctor of Pharmacy program in 2015 and before are completing coursework as outlined in the curriculum guide for the graduating classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Non-academic curriculum requirements
In addition to the academic requirements of the curriculum, there are non-academic requirements that include the following:
- Abillity-based outcomes that define what graduates are expected to be able to do as a result of the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained through completing the entire curriculum
- Experiential education, which helps students explore and address real-life health challenges by applying knowledge and concepts learned in the classroom
- A professionalism curriculum that encourages and evaluates the development of professional values, attitudes, skills and behaviors
- Technical standards, a set of physical, cognitive and behavioral skills that student must demonstrate to be effective pharmacists
