<p>When I was in college (back in the Carter Adminstration), the pharmacy program at my university was a five-year program in which after five years students received of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BS Pharm.) degree. Where I went, Duquesne in Pittsburgh, the program was a zero/five program, in which students were enrolled in the pharmacy program beginning with their first year. I believe that both Pitt and WVU at the time were one/four program, in which students did one year of study in the liberal arts program then applied to pharmacy school.</p>
<p>I understand that Duquesne graduated its last BS Pharm. students a few years back. Duquesne pharmacy students graduate with a doctor of pharmacy degree, Pharm.D., after six years of study. I also understand the Duquesne -- and Pitt -- pharmacy program is two/four (two years in the liberal arts school, then application and acceptance into the pharmacy program and four more years of study.</p>
<p>Now, I have also met older pharmacists who got their degress after only four years of study. I am assuming that their degrees were BS Pharm.</p>
<p>All of this got me wondering ... when did pharmacy education go from four years to five years, and from five years to six years? Has the Pharm.D. degree replaced the BS Pharm. degree for new pharmacists. Are there any pharmacy schools that accept students directly into their program or do students have to spend a year or two in a liberal arts curriculum.</p>
<p>I attend Rutgers University Pharmacy. Its a six year program, (it was a five year).</p>
<p>Year 1: Liberal Arts
Year 2: Liberal Arts
Year 3: Pharmacy
Year 4: Pharmacy
Year 5: Pharmacy
Year 6: Rotations (Basically internships that count for credits)
----GRADUATION!</p>
<p>They recently changed it from a five to six year program (the last decade at most, I think), and upon graduation, you receive a PharmD</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, when we did college visits with Kid #1 five-six years ago (he's a Sr now), we were told at one of the schools that they were graduating their last 5-yr and Pharm B.S. students, and that all schools pharmacy schools had gone to a 6-yr PharmD program. </p>
<p>There are still a few schools that are 0-6, but fewer all the time. Duquesne had been 0-6 until the yr that Kid #2 applied (he's a soph in another University's Honors College, now applying to pharm schools) when they switched to the 2+4...their web site, by the way, says they no longer accept transfers to the Pharmacy Program except from Duquesne-affiliates. Likewise, last yr UCONN's web site switched and will no longer take transfer applicants due to the high number of applicants from their own students....and they aren't the only schools that my sophomore has identified that will only take their own students, or who are now looking for 4+2/3 students (ie, those who have already earned a BS). </p>
<p>It's tough out there for prospective pharmacists.</p>
<p>UNC-Chapel Hill, USC, UMichigan are recognized as among the best pharmacy schools. I know Rutgers Pharmacy is one of the top 6 year programs though (maybe the best, not quite sure. It would make sense though since New Jersey / California are the Pharmacy HQ's of the world)</p>