Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is a professional doctorate degree necessary to pursue pharmacy licensure in the United States.  National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, including the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, require that pharmacy licensure applicants from the United States have graduated from an accredited PharmD degree program to be eligible to sit for the NAPLEX ® (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination ®) and the MPJE ® (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination ®).

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 system requirements at http://support.examsoft.com/link/portal/15157/15194/Article/162/What-are-the-minimum-system-requirements-to-run-SofTest).
• 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.

New computer purchase recommendations and options may be found at http://www.northeastern.edu/resnet/?p=394 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

ASHP Post-Graduate Residency Match Process

Residency and Fellowship Placements

2019 Graduating Class
49 Residencies, Fellowships, and other post-graduate programs (39%)

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

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

On-Time Graduation Rate

137 students entered the first professional year of the program in 2015 (as the class of 2019).

PharmD in 4 years (87%), PharmD in progress (7%); Other NU Degree (4%); 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.

Did you know that pharmacists are the top #2 and #4 highest paying jobs in the United States? Only physicians ranked higher. Click link to Glassdoor’s “25 Highest Paying Jobs in America” list
1. Physician
Median Base Salary: $193,415
Number of Job Openings: 3,729

2. Pharmacy Manager
Median Base Salary: $144,768
Number of Job Openings: 3,042

3. Pharmacist
Median Base Salary: $126,438
Number of Job Openings: 1,884