Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)—Direct Entry
School of Pharmacy
Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall, Spring
As a pharmacist, you are an integral part of patients’ daily lives and pivotal healthcare moments.
A Well-Rounded Education with Invaluable Professional Opportunities
Your Six-Year Journey
“Direct entry” means that you move into the professional phase after successful completion of preprofessional requirements, attainment of a minimum GPA of 2.8 and successful completion of an oral interview and writing proficiency exam (Progression Interview).
First-Year Experience
- study biology, chemistry, and calculus and participate in associated labs
- refine your skills in expository writing
- explore the healthcare implications of human psychology and American culture, identity, and public life
Second-Year Experience
- begin your introduction to pharmacy and learn anatomy and physiology for pharmacy
- study physics, medical microbiology, and organic chemistry and attend associated labs
- hone the interpersonal communication skills necessary to be an effective health professional
Third-Year Experience (First Professional Year)
- become familiar with healthcare delivery and the management of healthcare practices
- learn physiology, medical biochemistry, and pharmaceutical calculations
- explore research methods in pharmacoepidemiology and begin opportunities in personal and professional development
- participate in a dosage forms laboratory
Fourth-Year Experience (Second Professional Year)
- study pharmacology, therapeutics, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical biotechnology
- learn about virology, anti-infection, and pharmacokinetics
- explore the clinical application of the pharmacists’ patient care process
- begin your pharmacy practice experience and continue your personal and professional development
- earn your Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and Life Sciences
Fifth-Year Experience (Third Professional Year)
- study healthcare ethics, clinical pharmacokinetics, and pharmacy law
- develop an understanding of OTC drugs and patient self-care
- learn advanced therapeutics and attend associated seminars
- continue to build your understanding of practice management and attend required labs
- complete the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment Exam
Sixth-Year Experience (Fourth Professional Year)
- complete required rotations in internal medicine, institutional pharmacy practice, ambulatory care, and community pharmacy practice, as well as two elective rotations in areas such as administration, critical care medicine, gastroenterology, and infectious diseases
- complete advanced pharmacy experience rotations
- begin NAPLEX review modules and board review
Step Inside the MCPHS School of Pharmacy/Boston
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Want to know how long a PharmD degree is? Learn what you can expect during your time at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
What Is a PharmD Degree? Unveiling Career Opportunities, Specialties, and Transferable Skills
Discover what a PharmD degree is and what careers you could obtain with it following graduation from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Advance Your Career in Pharmacy at MCPHS
Founded in 1823, MCPHS is the second-oldest university of pharmacy in the United States and has prepared more students for careers in pharmacy than any other university in the world.
Dual-Degree Options for Boston PharmD Candidates
MCPHS Community Voices
The lived experiences of MCPHS students, partners, and faculty tell an eloquent story. They illustrate just how our student-centered, teaching-first approach keeps us in the top tier of the country’s “most transformative colleges.” (Money magazine 2020).
Carlos Randulfe
| PharmD ’18“My MCPHS education allowed me to understand the uses of drugs found in the army formulary as well as the inner workings of a hospital. Such information is very helpful when working on a team, specifically a military team, made up of different providers and healthcare personnel.”
News & Features
Keep up with the latest news from the School of Pharmacy at MCPHS.
Additional Options for Doctor of Pharmacy at MCPHS
We offer two paths to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in addition to our PharmD—Accelerated option.
Download a Program Fact Sheet
Download a program fact sheet for a snapshot of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)—Direct Entry.