A career in pharmacy can be a rewarding experience as you consult with patients, doctors and other health-care professionals regarding pharmaceutical practices, medications, allergies and clinical contraindications in a hospital or retail pharmacy environment. A doctorate of pharmacy degree, sometimes referred to as a PharmD, is offered through many colleges and universities, but a three-year accelerated program is also available through a select number of schools.
Massachusetts College
The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a 34-month doctorate of pharmacy program in Boston, Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Manchester, New Hampshire. This program includes two years of study in the classroom and 10 months of clinical rotations off-campus. Massachusetts College also offers a Community Entrepreneurship program to accelerated pharmacy students in which students are taught managerial and ownership skills of a private retail pharmacy practice. A bachelor's degree is not required for admission to the school of pharmacy, however, all pre-pharmacy credit hours must be completed for admission.
South University
South University School of Pharmacy offers students an accelerated pharmacy program in Savannah, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina. This program prepares pharmacy students for a career as a pharmacist in three years through a program lasting for 12 quarter-sections. Classes are taught incorporating live teaching sessions via satellite from either school location in Savannah or Columbia. Completion of pre-pharmacy credit hours from an accredited college or university are required for admission to South University School of Pharmacy.
Saint Joseph College
Saint Joseph College, in West Hartford, Connecticut, offers an accelerated pharmacy degree program for students entering the program with a four-year degree. Saint Joseph College also offers a pre-pharmacy program for students interested in applying to the pharmacy program. This accelerated program takes a total of three years to complete. For acceptance to Saint Joseph College of Pharmacy, a minimum 2.8 grade point average in prerequisite coursework from an accredited college or university is required.
Midwestern University
Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, gives pharmacy students the opportunity to complete a doctorate of pharmacy program in three years. This school only requires two years of prerequisite study for admission to the pharmacy program and a cumulative minimum 2.5 grade point average from an accredited college or university. Midwestern University School of Pharmacy boasts a 99 percent graduation rate of pharmacy school students.
