Pre-Pharmacy - University of I

The science and biology-focused curriculum equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career as a pharmacist. Graduates are eligible for licensure in all 50 states and have a wide range of career opportunities in healthcare, research, and government.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This is a rigorous and competitive pre-pharmacy program that will prepare students to apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy program in the College of Pharmacy at UIC. With detailed knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of drugs, as well as their particular biologic effects, pharmacists practice in a variety of settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals, drug industries, and government agencies.

Completion of the program typically takes two to three full-time academic years.
A majority of the students admitted to the College of Pharmacy have completed a bachelor’s degree at the time of matriculation.

Outline:

This science and biology-focused curriculum seeks to thoroughly equip future pharmacy professionals with fundamental scientific and professional knowledge and abilities to make significant contributions to the field and society at large. The curriculum is designed with 12-14-week courses spanning a 12-month academic calendar, with four such terms in a year.

Term 1-4: These are considered pre-professional core courses.
Term 5-11: These are referred to as professional pharmaceutical core courses.
Term 12-15: These are the 36-credit doctor of pharmacy core courses that encompass Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) and provide supervised practice in various rotations, giving students an exposure to different pharmacy practice environments

Assessment:

A variety of assessment techniques are used in this program to guarantee the mastery of the knowledge, abilities, and competencies needed for success as a pharmacist. Written examinations, quizzes, class assignments, laboratories, presentations, and peer assessment activities have all been utilized. To fulfill their curricular goals, students must meet an established standard in each subject within the professional program curriculum and successfully complete a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UIC.

Teaching:

Students of pharmacy acquire a thorough education to prepare them for licensure and future employment. As a component of their study to become competent and patient-centered practitioners in medication therapy management across the continuum of care. Additionally, instructors include active pharmacy practice professionals, such as former and current hospital pharmacy executives, community and independent pharmacies, long-term care, home healthcare pharmacists, and many others.

With an engaging and supportive learning environment, students benefit from collaborative learning opportunities during small-group assignments and sessions, laboratory activities, and structured group critiques.
To help promote the learning of concepts in pharmaceutical science and clinical research, students also engage in inter-professional activities with students from other professional schools through simulation, mock trials, and interprofessional care plan development, creating a simulated learning environment.
Students also receive comprehensive training in pharmacy law, healthcare-compliant ethics, leadership skills, professionalism in pharmacy settings, and healthcare ethics education.

Careers:

The curriculum is specifically crafted with numerous career opportunities in mind for qualified graduates. The program ensures graduates are equipped to excel in various facets of the healthcare sector as practitioners.

Graduates in this program have gone on to pursue licensure as pharmacists in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The curriculum prepares graduates for a licensure examination, which they can take after graduating with a doctor of pharmacy degree to obtain a license to practice as a pharmacist, opening numerous doors in many professional pharmacy fields.
Several career opportunities that students are equipped for after graduating from UIC’s pharmacy programs include working in various healthcare environments—hospitals, home care, and long-term care settings, to name a a few—involving drug dispensing, patient counseling, drug administration monitoring, therapeutic drug management, medication therapy management, pharmacokinetic monitoring of medicinal agents to optimize individual patient treatment success, and research in medicine, among several other career routes.
The comprehensive training program also affords the unique opportunity to pursue careers that encompass research in medicinal chemistry or related fields in academia for those interested in contributing to the development and advancement of the pharmacist’s discipline.
Students may also opt to leverage the knowledge-based expertise gained throughout the course of the program to pursue opportunities within government or related agencies, where knowledge of pharmacology is important in regulating drug manufacturing processes, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and ensuring patient protection, safety, and well-being.
Other career possibilities may include pursuing pharmacy owner opportunities or serving as managers or consultants within industry.

Other:

Students applying to the program should apply for admission approximately one year before the planned enrollment in the program, which accepts admission for the fall semester only.
In addition to the PharmCAS application, prospective applicants are also required to complete a supplementary application form designed specifically for the UIC College of Pharmacy.
When filling these applications, certain criteria must be met.