Nov 23, 2024  
Graduate and Pharmacy Catalog 2024-2025 
    
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Graduate and Pharmacy Catalog 2024-2025

Doctor of Pharmacy/Masters of Business Administration Dual Degree

Location(s): West Palm Beach Campus (Evening), West Palm Beach Campus (Day)

186 Credit Hours

Program Goals & Objectives

The goal of the Pharm.D.,M.B.A. Dual Degree program is to educate and develop students in the foundational skills  needed to be executives and managers in the pharmaceutical industry and other health care environments. The program is directed toward providing didactic and experiential education to students that will allow them to: (1) understand the major functional areas in managing healthcare organizations and patient care systems; and, (2) design and implement strategies and policies that produce effective management practices within changing health care environments.

Licensure

PBA’s Doctor of Pharmacy program prepares graduates to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), a nationwide examination for the licensing of pharmacists in the United States. Passing this exam is required for pharmacist licensure in the United States.  Additionally, PBA’s Doctor of Pharmacy program prepares graduates to sit for the Florida Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), a statewide examination that is required for the licensing of pharmacists in the state of Florida. Licensure and certification varies from state to state, and graduates should be prepared to abide by additional requirements when seeking licensure or certification in a state other than Florida.

Program Description

This program leads to two degrees (Pharm.D and M.B.A.) awarded separately by the Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy and the Rinker School of Business. Candidates must first secure entrance into the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program in the School of Pharmacy. After successful completion of the first year of professional pharmacy coursework and the pre-requisite business courses required for prospective M.B.A. students, pharmacy students may apply to the Gregory School of Pharmacy for the dual degree.  Upon admission to the dual degree program, students continue in the Pharm.D. curriculum while also completing the M.B.A. course requirements.

The approximate time required to complete all professional and graduate coursework is five years. Degree requirements for the dual program include 147 credits of pharmacy professional coursework, 12 credits of pre-requisite business courses, and 27 credits of graduate business coursework. The following 21 credits of professional pharmacy coursework are required to complete the dual Pharm.D., M.B.A. degree and are included in the total 146 credits of pharmacy professional coursework.

Pharmacy Coursework Applied to the M.B.A.

Experiential Rotations in Pharmacy Management (BOTH are required):

Pharm.D., M.B.A. Admission Requirements

Admission to Pharm.D., M.B.A. dual degree program is selective. Strong interpersonal skills, communication ability, motivation, maturity, career focus and leadership potential are important qualities in prospective students. Pharmacy students should express their interest in this program during the first professional year and seek the advice of the Director of Pharm.D., M.B.A. Program along with their advisor prior to completing the application.

Application Process:

  1. Student must first apply and gain admission to the Pharm.D. program and complete the first professional year.
  2. Students are highly encouraged to express interest through the “Intent to Apply” form during the first year of the pharmacy program. This form is due by November 1st.  However, students may express interest at any time.
  3. Student completes all foundational (pre-requisite) courses for the M.B.A. program including:
  • ACG 2013  - Financial Accounting (3 credits)
  • ACG 2023  - Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
  • ECO 2343  - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)** or 
  • ECO 2353  - Principles of Microeconomics (3 credits)
  • MAT 2003  - Elementary Statistics (3 credits)**

 

  1. After the successful completion of the first pharmacy year, the student must submit the Pharm.D., M.B.A. Application form.
  2. The recommendations from the student’s advisor, the Director of the Pharm.D., M.B.A. Program, and the Chair of Graduate Programs (Rinker  School of Business) are required as part of the application process. 

     6. The following criteria may be considered when making a decision about entrance into the program:

  • Cumulative pharmacy GPA of 3.2 or higher.
  • Performance in core didactic courses, including but not limited to foundational science courses, pharmacotherapy courses, and patient care courses.
  • Performance in MBA pre-requisite courses such as statistics, accounting, and economics.
  • Student response(s) to the essay submitted with the application form.

     7. The Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Assessment, and Accreditation in the Gregory School of Pharmacy will review the recommendations from the student’s advisor, the Director of the Pharm.D., M.B.A. Program, and the Chair of Graduate Programs (Rinker School of Business) to determine student acceptance into the dual degree program. The Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Assessment, and Accreditation will notify the student applicant of the outcome of the application process and submit the completed application form to the Registrar’s office.

     8. Modified track students or any other students not meeting the above criteria may petition Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Assessment, and Accreditation for enrollment into the dual degree program. The Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Assessment, and Accreditation will review these cases on an individualized basis with the student’s advisor and the Director of the Pharm.D.,M.B.A Program.

** Pre-pharmacy prerequisites may meet these course requirements.

NOTE: Completion of ACG 2013 Financial Accounting or ACG 2023 Managerial Accounting for pre-requisite completion for the M.B.A. program satisfy the pharmacy elective requirement of 2 credit hours as long as the student completes the course while enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Summer enrollment for these courses will be tuition neutral for pharmacy students. If these courses (or their equivalents) were taken prior to enrollment in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, they will not count towards the elective credit in the pharmacy program. However, they might be eligible for consideration for satisfying the pre-requisite for the M.B.A. program.

A graduate admission test (i.e. GRE, GMAT) is not required for admission to the M.B.A. program if entering the dual degree program.

Course Scheduling

There are a variety of scheduling options for successfully completing the Pharm.D, M.B.A. dual degree coursework. The time required will depend upon the student’s initiative in scheduling M.B.A. courses while still completing pharmacy courses.

M.B.A. course schedules will be determined by the Director of the Pharm.D.,M.B.A Program and Chair of Graduate Programs (Rinker School of Business) in consultation with the student. The Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Assessment, and Accreditation will register the student for M.B.A. courses each semester.

Students must complete the didactic pharmacy coursework within 5 years as noted in the GSOP Academic Probation and Dismissal Policy. The M.B.A. course work must be completed within 2 years of completion of the pharmacy degree. 

Curriculum Requirements

A grade of at least “C” and a GPA of at least 2.0 on a four-point scale is required for “successful” completion of all pharmacy coursework. For M.B.A. courses, a student will be placed on Academic Probation at the end of a term if he/she does not meet the cumulative 3.0 GPA. In addition, a student can receive a grade of “C” in two business courses during the M.B.A. program to maintain good standing. Students placed on Academic Probation must meet and be cleared by the Chair of Graduate Programs (Rinker School of Business) and the Director of the Pharm.D., M.B.A. program prior to registering for the next term.

If a student feels that he/she is unable to complete the course work for the dual degree program or changes their mind regarding enrollment in the dual degree program, he/she may consult with the Chair of Graduate Programs (Rinker School of Business), the Director of the Pharm.D., M.B.A Program, and the Assistant/Associate Dean for Academics. Based on these discussions, the student can transfer to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program.

Program Learning Outcomes

“Expected student learning outcomes specify the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes students are expected to attain in courses or in a program.” Page 69. Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), 2018.

Upon completion of the pharmacy program, our graduates will be:

Medication Experts

As a medication expert, our graduates will be able to:

  1. Provide medication therapy management to patients by employing knowledge of biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiological effects of a drug to optimize outcomes, reduce adverse events, and prevent drug interactions.
  2. Design drug dosing regimens for patients utilizing population or patient-specific pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters.
  3. Apply knowledge of the physiochemical properties, manufacture, and compounding of pharmaceutical ingredients to recommend an optimal drug delivery formulation.
  4. Resolve medication-related problems by critically evaluating scientific literature to make evidence-based recommendations.

Patient-Centered Care Practitioners

As a patient-centered care practitioner, our graduates will be able to:

  1. Provide pharmacist-mediated, evidence-based, patient-centered care to diverse populations.
  2. Evaluate patient- and treatment-specific factors to select the most appropriate treatment options, prevention strategies and referral when necessary.
  3. Develop strategies to address patient barriers to medication adherence, including those arising from cultural context and health care disparities.
  4. Explain to patients, caregivers, and health care professionals the judicious use of medications within a comprehensive therapeutic plan.
  5. Document pertinent patient care information in the health record in a clear and concise manner that complies with safe medication practices.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to recommend non-pharmacotherapy as a component of disease prevention and treatment.
  7. Evaluate a medication order or prescription to ensure the safe, effective and accurate use of medications.

Servant Leaders

As a servant leader, our graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate servant leadership by modeling Christ’s example of serving, teaching, and healing to positively influence patient and employee behaviors.
  2. Develop skills for life-long learning and continual professional development to remain a competent pharmacist and lead others within the profession of pharmacy.
  3. Collaborate with colleagues and other health care practitioners using teamwork, judgment, and self-directed learning to provide evidenced-based pharmaceutical care.
  4. Establish covenantal relationships with patients that foster trust, build effective patient-provider relationships, and optimize health outcomes. 

Professional Communicators

As a professional communicator, our graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective and collaborative communication skills with all members of a healthcare team as the patient care advocate and medication expert.
  2. Communicate health and medication-related information to patients and other health care providers in an effective and comprehensible manner utilizing appropriate drug information resources.
  3. Demonstrate professionalism in all forms of communication, including verbal, electronic, and written communication.
  4. Exhibit empathy and respect while counseling patients, particularly in difficult and sensitive matters, including cultural, spiritual, and socioeconomic issues.
  5. Perform confidently as the medication expert within an interprofessional team to provide medication therapy management. 

Pharmacy Systems Managers

As a pharmacy systems manager, our graduates will be able to:

  1. Adhere to current healthcare system principles, including regulatory, legal, ethical, and financial, to systematically assess and improve health care outcomes and prevent medication errors.
  2. Participate in the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of system practices to ensure safe and accurate medication use.
  3. Assess and report team performance to effectively promote organization efficiency and employee satisfaction.
  4. Manage human, physical, and financial pharmacy aspects of a health care delivery system to develop and implement collaborative cost-effective care.
  5. Reconcile appropriate use of medications upon transition of care to identify and prevent medication-related problems.
  6. Utilize health informatics and technological resources to optimize care, and promote patient safety and continuous quality improvement.

 

Gregory School of Pharmacy Coursework

Required 1st Year Courses - 32 Credit Hours

Semester 1 - 17 Credit Hours

Semester 2 - 15 Credit Hours

Required 2nd Year Courses - 31 Credit Hours

Semester 3 - 15 Credit Hours

Semester 4 - 16 Credit Hours

Required 3rd Year Courses + Elective - 33 Credit Hours

Semester 5 - 15 Credit Hours

Semester 6 - 16 Credit Hours

Approved Pharmacy Electives - 2 Credit Hours

Select one of the following, to be taken any time prior to the fourth year of study. Students should consult with their academic advisor or Assistant/Associate Dean for Academics for assistance in determining the most appropriate course and semester of study. In order for the M.B.A. pre-requisite courses (i.e. ACG 2013 or ACG 2023) to count for pharmacy elective credit, the course(s) must be taken while the student is enrolled in the pharmacy program.  If the student has taken either of these courses prior to entry into the Doctor of Pharmacy program, they do not count for pharmacy elective credit.

  • ACG 2013 - Financial Accounting 3 Credit Hours*+
  • ACG 2023 - Managerial Accounting 3 Credit Hours*+
  • BIB 2053 - Evangelism and Apologetics 3 Credit Hours*
  • CCS 3013 - Cultural Competence and Ethnography 3 Credit Hours*
  • CCS 4033 - Cross-Cultural Understandings of Illness and Health 3 Credit Hours*
  • MLS 2043 - Spiritual Formation 3 Credit Hours*
  • MLS 2413 - Principles of Christian Leadership 3 Credit Hours*
  • MLS 3093 - Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness for Ministry 3 Credit Hours*
  • NUR 4333 - End of Life Issues and Concepts 3 Credit Hours*
  • PRX 3032 - Coaching for Health and Wellness 2 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3033 - Contemporary Management and Leadership in Healthcare 3 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3242 - Lifestyle and Health 2 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3527 - Contemporary Topics in Pharmacy Practice 2 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3552 - The Pharmaceutical R&D Process 2 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3562 - Medical Affairs Competency Certificate 2 Credit Hours
  • PRX 359X - Independent Study 1, 2, 3, or 4 Credit Hours 
  • PRX 3661 - APPE Skills - 1.5 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3772 - Health Implications for Marginalized Women 2 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3883 - Medical Spanish in Pharmacy 1 - 3 Credit Hours
  • PRX 3893 - Medical Spanish in Pharmacy 2 - 3 Credit Hours
  • SPN 1003 - Spanish for the Pharmacy Professional 3 Credit Hours*

* Please see the Undergraduate Day Catalog for course descriptions, which will detail prerequisites and course availability.

+ Summer enrollment for this course will be tuition neutral for pharmacy students.

Approved transient elective offerings may be taken to satisfy this requirement and will be announced each semester by the Assistant/Associate Dean for Academics.

Required Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences - 8 Credit Hours

Required 4th Year Courses - 42 Credit Hours

In addition to the required Pharm.D. APPEs, the Pharm.D., M.B.A. student must complete both of the following elective APPEs which will focus on managerial experience:

PRX 4946 Non-Patient Care 1 Elective Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (6 Credit Hours)

PRX 4956 Non-Patient Care 2 Elective Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (6 Credit Hours)

Therefore, this is a total of 36 credit hours of required APPEs for a student in the Pharm.D., M.B.A. dual degree program.  One elective APPE focused on direct patient care may be chosen. 

Required Rotations - 36 Credit Hours

Elective Rotations - 6 Credit Hours

One direct patient care APPE will be chosen.  The Experiential Education department will assist with APPE selection and scheduling.  If PRX 4513 Pharmacy Missions APPE is selected, PRX 4523 Indigent Care APPE must also be taken. 

Rinker School of Business Coursework

Foundational Business Courses - 12 Credit Hours

These courses may be taken concurrently with the Graduate Business Courses.

Graduate Business Courses - 27 Credit Hours