General Admission FAQ

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is a four-year professional degree program.  This four-year program consists of three years of on-campus pharmacy coursework (with some practical experiences) followed by a full year of rotations in various pharmacy settings.  

Prior to being admitted to the PharmD program, Drake pre-pharmacy students complete a two-year pre-pharmacy curriculum, for a total of six years.  

Students who complete their prerequisite coursework at another institution or in a major other than pre-pharmacy at Drake can also apply to our PharmD program.  The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' Admission Committee does not give preference to applicants based on whether or not they complete an undergraduate degree.  Some applicants have a bachelor’s degree while others do not.  This can lead to variations in the amount of time it may take students to complete the prerequisite courses, and if admitted, the PharmD coursework.

No, the PharmD curriculum is a four-year curriculum.  There is no opportunity to accelerate the program and graduate in less than four years.

Drake does not offer the PharmD degree through evening, weekend, or online courses.

Due to the sequencing of the prerequisite and professional program coursework, Drake does not offer admission to any level of study in the pharmacy program for the spring semester.  Students may only be admitted as first-year pharmacy students (P1) for the fall semester. 

The PharmD is a clinical entry-level doctorate degree that allows graduates to sit for the national licensing examination.  The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences does not offer a master's or PhD in any pharmacy related field.