A transformed PharmD curriculum—a 3-year, 12-quarter integrated program—was launched in 2018. UCSF prepares distinguished, professionally skilled, and compassionate PharmD graduates with an unmatched scientific mindset to bring creative approaches to serve patients and meet challenges across health care. For more on the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum, see Curriculum Components and Curriculum Outcomes.
Requirements for the doctor of pharmacy degree
A minimum of 184 units of professional study is required for the PharmD degree in addition to a set of specific graduation requirements.
Students complete courses in the following areas:
| Foundations | 17.5 units |
| Integrated Themes | 72.5 units |
| Applied Patient Care Skills | 8.5 units |
| Pharmacy Practice Experiences | 73.5 units |
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| Inquiry and Discovery Project | 10 units |
| Electives | minimum 2 units |
The requirements for graduation, including policies and specific courses, are subject to periodic review and may be changed as determined by the faculty of the School of Pharmacy.
PharmD required courses
| Foundations | 17.5 units | ||
| Year 1 | Foundations I | 14.5 units | |
| Year 2 | Foundations II | 3 units | |
| Integrated Themes | 72.5 units | ||
| Year 1 | Cardiovascular Science & Therapeutics Theme | 11.5 units | |
| Respiratory Science & Therapeutics Theme | 9.5 units | ||
| Renal Science & Therapeutics Theme | 6 units | ||
| Gastrointestinal Science & Therapeutics Theme | 8 units | ||
| Year 2 | Endocrine Science & Therapeutics Theme | 9.5 units | |
| Neuroscience & Therapeutics Theme | 14.5 units | ||
| Oncology Science & Therapeutics Theme | 5.5 units | ||
| Infectious Disease Science & Therapeutics Theme | 8 units | ||
| Applied Patient Care Skills (APCS) | 8.5 units | ||
| Year 1 | APCS I | 2.5 units | |
| APCS II | 1 unit | ||
| APCS III | 1 unit | ||
| APCS IV | 1 unit | ||
| Year 2 | APCS V | 1 unit | |
| APCS VI | 1 unit | ||
| APCS VII | 1 unit | ||
| Pharmacy Practice Experiences | |||
| Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) | 17.5 units | ||
| Year 1 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience – Community A | 2.5 units | |
| Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience – Community B | 5 units | ||
| Year 2 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience – Health Systems | 10 units | |
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) Students complete 56 units of APPEs beginning spring quarter of Year 2 through spring quarter of Year 3. The timing of each APPE depends upon the APPE schedule assigned to the individual student. | 56 units | ||
| Years 2 & 3 | Hospital Pharmacy Systems & Practice APPE | 7 units | |
| Community Pharmacy Systems & Practice APPE | 7 units | ||
| Acute Patient Care APPE | 7 units | ||
| Ambulatory Patient Care APPE | 7 units | ||
| APPE Electives: 4 rotations of 7 units each (at least 2 must be Direct Patient Care Elective APPEs) | 28 units | ||
Non-direct Patient Care APPE Elective |
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Direct Patient Care APPE Elective |
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| Inquiry and Discovery Project | 10 units | ||
| Year 1 | Inquiry Immersion | 3 units | |
| Year 2 | Discovery Project Research | 5 units | |
| Year 3 | Discovery Project Final Analysis and Completion | 2 units | |
Electives Electives provide additional exposure to current issues and practices in pharmacy and health care. | 2 units | ||
| Total units for the PharmD degree | 184 units | ||
Note: Students participating in the Intensive Discovery Project take PharmIS 120B for 12 units in place of PharmIS 120A and the Year 2 Spring APPE. Students participating in the Intensive Discovery Project take three elective APPEs; PharmIS 120B is counted as the fourth Non-direct Patient Care Elective APPE.