Pharmacy (PHAR), PharmD

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:

1. A cumulative and per semester GPA in all professional course work of at least 2.25.
2. A grade of C or higher in all professional course work.
3. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 is required for graduation.
4. Completion of all benchmark assessments as required throughout the didactic and experiential curriculum.
5. 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 offered through the College of Pharmacy. Experiential courses are excluded from this policy. The College is committed to the academic success of each student in the program. To ensure a student’s progress and success, the College has implemented a remediation policy to identify and prevent unsatisfactory academic performance that may delay student progression. The student’s ability to remediate coursework is a privilege, not a right.

1. Course remediation is defined as the act of remedying course-specific academic knowledge or demonstrated ability deficiencies by allowing students an opportunity to correct or improve prior performance through an end-of-course reassessment (EOC-R) before advancing to the next semester of the curriculum.
2. End of course reassessment (EOC-R) is defined as a structured activity that requires students who have earned a grade of F to demonstrate competence and ability to meet course outcomes. Examples include a comprehensive final exam, an oral challenge exam, or a written case exam. The EOC-R is the method HUCOP uses to assess remediation.
3. Students who earn a final course grade of F may take an EOC-R to demonstrate competency in that course providing that:
   • Following any earned grade of F on a major assessment identified in the course syllabus, the student has met with the course coordinator in collaboration with a Student Success coach and completed any resulting action steps/plan. This meeting should occur prior to the next major assessment in that course.
   • The student has not exceeded the number of EOC-R attempts as outlined below:
     • A student is eligible for EOC-R in a maximum of two courses per semester and no more than three times total in their enrollment in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.
     • No student may apply the Remediation Policy to the same course twice.
   • Records on student eligibility for remediation are maintained by the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in collaboration with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
4. The EOC-R shall occur under the supervision of the course coordinator and in coordination with the department chair and at least two others from the Academic Progressions Council (i.e., Student Success team, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, and the Director of Assessment). In so doing, the planned EOC-R may be vetted to maintain content and construct validity and eliminate potential bias.
5. EOC-Rs should be completed prior to the start of the subsequent academic term, except for 8-week courses. For example, EOC-Rs for IPS courses will occur at the end of the academic term rather than the end of the course. Other exceptions to this rule may be inclement weather, school closure, or special circumstances that are approved by the Academic Progressions Council.
6. If a student successfully remediates, the final grade will be changed to “C” for the course. No greater than a “C” can be achieved with remediation. If a student chooses not to remediate or does not successfully remediate, they will retain their original grade for the course and follow the procedures for repeating the course the next time the course is offered.
7. Students with a final grade of at least a “C” are not eligible to use course remediation in an attempt to improve their grade in a course.

Curriculum

(Listed in semester hours)

Total Hours: 146

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 Associate 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. 

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 Associate 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 Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Pharmacy students will be allowed by the MBA program to substitute three Pharmacy courses in place of two MBA courses: PHA 5800  and PHA 7500  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 5800  and PHA 7500  for IS 6450 , and PHA 6030  for IS 6510 .

Pharmacy students may take a maximum of 3 additional Graduate School of Business courses for pharmacy elective credit toward an MBA/MSIS degree during the fall and spring semesters of 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.