PharmD/MPH – Direct Entry

Direct-Entry PharmD/MPH students work with advisors from both the School of Pharmacy and the MPH Program to design a flexible program of study that combines MPH coursework with the PharmD curriculum, ensuring all program requirements are met.  A majority of MPH coursework is completed in the third year of study, with other MPH electives disbursed throughout.

The Northeastern co-operative education (co-op) model is the only program of its kind among US pharmacy schools!  PharmD/MPH students participate in up to three co-op experiences (2 required pharmacy co-ops and one optional public health co-op), providing one full year of invaluable real-world experience.

During the final year of the program, students complete Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) required of all PharmD programs.  Of the six 6-week required rotations, one can be a public health-orientated placement.  Additionally in year 5, students take a Public Health Practicum in the Fall and Public Health Capstone in the Spring.

Pre-requisites required for Direct-Entry into first professional (P1) year of the program

 * Only grades of C (2.0) or higher are acceptable to fulfill a prerequisite course.  An overall prerequisite science grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 is preferred for admission.

Students may apply while coursework is in progress – all prerequisites and bachelor’s degree need to be completed by end of summer term of 2018 for admission in fall of 2018. AP credit for coursework will be considered if listed on transcript and accepted by the undergraduate institution.

Notes on Human Physiology I and II Course Sequence:  A total of 8 semester hours of HUMAN-based Physiology and Anatomy are required by the program (and must include at least one lab).  Course designed for health professions are highly preferred.  Please check with advisors/instructors at your institution to identify courses that fit these requirements.  If a general anatomy or physiology course is taken, 80% of the course content must be based on human systems.  Most students fulfill this course sequence by taking:

• OPTION 1:  Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• OPTION 2:  Human Physiology I and Human Anatomy I
• OPTION 3:  Human Physiology I and Human Physiology II

Transcripts in languages other than English must be submitted for verification through World Education Services (WES) Inc. A course-by-course GPA and degree equivalency evaluation is required and must be submitted through PharmCAS application.

Note: Due to the volume of applications and coursework received, we will evaluate equivalencies of coursework only after a student has applied to the program.  Final review occurs as part of the admission process.

It typically takes two years of full-time coursework to earn the stand alone MPH, and four years to complete the direct-entry PharmD.  You have the ability to earn the dual PharmD/MPH degree within five years, saving one full-year of study.

The dual degree includes four years (years 1, 2, 4, and 5) where the flat rate PharmD Direct Entry Tuition is assessed.  In year 3, students are charged the MPH program per credit hour rate.  This saves a full year of tuition as compared to students who pursue the degree separately.  For up-to-date information regarding Northeastern University tuition per credit, please refer to the University’s tuition page.

Tuition is NOT assessed during co-op terms, in fact co-ops allow students to earn income.  Almost all co-ops are full-time, paid employment experiences that enable students to offset expenses.

A number of local School of Pharmacy Dean Scholarships are available to direct-entry PharmD and PharmD/MPH applicants.  Awards may vary.  There is no supplemental application for the scholarship; students who apply via PharmCAS will automatically be considered.  If an admitted student has been chosen to receive a scholarship, notification and details will follow shortly after the admission notice (and prior to the deadline for tuition deposit).

No, your MPH will be exactly the same as the one awarded to non dual-degree students.

The Doctor of Pharmacy program at Northeastern University is a rigorous and challenging academic program that requires students to possess specific characteristics and abilities within the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains, referred to here as technical standards. To successfully progress in and ultimately complete the didactic, laboratory and experiential components of the Doctor of Pharmacy program, students must meet the following standards:

Intellectual Abilities
Students must have well-developed problem solving and critical thinking skills. Cognitive function must be appropriate to integrate, evaluate and apply information gained through measurement, analysis, calculation, and reasoning. Students must have the capacity to learn efficiently in classroom, laboratory, small group, and experiential settings, and through independent study. Students are required to demonstrate the ability to integrate course content knowledge with clinical practice applications to optimize medication therapy management.

Communication Skills
Students must be able to communicate effectively with colleagues, professors, patients, families, and healthcare providers. This includes efficiently comprehending, speaking, reading, and writing in English. Students must be able to process and use appropriate non-verbal cues and be proficient in the use of electronic communication media.

Behavioral and Social Attributes
Students must demonstrate maturity, integrity, honesty, compassion, and respect when relating to others. Students must have sufficient mental and emotional health to complete work and responsibilities using good judgment. Students must be able to tolerate and adapt to stressful workloads and situations, and modify behavior based on constructive criticism. Students must be able to function in accordance with the legal and ethical standards of practice.

Observation and Motor Skills
Students must have functional use of visual, auditory, and tactile senses. Students must be able to observe and perform experiments, physical assessments, patient interviews, and medication order processing. Students must be able to distinguish physical characteristics of medications by inspection. Students must have coordination of gross and fine muscular movements sufficient to perform pharmacy-related tasks including compounding and dispensing medications, administering medications, and using computers and other technology necessary for learning and professional practice.

School of Pharmacy students must have a current laptop computer (see below for suggested specifications) during the professional years of the program (P1 – P4 years).

Pharmacy educators and pharmacy practitioners depend on graduates being functional users of information technology and networked information resources. Pharmacists rely extensively on information systems in the provision of patient care. Our school of pharmacy will ensure that students are well-prepared to optimally use information technologies for life-long learning, professional practice and research.

Laptop computers are used for a variety of tasks including, but not limited to: Conducting on-line research; corresponding via email; completion of course evaluations; in-class electronic testing; presentation design development and delivery; accessing and downloading of on-line course materials; installation of prescription software; accessing electronic medical records; submission and review of portfolios; transmission and access to general course work, laboratory and seminar information; and submission of assignments. Each year, new uses are integrated into the curriculum.

Current software requirements for all pharmacy students include (you do not need to download the software until your instructors provide you with instructions to do so):

• SofTest used for electronic testing. (see systems requirements under https://help.examsoft.com/s/article/Minimum-System-Requirements)
• Computers should have a PDF reader available to open cases loaded in ExamSoft software
• Citrix receiver client to connect to Meditech software (see systems requirements under http://www.citrix.com/downloads). Meditech used as electronic medical record software in courses and labs.

Netbooks and Ultrabooks are acceptable to meet the laptop requirement. In addition to outlined specifications, battery life of at least four hours may be necessary for computer use for electronic testing or in laboratories and seminar rooms.

iPads and other tablets can to used to satisfy many, but not all of the programmatic requirements, therefore, students can consider them as optional devices in addition to the laptop.

NAPLEX Passing Rates for First Attempts

(*in 2016, NAPLEX format changed for all schools)

Residency and Fellowship Placements

2018 Graduating Class
51 Residencies, Fellowships, and other post-graduate programs (36%)

2017 Graduating Class
41 Residencies, Fellowships, and other post-graduate programs (42%)

2016 Graduating Class
61 Residencies, Fellowships, and other post-graduate programs (47%)

2015 Graduating Class
49 Residencies, Fellowships, and other post-graduate programs (38%)

On-Time Graduate Rate

133 students entered the first professional year of the program in 2013 (as the class of 2017).

PharmD in 4 years (72%), PharmD in progress (19%); Other NU Degree (8%); Left University (1%)

Co-operative Education Program

Students in the PharmD program participate in Northeastern University’s signature cooperative education (co-op) program, which provides up to three 4-month full-time work experiences alternating with full-time campus-based academic work. The school offers the only pharmacy co-op program in the country. Northeastern is affiliated with many world-class practice sites in Metropolitan Boston and throughout the United States, providing students with access to experienced clinicians and scholars in quality health care settings.

The goal of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum is to prepare graduates for the present and future practice of pharmacy and the advancement of the profession by providing a strong foundation in science and practice that stresses integration and application. Graduates will be prepared to deliver patient-centered care, provide safe and effective medication therapy management, work as members of interprofessional teams, and make significant contributions to contemporary health care environments.

Upon completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Northeastern University, a graduate will have achieved specifically defined curricular outcomes.  Northeastern University School of Pharmacy has adopted the CAPE (Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education) 2013 Educational Outcomes to guide its program:  PDF Version of Curricular Outcome Document for Doctor of Pharmacy Program.