Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2017-2018 
    
Graduate Catalog 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pharmacy (PharmD)/Business Administration (M.B.A.)


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Alla Marks, Director of Distance Education
Health Professions Building, Office 269, (540) 678-4451, amarks@su.edu

In transitioning to patient-focused care, the success of future health care practitioners hinges upon the ability to manage and market health care services. The goal of the Dual PharmD/MBA program is to educate students to assume responsibilities as managers, administrators, consultants and executives in health care systems.

The program is directed toward providing the education students need to develop an understanding of the major functional areas in health care organizations, and to design strategic plans and policies to cope with the changing pharmaceutical and healthcare environments.

Entrance Requirements

The requirements for admission to the Dual PharmD/MBA program are: Full-time student status in good academic and professional standing in the Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy pursuing the PharmD degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, possession of an undergraduate degree from a regionally/nationally accredited college/university, submission of an MBA application by March 1 of the first professional year (application materials can be found at www.su.edu/admissions/graduate-students/business-application-information), a potential interview with the MBA Admissions Committee, and completion of all required MBA foundational courses.

Foundational Courses

Foundational courses may be completed with equivalent undergraduate courses prior to the first professional year of the PharmD program or during the summer term between the first and second professional years. Foundational courses must have been completed within the last ten years prior to admission in order to be waived and must be approved by the MBA program. The foundational courses are:

Degree Requirements

Students who are jointly enrolled in the Dual PharmD/MBA program will complete both degrees within the four academic years of the PharmD program. The MBA portion of the degree must be completed within five calendar years of admission to the program. Students must complete the requisite 36-hour program, which includes three PharmD courses accepted as three MBA electives.

Students should have an overall 3.0 GPA in all PharmD courses and 3.0 GPA in all MBA courses, including the PharmD courses accepted as MBA electives. All MBA courses are offered on a semester/term basis, similar to PharmD courses. The academic year for the Dual PharmD/MBA program consists of fall, spring and summer terms.

Each MBA course meets on one of the following days: Friday evening for 4 hours, Saturday morning for four hours, or Saturday afternoon for four hours. Summer term MBA courses are held on alternating weekends on the days indicated above. Students enrolled in the Dual PharmD/MBA program take MBA courses along with PharmD courses during the fall and spring terms, then take a full load of MBA courses for two consecutive summer terms starting after the second professional year.

MBA Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE)


A 5-week MBA APPE will be completed during the fourth professional year as a substitute for one Selective APPE in the PharmD program and one MBA elective in the MBA program. This APPE will be structured so that the student will: obtain a basic understanding of technical, managerial, and operational aspects of the organization; complete organizational projects; and make a worthwhile contribution to the organization.

MBA Requirements for Dual PharmD/MBA Degree


P2 Year Spring


P3 Year Fall


  • FIN 517 Financial Management Credit(s): 3

(Substitutes for PharmD elective)

P3 Year Spring


MBA Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE)


A 5-week MBA APPE will be completed during the fourth professional year as a substitute for one elective APPE in the PharmD program and one MBA elective in the MBA program. This APPE will be structured so that the  student will: obtain a basic understanding of technical, managerial, and operational aspects of the organization; complete organizational projects; and make a worthwhile contribution to the organization.

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