Since 1955, the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy has been training pharmacists who are problem-solvers, innovators and leaders. By choosing University of the Pacific’s doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program, you will become part of our legacy of excellence and leadership. The skill set and clinical experience you gain from our program will open doors to the many settings where pharmacists play a key role, from hospitals to pharmaceutical research and development.

Doctor of Pharmacy
Driven problem-solvers and passionate innovators

Our accelerated, eight-semester doctor of pharmacy curriculum exposes students to the pharmaceutical, administrative, social, behavioral and clinical science aspects of the field. From the very first semester, students develop clinical and patient-care skills - both are integrated throughout the curriculum. Students also gain patient care experience in a wide variety of settings that provide them with a foundation of practical training.

Learn more about student support resources.

PharmD Brochure (pdf)
PharmD students in Rite Aid Information Commons

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Parent and Family Resource Guide (PDF)
Preceptor Corner
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Pharmacy faculty member Marisella Guerrero

In 2016, following a rigorous review, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) granted Pacific's doctor of pharmacy program an eight-year reaccreditation.

We are success-centered, leadership-focused and have a powerful network of alumni.

Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

With our Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) requirement, we bridge an important gap for our students regarding practical experience. The IPPE requirements include 300 hours of combined experience in hospital, community and ambulatory care settings and community outreach. This IPPE program allows students to apply what they are learning in the classroom and to be better prepared for advanced practice experience during their third year.

ippe@pacific.edu

Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

With our Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) requirements, students are mentored by our Regional Coordinators and a large cohort of dedicated and experienced adjunct faculty and preceptors to gain more than 1,440 hours of combined practice experience in acute care, ambulatory care, hospital, community and other specialty settings. The APPE program transitions students to become practice ready pharmacists.

appe@pacific.edu

The Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) of the PharmD Program consists of a total of 300 hours through community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, ambulatory care, and health care outreach and is required in semesters one through five.

  • Community I IPPE: An 80-hour practice-based introductory experience designed to facilitate student learning of the role and responsibilities of the pharmacist and pharmacy intern in the delivery of pharmaceutical care in the community pharmacy setting. 
  • Community II IPPE: An 80-hour practice-based intermediate experience to facilitate student learning of the role and responsibilities of the pharmacist and pharmacy intern in the medication use system in the community pharmacy setting and to expand on the abilities developed in Community I IPPE.
  • Hospital IPPE: A 80-hour practice-based introductory experience to facilitate student learning of the role and responsibilities of the pharmacist and pharmacy intern in the medication use and patient care process in the health-system, with focus on the pharmacy operations, hospital administration, and regulatory and accreditation standards.
  • Ambulatory Care IPPE: A 30-hour practice-based introductory experience to facilitate student learning of the role and responsibilities of the pharmacist and pharmacy intern in the use of electronic health records and population management in the ambulatory care setting.  
  • Health Care Outreach IPPE: A 30-hour introductory experience to enhance the student's understanding, participation, and commitment to improving public health. Community outreach takes place through participation in health fairs, medication therapy management at Medicare Part D outreach events, immunization administration, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and bone mineral density screening, health education workshops and many more health care initiatives.

 

After the completion of the IPPE, students progress to the Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE), completing a minimum of 1,440 hours of APPE in semesters 7 and 8. The APPE includes four core rotations in community pharmacy practice, hospital pharmacy practice, internal medicine, and ambulatory care, with two elective rotations.

  • Internal Medicine APPE: A clinical pharmacy practice rotation with emphasis on the medical management of acute disease states, rational drug therapy, and patient monitoring using the pharmacist patient care process in acute care settings. Students develop and explore their roles as part of an interprofessional healthcare team sharing responsibility with patients, caregivers and other health care professionals. (240 hours)
  • Ambulatory Care APPE: A clinical pharmacy practice rotation with emphasis on the medical management of chronic disease states, rational drug therapy, and patient monitoring using the pharmacist patient care process in ambulatory care settings. Students develop and explore their roles as part of an interprofessional healthcare team sharing responsibility with patients, caregivers and other health care professionals. (240 hours)
  • Hospital Pharmacy APPE: A hospital pharmacy practice rotation with enhanced experience in contemporary institutional practice as well as understanding pharmacy operations and administration, medication and patient safety, quality assurance, program development, communicating with patients and other health professionals, and providing drug information. (240 hours)
  • Community Pharmacy APPE: A community pharmacy practice with enhanced experience in the contemporary community practice, including but not limited to selecting drug products, compounding, dispensing, monitoring and evaluating, communicating with patients and other health care professionals, drug information, public health, and pharmacy operations and management. (240 hours)
  • Electives APPE I and II: Two elective APPEs that allow the student to explore and develop abilities in an area of interest within the health care settings or industry. This experience may be in a variety of biomedical settings including patient care, administrative, health care system, public health, governmental agency, professional organization, research, academic, pharmaceutical company, and other biomedical or health related settings. (480 hours) 

 

Experiential Learning

Our 17 clinical experience regions are located across California, from Redding to San Diego. We will place you in each of your clinical rotations and a dedicated faculty member will help guide you every step of the way.

Practice Settings

Our innovative PharmD program will prepare you for the range of settings pharmacists play a key role, including community, health systems, population health and public health. By working alongside seasoned professionals, you will get the hands-on experience you need to hone your clinical and patient-care skills.

  • Community pharmacy
  • Hospital pharmacy
  • Clinical pharmacy
  • Ambulatory care
  • Specialty pharmacy
  • Managed care
  • Pharmaceutical industry
  • Academia
  • Public policy/service

Fellowships and Residencies

Many of our graduates go on to complete residencies or fellowships. Our faculty and alumni are valuable assets for students who are interested in pursuing these postgraduate opportunities.

Pacific ranked in the top 10 percent nationally in postgraduate residencies for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Resident Matching Program.

Fellowship in Industry Program — Genentech
Fellowship in Industry Program - Gilead
Fellowship in Industry Program — Flow Therapy
Fellowship in Industry Program — United States Air Force
Pharmacy Practice Fellowship
Curriculum and Co-Curriculum

In 2019, the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy launched a new doctor of pharmacy curriculum and co-curriculum.

To continue Pacific's legacy of innovation, we launched an updated, redesigned curriculum. We have intentionally integrated active learning techniques in our courses to help you gain the knowledge and skills needed to become a well-rounded, highly competent health care provider.

Four members of PharmD student committees

Our curriculum also offers extensive development of clinical case management and interprofessional collaboration. Over the course of eight semesters, you will be immersed in an extensive array of pharmacy practice experiences including community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, ambulatory care, internal medicine and numerous elective options. Our capstone courses help solidify concepts, shaping you into a practice-ready pharmacist. Our co-curriculum offers numerous leadership opportunities and the ability to provide vital heath care services to members of the community through health care outreach events.

This new curriculum and co-curriculum

  • build on the strengths of prior curricula
  • use evidence-based educational strategies
  • meet the needs of future graduates and the future of pharmacy practice
  • assure the holistic development of all students

The new curriculum provides

  • Active learning techniques throughout the curriculum including team projects, team-based learning, flipped classroom, and classroom assessment and pause-for-learning strategies.
  • A solid foundation in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, social-behavioral-administrative and clinical sciences;
  • Extensive development of skills, clinical case management and interprofessional collaboration;
  • Emersion learning of disease topics through integration of pathophysiology, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry and therapeutics;
  • Early and sustained introductory pharmacy practice experiences in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, ambulatory care, and health care outreach settings; and
  • An extensive array of advanced pharmacy practice experiences and capstone courses that bring it all together and prepare students for licensure and practice.

The co-curriculum provides

  • The guided development of the student in a manner that complement the formal curriculum; and
  • Numerous opportunities to engage in activities that lead to further development of professional, leadership, communication, educator, advocacy, collaboration, inclusivity, creativity and innovation, and self-awareness skills and abilities.

 

Interprofessional Education (IPE)

The University of the Pacific has a robust interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum with IPE events occurring each trimester with various health professions students across the United States. IPE opportunities include traditional case-based learning, simulations, peer teaching, telehealth simulations and gaming techniques such as escape room scenarios. Our colleagues at the School of Health Sciences and Dugoni School of Dentistry serve as integral partners for our PharmD IPE curriculum. In addition, we have relationships with various medical and nursing schools in the US to provide well-rounded collaborative experiences for our students. IPE is currently a longitudinal course (Phar 669) integrated throughout the six-semester curriculum. Students apply learned concepts and teamwork skills in interprofessional practice experiences during their introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experience (IPPE and APPE).

IPE Mission & Vision
The mission of IPE at the Thomas J Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific is to prepare pharmacy students for contemporary practice through a variety of interprofessional opportunities, which aim to improve student teamwork and collaboration skills.

The vision for IPE at the Thomas J Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific is to develop pharmacists who are practice ready and contribute medication and health-related expertise to interprofessional teams to maximize patient care.

IPE Competencies:

The University of the Pacific has adapted the following competencies from the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC).

Competency 1 - Work with individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values. (Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice)

Competency 2 - Use the knowledge of one’s own role and those of other professions to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of patients and to promote and advance the health of populations. (Roles/Responsibilities)

Competency 3 - Communicate with patients, families, communities, and professionals in health and other fields in a responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of disease. (Interprofessional Communication)

Competency 4 - Apply relationship-building values and the principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient/population-centered care and population health programs and policies that are safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable. (Teams and Teamwork)

Student Support
Office of Academic Success and Instructional Support

The mission of the Office of Academic Success and Instructional Support (OASIS) is to provide students with support to help them be successful academically and in their future careers. Workshops and trainings are available for individuals, small groups and classes.

  • Develop an effective, personal learning strategy
  • Incorporate active learning strategies into your study process
  • Learn valuable time management skills
  • Strategize ways to mitigate the impact of stress on your life
  • Learn techniques for developing study materials and preparing for exams
  • Sharpen your memorization skills

 

OASIS is offered through the Office of Academic Affairs and is funded by a generous gift from the Chan Family. The impact of the Chan Family’s gift was doubled by the Powell Match program, which was established by a transformative gift of $125 million to University of the Pacific from Robert C. and Jeannette Powell.

Dual Degrees

PharmD/MS and PharmD/PhD

Get the best of both worlds — the hands-on clinical experience of the PharmD program and an immersive research experience through the Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program. Our PharmD/MS and PharmD/PhD graduates are in high demand in industry and academia.

Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences Program

PharmD Outcomes Data
PharmD Curricular Outcomes
PharmD Curriculum and Course Description

The median annual wage for pharmacists was $128,090 nationally and $144,050 in California according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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Doctor of Pharmacy Admission
209.932.3600 pharmdadmission@pacific.edu

3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211

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Director of Admissions
vsemler@pacific.edu
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Doctor of Pharmacy Admission

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Doctor of Pharmacy Admission