Apr 27, 2024  
Butler University Bulletin 2023-2024 
  
Butler University Bulletin 2023-2024

Pharmacy, PharmD


Campus-Based Pathway

www.butler.edu/pharmacy-health/doctor-of-pharmacy/

The Doctor of Pharmacy program empowers purposeful practitioners who lead within their communities and their professions in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, and healthcare fields. Our robust curriculum equips students with clinical knowledge and skills on the use of medications through an experiential, immersive, and collaborative learning environment, preparing them to meet rapidly growing industry demands beyond the pharmacy.

Online Pathway

www.online.butler.edu/doctor-of-pharmacy-pharmd/

The PharmD Online Pathway integrates a collaborative, immersive, and student-centered learning approach that prepares students as drug therapy experts and community leaders dedicated to serving society and improving patient outcomes.

Admission

  • Applicants to the pre-professional or professional program who are nonnative English speakers are required to submit the results of the Test of Spoken English (TSE-A) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  • The Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum requires that students complete two pre-professional years and four professional years of study. Acceptance into the professional phase of the program allows students to begin the first professional year (P1) course work.
  • Acceptance into the professional Pharmacy Program by either the Direct Pathway option or as an internal or external transfer student is contingent upon enrollment capacity limitations of the program. All applicants must apply through PharmCas.
  • The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences reserves the option to modify its Pharmacy Program admission and advancement procedures at any time.
  • For students applying for the Online Pathway Doctor of Pharmacy, at this time applicants must have a previous Bachelor’s degree. In addition, only U.S. Citizens and permanent residents will be admissible to the Online Pathway due to issues presented by the immersion experiences.

Direct Pathway for Pre-Pharmacy Students Entering as First-Year Students {Campus-Based Students}

Students enrolling as first-year students at Butler University and declaring pre-pharmacy as their initial major have a direct path into the P1 year of the Pharmacy Program upon completion of their third semester of Butler enrollment if they meet the following criteria:

  • Cumulative GPA at Butler University of 3.0 or higher.
  • GPA greater than 3.0 in nine selected, critical pre-pharmacy courses (BI 105 , CH 105 , CH 106 , CH 351 , MA 106 , FYS 101, FYS 102,PX 100 , PX 326 ).
  • No grade less than C on the 1st attempt in any of the critical pre-pharmacy courses stipulated below. In addition, effective with the class entering the P1 year in the Fall of 2023, a student may not withdraw from any of the critical pre-pharmacy courses.
  • Completion of the PharmCAS application prior to the published deadline.
  • Successful completion of a standardized interview.
  • Successful completion of an essay based on standardized writing prompt administered in a proctored setting.
  • While lesser criminal or institutional offenses may not prohibit a candidate from being admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, it may result in ineligibility for the Direct Pathway.

Direct Pathway Eligibility into the P1 year of the Pharmacy Program ceases after the student’s review for professional phase admission at the end of his or her third semester at Butler University.

A student seeking Pharmacy Program admission by the Direct Pathway option may not count more than three courses transferred from another university or awarded through advanced placement (AP) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) program toward the calculation of their direct path pre-professional GPA. Students who wish to request a variance to maintain their eligibility for the Direct Pathway with more than three courses as described can apply for a variance from the Pharmacy Admissions Committee during the fall of their sophomore year.

A student failing to meet the criteria for admittance by the Direct Pathway will be considered for admission to the program on a competitive, space-available basis. Their name will be automatically moved for consideration by the Standard Pathway without any further action required by the student.

Transfer Students and Internal Applicants Not Classified as Pre-Pharmacy

Students who enter Butler University with 12 or more credit hours completed after high school graduation are classified as transfer students. Students entering Butler as transfer students and declaring pre-pharmacy as their intended major are not eligible for admission to the P1 year of the Pharmacy Program via the Direct Pathway option. Pre-professional transfer students, as well as Butler University students not classified as pre-pharmacy upon entry into the University as first-year students (including changes of majors), may apply for admission into the P1 class on a competitive, space-available basis. Application through PharmCas is required. This process considers the student’s cumulative GPA for all course work completed at all universities, completion of an essay based on a standardized writing prompt, and an attribute assessment through an interview.

Requirements

  • Students matriculating in Fall 2022 of the pre-professional year are required to complete the program of study with a minimum of 206 credit hours.
  • Successful completion of the professional curriculum requires that the student not exceed 5 hours of course work with earned grades lower than C (2.0) in PX and RX courses numbered 300 or higher. Additionally, the student’s professional GPA must be 2.0 or higher. The professional curriculum consists of those courses designated PX and RX. The proper sequence of courses must be maintained and the prerequisites for each course satisfied. The student is responsible for making certain that he or she has completed all required courses in the curriculum.
  • All didactic course work, all earned Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) hours, and University Core Curriculum requirements must be completed before beginning the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiential (APPE) rotations in the P4 year of the curriculum.
  • Only students admitted to and currently enrolled in the professional Pharmacy Program of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences may register for courses offered as part of the curriculum numbered with RX designators. Such students must maintain their eligibility to continue in the Pharmacy Program.

Student Learning Outcomes

Acquire knowledge and apply rational decision-making and problem-solving skills:

  • Apply foundational pharmaceutical and health-related knowledge
  • Ensure the safe and effective use of medications
  • Provide and promote both patient-centered and population-based care and wellness

Function as an effective communicator and educator:

  • Use appropriate interviewing and counseling skills
  • Engage and collaborate with members of the interprofessional healthcare team and all applicable audiences
  • Assist patients with navigating the healthcare system and advocate for their needs

Demonstrate the principles of practice:

  • Use fundamental pharmacy practice skills
  • Effectively manage medication use systems

Emulate the principles of professionalism

  • Inculcate ethical, legal, and compassionate conduct and values
  • Recognize diversity and demonstrate cultural awareness to diminish health disparities
  • Practice independent learning and self-awareness
  • Use leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship skills to accomplish goals

Campus-Based Curriculum for First-Year Students Matriculating Beginning 2022


NOTE: Degree requirements for incoming students may not reflect the actual degree requirements of current students. The College reserves the right to change the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum at the discretion of the faculty.

First Year, Pre-Pharmacy


* TI=Texts and Ideas, PCA=Perspectives in the Creative Arts, SW=Social World. Students (except previously degreed students) must take at least one core course in each of the divisions listed.

Courses (Fall Semester)


Total Semester Hours: 14-15

Courses (Spring Semester)


Total Semester Hours: 15-16

Second Year, Pre-Pharmacy


* TI=Texts and Ideas, PCA=Perspectives in the Creative Arts, SW=Social World. Students (except previously degreed students) must take at least one core course in each of the divisions listed.

Courses (Fall Semester) 2


Total Semester Hours: 15

Courses (Spring Semester) 2


Total Semester Hours: 17

First Professional Year (Third Year)


Second Professional Year


Third Professional Year


Total Semester Hours: 15-18

Total Semester Hours: 12*-16

*A minimum of 12 credit hours is required to be considered full time. Students must have a minimum of 7 professional elective hours.

Fourth Professional Year


Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 201


Online Pathway Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum


The College reserves the right to change the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum at the discretion of the faculty.

First Professional Year (P1)


Total Semester Hours: 12

Total Semester Hours: 13

*RX 351  requires a 5-day on-campus lab immersion after final exams and includes the blood pressure assessment for RX 415 Self-Care & Health Promotion 1

Courses (Summer Semester - Term 3)


Total Semester Hours: 9

Second Professional Year (P2)


Total Semester Hours: 14

Total Semester Hours: 13

* RX 421 requires a 5-day on-campus lab immersion after final exams.

Course grade will not be assigned until successful completion of the on-campus lab portion.

Courses (Summer Semester - Term 6)


Total Semester Hours: 10-11

* RX 422 requires a 5-day on-campus lab immersion after final exams.

* Course grade will not be assigned until successful completion of the on-campus lab portion.

Third Professional Year (P3)


Total Semester Hours: 14

Courses (Spring Semester-Term 8)


Total Semester Hours: 17

*Must have a minimum of 7 hours professional electives by the end of the P3 year.

Fourth Professional Year (P4)


During the fourth year of the professional phase, students participate in 10 one-month clinical rotations, each consisting of 40 hours per week (160 hours) for 4 weeks. Clinical rotations can take place at a variety of sites, including community pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory clinic practices, and other nontraditional pharmacy settings, such as clinical work and basic research in the laboratory. A placement coordinator will work directly with students to help find a placement close to your residence.

*Specific rotations are scheduled through the Experiential Education Office. Students must take 10 rotations during the 10 rotation blocks for a total of 40 credit hours of rotations by the end of the spring semester.

Summer I (Term 9)


  • RX 6- - Rotation Blocks 1 & 2 Min Units: 8 *
  • RX 6– - Rotation Blocks 3 & 4 Min Units: 8 *

Fall (Term 10)


  • RX 6– - Rotation Blocks 5 - 8 Min Units: 16 *

Spring (Term 11)


  • RX 6– - Rotation Blocks 9 - 10 Min Units: 16 *

Minimum number of credit hours required for graduation for Online Pathway Doctor of Pharmacy Students = 139