Doctor of Pharmacy

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Prepare for the cutting edge of pharmacy practice with a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from Wilkes University’s Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. Be an innovator who creates the future of pharmacy practice.

If you are applying as a graduate student directly to the Professional Pharmacy program, please apply via the PharmCAS application:

Apply to the PharmD Program via PharmCAS external website

Note: This application is not for high school students interested in applying to Wilkes University's Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. If you are a high school student, please see the Pre-Pharmacy Guaranteed Seat Program and apply via the undergraduate application.

Program Snapshot

Program Type	Format	Credit Hours
Graduate	On Campus	139-143

Why Study Pharmacy at Wilkes?

In Wilkes University’s Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, you’ll join a close-knit “pharmily” of professionals passionate about improving patient care in a range of pharmacy settings. Our small class size ensures personalized attention with an emphasis on hands-on clinical training, new technologies, research and communication.

Real-world experiences begin as early as the first year, starting in community practice and followed by working with prescribers and clinical faculty in hospital pharmacy and telepharmacy. You may supplement your degree with a concentration, like Spanish or Public Health, or capitalize on the opportunity to hone business skills in a dual PharmD/MBA program.

Our graduates routinely exceed the national average pass rate on licensure exams. The Nesbitt School also matches student pharmacists seeking competitive post-graduate residency training at a higher rate than the national average.

What Will You Learn?

As a PharmD student, you will:

Gain a strong foundation in basic sciences, such as pharmaceutics, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, anatomy and physiology.
Acquire clinical knowledge in therapeutics, pharmacokinetics, and pathophysiology.
Develop skills in physical assessment, patient counseling and clinical decision-making.
Understand how psychology, sociology, economics, health policy and management impact successful practice.
Cultivate interpersonal skills to communicate effectively and function in a team environment.
Learn how to provide high-quality health care and make meaningful contributions to the science and practice of pharmacy.

Curriculum Philosophy

Program Highlights

Close-Knit Community

Join our “pharmily” of students passionate about providing patient care and involved in all aspects of campus life.

White Coat Ceremony

Receive your traditional white coat during this ceremonial program to mark your shift from preclinical to clinical study and practice.

Dual-Degree PharmD/MBA

The PharmD/MBA dual degree option gives you the expertise to work in a management-level position in a variety of health care settings.

My favorite aspect of Wilkes University is the supportive faculty and family-like learning environment. I also felt as though I was supported with whatever I wanted to do in addition to being pushed to become the best that I can be.
Alex Ponce '19 - PharmD

I feel more than prepared to work each day as a pharmacist and leader with the U.S. Air Force because of the values instilled within by the faculty and staff at Wilkes.
Cody Morcom '20 - PharmD

Wilkes provided me with so many opportunities to turn me into a well-rounded pharmacist and person. I was able to stay heavily involved in activities within and outside of pharmacy school. It is a very close-knit community, and my professors were always there when I needed help.
Lauren Hertzog '20 - PharmD

92%

of Wilkes graduates in the Class of 2023 had employment or residency secured at the time of graduation

up to 80

First year undergraduate students accepted each year into the Pre-Pharmacy Guaranteed Seat Program

96%

match rate for the Class of 2024 exceeding the national match rate

Nesbitt School of Pharmacy Pass Rates Exceed National Averages

Graduates from the Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy achieved a pass rate that exceeds the national average on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).

Indicators of Success

Careers & Outcomes

Pharmacists are trusted medication experts that work to better the health of their communities. PharmD graduates work in pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, research centers and outpatient care facilities. Below are examples of job titles, employers and post-graduate residency positions secured by recent graduates of our PharmD program.

Job Titles

Clinical Pharmacist
Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
Chemotherapy Pharmacist
Community Pharmacy Owner
Pediatric Pharmacist
Poison Control Expert
Industry Pharmacist

Employers

CVS
Geisinger Health System
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Sanofi
U.S. Air Force
Walgreens
Weis Markets

Post-Graduate Residencies

WellSpan
VA Medical Center
Geisinger Health System
VCU Health System
Temple University Health System
Yale New Haven Hospital
Highmark

Who Will Be Considered

Professional Applicants

Professional applicants may seek direct admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy Professional Program.

This includes applicants who:

Already have a bachelor’s degree from U.S. accredited institution.
Have completed, or have in progress, the required coursework at Wilkes or another university.
Are currently enrolled in Wilkes University's pre-pharmacy parallel track.
Are interested in applying as a transfer applicant to the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy.

A completed application is composed of all of the below:

A completed online application.
Submission of prerequisite course document.
General Education requirements document (if you have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree).
All official transcripts.
A Statement of Purpose.
Three (3) Recommendations.

Apply to the PharmD Program via PharmCAS external website

High School Student Applicants

High school students expected to graduate in the spring/summer, or high school graduates who have not enrolled in a two- or four-year college or university, may apply to the six-year Pre-Pharmacy Guaranteed Seat Program (PPGS).

Apply to the Guaranteed Seat Program

Questions

If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please contact:

Coordinator Admissions and Student Affairs
Nesbitt School of Pharmacy

robert.knight@xgcr.net
(570) 408-4298

What Philosophy Guides Our Curriculum?

The Nesbitt School of Pharmacy designed the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum to educate students on a holistic, individualized and equitable approach to healthcare provision, blending evidence-based and patient-centered considerations for medication therapy management.

We recognize interprofessional collaboration as an integral part of upholding high standards of patient care. Meaningful connections between faculty, students and staff in the School of Pharmacy facilitate personal and professional growth and development to create positive change in the community and profession of pharmacy.

Our Values

As faculty, students and staff we value:

Teamwork

The School of Pharmacy develops teamwork skills through intentional integration of team activities in pharmacy care labs and other foundational courses throughout their didactic education. Students also work with students from other health professions outside the School of Pharmacy to develop interprofessional skills. Faculty embrace teamwork and collegial relationships with one another in an effort to integrate the disciplines of the foundational sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and practice.

Leadership

Leadership is an important professional skill. Students are trained in conflict resolution, building effective teams and managing team dynamics. The School of Pharmacy encourages membership in professional organizations. Faculty lead by example, serving in leadership roles in diverse state and national professional pharmacy organizations.

Professionalism

Members of the School of Pharmacy hold ourselves and others to high professional standards. We model and instill these attitudes and behaviors throughout our students’ pharmacy education in and out of the classroom.

Community Service and Engagement

The strength of our community is directly linked to the strength of our school and profession. Likewise, our service to the community directly impacts its citizens. We respect and promote this mutually beneficial relationship through the involvement of faculty, students and staff in community service.

Meaningful Relationships Between Students and Faculty

Students work directly with faculty as colleagues on experiential rotations. We intentionally design co-curricular activities to fortify skills students learn in the classroom. In the didactic setting, students and faculty form close professional bonds facilitated by small class size. In the research setting, faculty mentor students directly in the discovery of knowledge. We maintain a student-centered culture, with mentorship and accessibility of faculty as high priorities.

Meaningful Relationships Between the School and the Workforce

The Scientific Foundation of Medications

Individualized therapeutic recommendations require application of knowledge in the foundational sciences. In recognition of this, we emphasize pharmacodynamics, physiology and pathophysiology as components to rational decision-making, particularly when clinical guidelines are not applicable to a specific patient scenario. Moreover, pharmacists serve as the most accessible healthcare providers and have a duty to educate the public on the scientific basis of vaccines and medications.

Evidence-Based Therapeutic Interventions

Information mastery is threaded throughout our curriculum. Our faculty promote critical evaluation of clinical trial methodology and statistical rigor and an objective approach to choosing therapy. We equip our students to interpret clinical guidelines in a race-conscious manner.

Critical Thinking

Optimal therapeutic recommendations require integration of several factors, including foundational sciences, clinical sciences and social and behavioral aspects. We educate students to formulate therapeutic decisions, employing critical thinking using these factors.

Technology

Technology for teaching and learning is continuously evolving. The School of Pharmacy fully embraces tools for optimizing content delivery and assessment and strategically integrates these tools into the curriculum. Likewise, through the required curriculum, we intentionally introduce students to rapidly evolving technology in healthcare.

Patient Individuality and Autonomy

Recognizing that patients bear cultural, religious and socioeconomic differences, we train students to respect and integrate patient-centered factors into their therapeutic recommendations.

Wellness

Mental and physical well-being are not merely direct determinants of our capacity to teach and learn, but are fundamental goals in and of themselves. We value the wellness of each student, staff and faculty member of the School of Pharmacy.