Degree Requirements
In order to complete the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program, a student must register for and pass each course set forth in the program’s curriculum outline. In addition, a student must be in good academic standing after completing the prescribed program. Normal program progression is sequential enrollment in all program classes each semester and successfully passing each course with a grade of C or higher.
To remain in good academic standing in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, a student must accomplish the following:
- A cumulative and per semester GPA in all professional course work of at least 2.25.
- A grade of C or higher in all professional course work.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 is required for graduation.
- Completion of all benchmark assessments as required throughout the didactic and experiential curriculum.
- Satisfactory evidence of good interpersonal relations and professional conduct.
Students must satisfactorily complete each professional year’s curriculum in order to progress to the subsequent professional year. All failed courses must be successfully repeated by first or second professional year students prior to matriculating into subsequent pharmacy courses. No required course in the curriculum may be repeated more than once. If a student receives three or more failing grades in any didactic coursework outlined in the first, second, or third professional year, he or she will be dismissed due to academic deficiency. If a student receives two or more failing grades in any introductory pharmacy practice experience course work, he or she will be dismissed due to academic deficiency. If a student receives two failing grades in any advanced pharmacy practice experience course work, he or she will be dismissed due to academic deficiency. Students successfully completing the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum with a passing grade in each course and a 2.25 minimum cumulative GPA will be recommended by the faculty of the College of Pharmacy for graduation. Graduation with honors will be awarded based on the following definitions: summa cum laude for those with GPAs of 3.9 or higher; magna cum laude for those with GPAs of 3.75 to 3.89; cum laude for those with GPAs of 3.5 to 3.74.
Remediation Policy:
The remediation policy applies to all didactic courses. A Doctor of Pharmacy student, if eligible, may take a single assessment to demonstrate competency in that course providing:
- the student has passed 50% or more of the major assessments defined in the course syllabus,
- the student has earned a failing grade no less than 66.0% in the course, and
- the student has not exceeded the number of attempts as outlined below.
A student is eligible for the remediation policy in a maximum of two courses per semester and no more than three times total in his/her enrollment in the pharmacy program. No student may utilize the Remediation Policy for the same course twice. The Remediation Policy assessment shall occur under the direct supervision of the course coordinator in coordination with the Academic Progressions Council (Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, and Director of Assessment). Refer to the HUCOP student handbook for all Remediation Policy procedures.
Note(s):
Some Harding University courses outside the College of Pharmacy have been pre-approved to satisfy elective requirements of the pharmacy curriculum. A list of these courses is available in the College of Pharmacy Student Handbook. In order to register for courses outside the College of Pharmacy, a student must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher, meet all course pre-requisites, and must have consent of the instructor/program. The course must also fit into the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum schedule. Courses not already listed must be approved by the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs.
Students who wish to take PHA 7420 - Health Sciences Research I or PHA 7430 - Health Sciences Research II must have a grade point average of 2.75 and must contact the faculty member and the appropriate department chair (Pharmaceutical Sciences or Pharmacy Practice) before registration opens. The department chair will assist the student in completing the necessary documentation to authorize registration for a research elective.
Elective courses may be taken outside of Harding University with approval. Tuition, fees, and expenses for elective courses at other institutions are not included in the College of Pharmacy tuition and must be paid for separately by the student. Furthermore, all elective requirements listed above still apply. In order to receive elective credit from the College of Pharmacy, students who plan on taking an elective outside of Harding University must obtain permission from the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs before registering for the outside course and complete the appropriate documentation.
Pharmacy students who desire to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) degree through the Harding University College of Business Administration concurrently with their Pharm.D. degree may choose to take courses to fulfill the elective requirements in the Pharmacy program, provided the preceding criteria are met: (1) Course prerequisites must be met; (2) Students must meet the requirements of the appropriate graduate program; (3) Enrollment in the course must have the approval of the graduate program director; (4) Enrollment in the course must have the approval of the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs.
Pharmacy students will be allowed by the MBA program to substitute two Pharmacy courses in place of one MBA course: PHA 5060 and PHA 6070 for BUS 6400 , and PHA 6030 as their MBA elective.
Pharmacy students will be allowed by the MSIS program to substitute three Pharmacy courses in place of two MSIS courses: PHA 5060 and PHA 6070 for IS 6450 , and PHA 6030 for IS 6510 .
Pharmacy students may take a maximum of 4 additional Graduate School of Business courses for pharmacy elective credit toward an MBA/MSIS degree during the second professional year and the summer term of the third professional year. A pharmacy student who chooses to pursue these options could concurrently earn up to 15 credit hours toward a 30-hour MBA or MSIS degree by the time he or she graduates with a Pharm.D. degree. Any other courses taken toward an MBA or MSIS degree would be outside of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. Students may not take more than a total of 21 credit hours without prior approval in any given semester at Harding and may not be enrolled in certain Graduate School of Business courses without an appropriate degree if not concurrently enrolled in the pharmacy program. A dual Pharmacy and MBA/MSIS student who does not already have a bachelor’s degree must complete the Pharm.D. prior to or simultaneous to the MBA/MSIS degree. Failure to complete the Pharm.D. will require the student to complete an undergraduate degree before earning an MBA/MSIS.
During the summer semester of the second professional year (P2) of study, pharmacy students may elect to pursue a focused educational track after consulting with the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs. Focused track options include medical missions, public health, management, and advanced pharmacotherapy.
