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PharmD Online: A Remote Pharmacy Education on the Rise

Published on: Nov 6, 2022
By: Jim Herbst, PharmD, BCPPS
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An Introduction to the Online PharmD

The Online PharmD or Distance Learning Pathway is a relatively new concept in pharmacy school education.  Less than 5% of programs currently offer a distance learning pathway.  Traditionally, pharmacy school education has taken place in the classroom, laboratory, or pharmacy practice experiences (pharmacy rotations).  Over the last ten years, technology has allowed lectures to be recorded, watched, or listened to after the scheduled lecture.  This quickly transitioned to live-streaming of lecturers so that students could watch and interact in real-time. 

This advancement allowed for the engagement of a live in-person lecture to be preserved in an online at-home setting.  In-lecture quizzes and knowledge checks could be completed in person within a lecture hall and at home through the university’s online learning platform.  Eventually, some pharmacy schools adopted a fully immersive distance learning pathway to supplement the traditional learning pathway. 

In the distance learning pathway, the pharmacy laboratory component and the intermediate (IPPE) and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) are still completed in person, similar to traditional pharmacy school programs.  However, in the new concept of the “distance learning” pathway, only the didactic portion of the curriculum is completed online.  

PharmD Online: An Alternative Path

The online alternative to campus-based learning allows the pharmacy student to pursue a PharmD degree while leveraging the latest distance education technology.  All the distance learning programs cover the required material recommended by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.  The advantage for learners is that these programs are flexible enough to accommodate the unique life demands of the distance learning student. 

The distance learning programs remove the barrier of relocation, which is often an insurmountable obstacle for those with a lower socioeconomic status, those with families, or those with spouses whose job relocation is either not possible or not feasible.  The distance learning or online PharmD program is an excellent opportunity to expand pharmacy education opportunities to new communities and audiences.

Currently, seven programs offer either an online PharmD degree or a distance learning pathway in conjunction with a more traditional PharmD pathway.  These programs may provide unique benefits to self-motivated learners or to students who are not located within proximity to a pharmacy program.

Online PharmD and Distance Learning Program Comparison

School

Associated with Academic Medical Center

Baccalaureate Degree Requirement

Minimum Overall GPA

PCAT Requirement

Butler University

No

Required

3.0

Not Required or considered

Creighton University

Yes

Not Required

N/A

Optional

Duquesne University

No

Not Required

2.5

Optional

LECOM

Yes

Not Required

N/A

Optional

Manchester University

No

Not Required

2.5

Optional

St. John Fisher University

No

Not Required

2.75

Optional

Western New England University

No

Not Required

N/A

Optional

The Online PharmD Programs

Butler University Doctor of Pharmacy Online Pathway

Program Location: Indianapolis, Indiana 

Program Website: https://online.butler.edu/doctor-of-pharmacy-pharmd

How to Get In?

  • Bachelor’s Degree is REQUIRED

  • Application Method: PharmCAS

  • GPA Needed: ~3.0

  • Prerequisite GPA Needed: ~2.8

Prerequisite Coursework Needed:

  • General Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Organic Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Anatomy and Physiology (with or without lab): 2 semesters

  • Biological Science/Cell Biology (with or without lab): 1 semester

  • Microbiology (with lab): 1 semester

  • Math (Calculus and Analytical Geometry): 1 semester

PCAT: Not required or considered

Letters of Reference: Not required

Interview: Required (online available)

How much will this degree cost?

  • >$40,000 per year

  • >$160,000 over 4 years

Important Deadlines:

  • Priority Deadline: ~ November

  • Early Deadline: ~ January

  • Final Deadline: ~April

  • First Day of Classes: Late August

After Graduation:

  • First-Time Naplex Passing Rate: 93-97% (2019-2021)

Fall

  • Clinical Biochemistry

  • Pathophysiology

  • Immunology

  • Approval to Administration

Spring

  • Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology

  • Pharmacist Assessment and Immunization

  • Basic Pharmaceutics*

  • Professional Development

  • Self Care & Health Promotion 

Summer

  • Introduction to Principles of Drug Action

  • Introduction to Healthcare Analytics

  • Social Justice & Diversity 

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (160 Community Hours) 

*5-day immersive on-campus experience required

Fall

  • Pharmacy Applications of Biostatistics and Research Design

  • Self Care & Health Promotion

  • IPE and Professional Development

  • Principles of Drug Action

  • Therapeutics

Spring

  • Professional Development

  • Principles of Drug Action

  • Therapeutics

  • Introduction to Dosage Forms*

Summer

  • Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Management

  • Advanced Dosage Forms*

  • Professional Electives

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (160 Institutional Hours) | [160 hrs] (Experiential) (1 credit hour tied to IPE RX501 course)

*5-day immersive on-campus experience required

Fall

  • Professional Development

  • Therapeutics

  • Principles of Drug Action

  • Evidence Based Medicine

  • Pharmacy, Policy, and the Law


Spring

  • Introduction to Rotations

  • Therapeutics & Case Studies

  • Clinical Pharmacokinetic

  • Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomics

  • Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (10 rotations, ~160 hours each)

Duquesne University Online PharmD

Program Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Program Website: https://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/pharmacy/online-pharmd

How to Get In?

Bachelor’s Degree is NOT required

Application Method: Not a PharmCAS participating institution-apply directly to the program itself

GPA Needed: 2.5

Prerequisite GPA Needed: 3.0

Prerequisite Coursework needed:

  • Biology/ Biological Science (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Organic Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Physics: 1 semester

  • Calculus: 1 semester

  • Statistics: 1 semester

  • English Composition/Writing: 1 semester

  • Theology: 1 semester

  • Philosophy: 1 semester

  • Ethics: 1 semester

  • Economics: 1 semester

  • Global Diversity: 1 semester

  • Creative Arts: 1 semester

  • Computer Science: 1 semester

  • Psychology: 1 semester

  • Faith and Reason: 1 semester

PCAT: NOT required

Letters of Reference:  NOT required

Interview: Required (online available)

How much will this degree cost?

  • >$1700/credit hour

Important Deadlines

  • Priority Deadline: ~July

  • Final Deadline:  ~July

  • First Day of Classes: ~August/September

After Graduation

  • First-Time Naplex Passing Rate: 89-98% (2019-2021)

Fall

  • Pharmaceutical Calculations

  • Peptides and Carbohydrate Metabolism

  • Human Physiology and Pathology

  • Pharmaceutical Principles and Drug Delivery Systems

  • Pharmaceutical Law and Ethics

  • Patient Care Skills

  • The American Health Care System

  • Ability-Based Laboratory Experience (ABLE)

  • Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

  • Doctor of Pharmacy Orientation Program

Spring

  • Sterile/Non-Sterile Compounding

  • Metabolism, Protein Synthesis and Nucleic Acids

  • Human Physiology and Pathology

  • Pharmaceutical Principles and Drug Delivery Systems

  • Foundations in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry

  • Patient Care Skills

  • Public Health and Epidemiology

  • ABLE

  • CPD

Summer

  • Intro Experiential Education

*Students are required to be on campus for at various times throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

Fall

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Cardiology

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Infectious Disease

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Respiratory Disorders

  • Therapeutic Case Studies

  • Biopharmaceutics

  • Drug Literature Evaluations

  • Self-Care in Pharmacy Practice

  • ABLE

  • CPD

Spring

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Psychiatry and Neurology

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Infectious Disease

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Pain, Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Endocrine Disorders

  • Therapeutic Case Studies

  • Pharmacokinetics

  • Pharmaceutical Science and Practice of Immunization

  • Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training and Certificate Program

  • ABLE

  • CPD

Summer

  • Intro Experiential Education

*Students are required to be on campus for at various times throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

Fall

  • Physical and Clinical Assessment

  • The Development, Implementation, Management and Evaluation of Pharmacy Services in Current and Future Pharmacy Model

  • Pharmacy Management Concepts

  • Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics: Principles of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation

  • Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics: Gastroenterology 

  • Therapeutic Case Studies

  • Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Management

  • ABLE

  • CPD

Spring

  • Management Theory and Application

  • Advanced Law and Ethics Applications

  • Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics: Therapeutics in Special Populations

  • Biomedical Sciences & Therapeutics: Therapeutics in the Critically Ill

  • Personalized Therapeutics: Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmaceutics

  • Therapeutic Case Studies

  • Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Management

  • ABLE

  • CPD

*Students are required to be on campus for at various times throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

  • Pharmacist-Patient Care Network Certificate

  • Required Certificate Training Elective

  • Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (7 rotations, ~230 hours each)

*Students are required to be on campus for at various times throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Distance Education Pathway

Program Location: Erie, PA and Bradenton, FL

Program Website: https://lecom.edu/pharmacy/sop-pathways/distance-education-pathway/

How to Get In?

  • Bachelor’s Degree is NOT required

  • Application Method: PharmCAS

  • GPA Needed: No minimum although 2.7 or greater preferred

  • Prerequisite GPA Needed: N/A

Prerequisite Coursework Needed:

  • Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Organic Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Physics: 1 semester

  • Math (Calculus or Analytic Geometry with Calculus): 1 semester

  • Statistics: 1 semester

  • Economics: 1 semester

  • Psychology (or sociology or anthropology): 1 semester

  • English Composition/Writing: 2 semesters

  • General Electives: 3 semesters

PCAT: Optional

Letters of Reference: Required (2)

Interview: Required (online available)

How much will this degree cost?

  • >$28000 per year

  • >$110000 over 4 years

Important Deadlines

  • Priority Deadline: ~June

  • Final Deadline: ~June

  • First Day of Classes: ~Early August

After Graduation

  • First-Time Naplex Passing Rate: 75-83% (2019-2021)

Fall

  • Pharmacy Drugs and Healthcare

  • Biochemistry

  • Pharmaceutics w/lab*

  • Physiology and Anatomy

  • Pharmaceutical Calculations

Spring

  • Biochemistry

  • Microbiology and Immunology

  • Pharmacist Provided Care

  • Pharmaceutics w/lab*

  • Pharmacy Law

  • Drug Information

  • Effective Communications

*Students are required to be on campus for 1-3 weeks each summer to the Bradenton, FL campus for immersive laboratory experiences

Fall

  • Intermediate Pharmacy Practice Experience

  • Basic Pharmacokinetics

  • Research Methods and Pharmacoepidemiology

  • Pharmacist Provided Care

  • Professional Elective

Spring

  • Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry

  • Drug Literature Evaluation

  • Clinical Skills

  • Pharmacotherapeutics

  • Pharmacotherapeutics Recitation

  • Pharmacy Practice Essentials

  • Professional Elective

Fall

  • Pharmacotherapeutics

  • Pharmacotherapeutics Recitation

  • Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry

  • Clinical Pharmcoknetics

  • Management and Patient Safety

  • PharmD Seminar

Spring

  • Pharmacotherapeutics

  • Pharmacotherapeutics Recitation

  • Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry

  • Pharmacogenomics

  • Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes

  • PharmD Seminar

  • Pharmacy Practice Essentials

  • Professional Elective

  • Pharmacy Practice Essentials

  • Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (6 rotations, 6 weeks each)

Manchester University Distance Pathway

Program Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana 

Program Website: https://www.manchester.edu/pharmacy/admissions/distance-pathway

How to Get In?

  • Bachelor’s Degree is NOT required

  • Application Method: PharmCAS

  • GPA Needed: 2.5

  • Prerequisite GPA Needed: 2.5

Prerequisite Coursework needed:

  • Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Organic Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Biology/Biological Sciences (with lab): 1 semester

  • Anatomy and Physiology: 1 semester

  • Microbiology (with lab): 1 semester

  • Math (Calculus): 1 semester

  • Statistics: 1 semester

  • Economics: 1 semester

  • Communication: 1 semester

  • English Composition/Writing: 1 semester

  • Additional Electives and Coursework: 7 semesters

PCAT: Optional

Letters of Reference: Required (2)

Interview: Required (online available)

How much will this degree cost?

  • >$40000 per year

  • >$160000 over 4 years

Important Deadlines

  • Priority Deadline: ~November

  • Final Deadline: ~June

  • First Day of Classes: ~August/September

After Graduation

  • First-Time Naplex Passing Rate: 78-87% (2019-2021)

Fall

  • Pharmaceutical Biochemistry

  • Drug Information

  • Pharmacy Practice Lab*

  • Pharmaceutics 

  • Pharmaceutical Calculations

  • Patient Centered Care

Spring

  • Immunology

  • Pathophysiology

  • Nonprescription Therapeutics

  • Pharmacy Practice Lab*

  • Pharmaceutics

  • Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacogenomics

  • IPPE I Community

*Students are required to be on campus for 2 weeks each summer for immersive laboratory experiences

Fall

  • Integrated Pharmacotherapy (IPT)

  • Case Conference

  • Pharmacy Practice Lab*

  • Healthcare Systems and Patient Safety

  • Elective**

Spring

  • IPT

  • Drug Literature Evaluation

  • Case Conference

  • Pharmacy Practice Lab*

  • Pharmacy in Public Health

  • IPPE Institutional

  • Elective**

*Students are required to be on campus for 2 weeks each summer for immersive laboratory experiences

**5 total credit hours of elective coursework is required

Fall

  • IPT

  • Case Conference

  • Pharmacy Practice Lab*

  • Practice and Personnel Management

  • Elective**

Spring

  • IPT

  • Case Conference

  • Capstone & Lab*

  • Pharmacy Law

  • Elective**

*Students are required to be on campus for 2 weeks each summer for immersive laboratory experiences

**5 total credit hours of elective coursework is required

  • Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (10 rotations, 4 weeks each)

St. John Fisher University Online Pathway

Program Location: Rochester, NY

Program Website: https://onlinepharmd.sjfc.edu/

How to Get In?

  • Bachelor’s Degree is NOT required

  • Application Method: PharmCAS

  • GPA Needed: 2.75

  • Prerequisite GPA Needed: 2.75

Prerequisite Coursework needed:

  • Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Organic Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Biology/Biological Sciences (with lab): 3 semesters

  • Math (Calculus): 1 semester

  • Statistics: 1 semester

  • Economics: 1 semester

  • Communication: 1 semester

  • Physics: 1 semester

  • English Composition/Writing: 2 semesters

  • General Electives: 4 semesters

PCAT: Optional

Letters of Reference: Required (2)

Interview: Required (online available)

How much will this degree cost?

  • >$1100 per credit hour (151 credits needed)

  • >$160000 over 4 years

Important Deadlines

  • Priority Deadline: ~February

  • Final Deadline: ~June

  • First Day of Classes: ~September

After Graduation

  • First-Time Naplex Passing Rate: 87-97% (2019-2021)

Fall

  • Pharmacy Calculations

  • Pharmaceutics

  • Systems Pharmacology

  • Biosystems

Spring

  • Pharmaceutics

  • Biosystems

  • Systems Pharmacology

  • Introduction to Pharmacy Profession

  • Introduction to Diversity

Summer

  • Compounding of Liquid & Solid Preparations*

  • Federal Pharmacy Law

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

  • Elective

  • Elective

Fall

  • Systems Pharmacology

  • Applied Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

  • Concepts in Pharmacy Practice

  • Critical Evaluation of Medical Literature

  • Population Based Health Care

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice

Spring

  • Concepts in Pharmacy Practice

  • Applied Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

  • Critical Evaluation of Medical Literature

  • Ethics in Primary Practice

  • Managing Practice and Personnel

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

*Students are required to be on campus for several weeks at a time throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

Summer

  • Compounding of Liquid & Solid Preparations*

  • Federal Pharmacy Law

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

  • Elective

  • Elective

Fall

  • Systems Pharmacology

  • Applied Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

  • Concepts in Pharmacy Practice

  • Critical Evaluation of Medical Literature

  • Population Based Health Care

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice

Spring

  • Concepts in Pharmacy Practice

  • Applied Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

  • Critical Evaluation of Medical Literature

  • Ethics in Primary Practice

  • Managing Practice and Personnel

  • Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience

*Students are required to be on campus for several weeks at a time throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

  • Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (7 rotations, 6 weeks each)

Western New England University Distance Program

Program Location: Springfield, MA

Program Website: https://www1.wne.edu/pharmacy-and-health-sciences/academics/pharmd/distance-pathway.cfm

How to Get In?

  • Bachelor’s Degree is NOT required

  • Application Method: PharmCAS

  • GPA Needed: N/A

  • Prerequisite GPA Needed: 2.7

Prerequisite Coursework needed:

  • Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Organic Chemistry (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Biology/Biological Sciences (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Anatomy and Physiology (with lab): 2 semesters

  • Microbiology: 1 semester

  • Math (Calculus): 1 semester

  • Statistics: 1 semester

  • English Composition/Writing: 2 semesters

  • Social/Behavioral Science: 1 semester

PCAT: Optional

Letters of Reference: Required (2)

Interview: Required (online available)

How much will this degree cost?

  • >$40000 per year

  • >$160000 over 4 years

Important Deadlines

  • Priority Deadline: ~October

  • Final Deadline: ~June

  • First Day of Classes: ~August/September

After Graduation

  • First-Time Naplex Passing Rate: 86-92% (2019-2021)

Fall

  • Intro to Pharmacy and Health Professions

  • Drug Information and Informatics

  • Immunology

  • Biochemistry

  • Pharmaceutics

  • Pharmaceutics Lab*

  • Pharmacy Ethics

  • Health Care Policy & Delivery

  • Pharmaceutical Calculations

  • Professional Development

Spring

  • Health Care Communications

  • Pathophysiology

  • Basic Principles of Genetics and Genomics

  • Pharmaceutics

  • Pharmaceutics Lab*

  • Pharmacy Outcomes

  • Self Care Therapeutics

  • Intro to Pharmacy and Health Professions

  • IPPE Community or Health System

  • Professional Development

*Students are required to be on campus for 5 one-week session throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

Fall

  • Principles of Pharmacokinetics

  • Principles of Pharmacology

  • Principles of Medicinal Chemistry

  • Patient Assessment Skills Lab*

  • Professional Pharmacy Practice Lab*

  • Practice Management

  • IPPE Community or Health System

  • Elective

  • Professional Development

Spring

  • Renal

  • Respiratory

  • Cardiovascular System

  • Applied Pharmacy Care

  • Practice Management

  • Sterile Products Lab*

  • Literature Evaluation/ Evidence Based Practice

  • Elective

  • Professional Development

*Students are required to be on campus for 5 one-week session throughout the program for immersive laboratory experiences

Fall

  • GI/Nutrition/Hepatic/Pancreatic

  • Endocrine/Repro/GU

  • Infectious Disease

  • Applied Pharmacy Care

  • Pharmacy Law

  • IPPE Community or Health System

  • Elective

  • Professional Development

Spring

  • Derm/ Musculoskeletal

  • Neuro/CNS

  • Psych

  • Heme/Onc

  • Special Populations

  • Applied Pharmacy Care

  • Pharmacy Law

  • Patient Care Management

  • Professional Development

  • Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (6 rotations, 6 weeks each)

portrait of Jim Herbst PharmD

Jim Herbst, PharmD, BCPPS is an advanced patient care pharmacist at a nationally ranked pediatric acute care teaching hospital.  Dr Herbst received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Ohio State University in 2012.  He started his clinical career as an inpatient patient care pharmacist covering the neurology and complex care services, before transitioning to a pediatric neurology ambulatory care clinic in 2019. 

Dr Herbst's areas of interest in pediatric neurology include treatment-resistant pediatric epilepsy, infantile spasms, the ketogenic diet, and neuroimmunology.  He has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed pharmacy and neurology journals, including Neurology, Epilepsia, and the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.  Dr Herbst is board certified as a pediatric pharmacy specialist.

Opinions and information published by the author here on PharmDDegree.com are of my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of my employer.


Education: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), The Ohio State University
Knowledge: Advanced Patient Care Pharmacy, Neurology, Epilepsia