Pharmacy in Downers Grove

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Admission Requirements
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Fast Facts

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Degree

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

General Requirements

Two years of prerequisite course work
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
Minimum science GPA of 2.50
PCAT scores

Length of Program

4 years, full-time

Class Size

214

2009 Class Profiles

Female: 59%
Male: 41%
Average Age: 23
Average Overall GPA: 3.25
Class Size: 211
Top Home States: Illinois (56%), California (15%), Wisconsin (9%)

Residency Placements (Class of 2008)

About 14% of CCP graduates go on to assume residency training after graduation

Graduation Rate (Class of 2008)

Approximately 99% of each class graduates from the program

Licensing Examination Scores (2008)

NAPLEX 2008 first time test-taking pass rate

CCP graduates: 96.54%
National rate: 96.48%

MPJE 2008 first time test-taking pass rate

CCP graduates: 92.72%
National rate: 91.30%

Pharmacist Professional Responsibilities

Recommend drug therapies
Monitor drug regimens for efficacy and safety
Counsel patients regarding their drug regimens and disease states
Work with other health care providers to ensure positive outcomes with the use of medications
Respond to questions regarding drug therapy
Educate the public regarding chronic disease management and drug therapies

Career Opportunities

Community pharmacies, hospitals, educational institutions, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, home health care

Job Placements for CCP Alumni

Community Pharmacy: 56%
Hospital Pharmacy and other position: 20%
Residencies: 14%

US Employment Projections through 2012

157,000 additional pharmacists needed

2009 Median Salary

$106,990

Admission Requirements

TopStudents seeking admission to CCP must submit the following documented evidence:

Completion of 62 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of nonremedial, prerequisite coursework from regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities
- Minimum cumulative GPAs and science GPAs of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale
- Grades of C or better for prerequisite courses (grades of C- are not acceptable)
Direct submission of scores from the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) to the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) using PCAT code 104
- PCAT exams are offered multiple times per year by Harcourt Assessment, Inc., (also known as Pearson), 800/622-3231 or www.pcatweb.info
- Only scores earned from the test offered in June 2005 or later are acceptable
Demonstration of a people or service orientation as evidenced by community service or extracurricular activities
Motivation for and commitment to the pharmacy profession as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences
Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues
Completion of the CCP on-campus interview process (by invitation only)
Passing the Midwestern University criminal background check
Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy

The Pharm.D. Program at CCP is rigorous and challenging. The CCP Admissions Committee will therefore assess the quality and rigor of the prepharmacy academic records presented by applicants. When assessing the prepharmacy academic records of applicants, the Admissions Committee will:

View applicants with cumulative GPAs below 2.75 on a 4.00 scale with particular concern; although 2.50 on a 4.00 scale is the minimum cumulative GPA for admission consideration, higher cumulative GPAs are more competitive and recommended.
- The average cumulative GPA of applicants admitted for Fall 2008 was 3.33 on a 4.00 scale
View component and composite PCAT scores below the 50th percentile with particular concern, although there are no minimum PCAT scores
- The average composite PCAT score of applicants admitted for Fall 2008 was in the 81st percentile
View with concern applicants whose prepharmacy math and science coursework was completed longer than 10 years ago
- More recent (within four years) prepharmacy math and science coursework is preferred
Consider the reputation for quality and rigor of the institutions where applicants have taken previous coursework, the extent of completion of science prerequisites, the credit load carried per term, the difficulty level of previous coursework, and trends in applicant grades

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Prerequisite Courses

Course	Sem Hrs	Qtr Hrs
Biology with lab	8	12
Human or Vertebrate Anatomy	3	4
General Chemistry with lab	8	12
Organic Chemistry with lab	8	12
Physics (mechanics, heat, force, and motion must be included in the course)	3	4
Calculus (integral and differential)	3	4
English Composition	6	9
Speech/Public Speaking	3	4
Economics	3	4
Statistics (general statistics or biostatistics)	3	4
Social and Behavioral Science Electives (includes courses within the areas of psychology, sociology, or anthropology)	6	9
General Education Electives (Any course not related to science, math, physical education or health care. Recommended courses include arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, foreign language, and business and computer courses.)	8	12

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Program Description

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Midwestern University's Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP) Pharm.D. program provides students with enhanced experiences in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences. Six years of coursework are required, with the first two years at another college and the last four years at CCP. The College has two paths leading to the Pharm. D. degree:

Students will be enrolled in the full-time traditional Pharm.D. Program with the start of the first professional year.
Students who are registered pharmacists and have a valid U.S. or Canadian pharmacist license can apply to the Nontraditional Pharm.D. Program. This is a self-paced, largely self-instructional, flexibly scheduled program in which a part-time student can complete degree requirements over approximately two to four years. This program is being phased out and is no longer accepting students.

Supported by a CCP faculty mentor, small groups of students work together to complete projects and assignments, and gain extensive clinical knowledge. The fourth professional year provides immersion in hands-on learning at diverse clinical rotation sites, emphasizing problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Settings include community pharmacies, hospitals, managed care facilities, physician offices, and other rural and urban sites.

Program Expectations

CCP educates and graduates competent and motivated pharmacists who will provide pharmaceutical care in a wide range of community and institutional settings. CCP's standards for admission outline the academic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by faculty and by the ACPE, the pharmacy accrediting agency, to obtain the Pharm.D. degree. Candidates must have abilities and skills in five areas: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) motor; 4) intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative; and 5) behavioral and social. Technological compensation can be made for some limitation in certain of these areas, but candidates should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.

Mission

Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP) fosters lifelong learning through excellence in education, postgraduate programs, and scholarship. The College encourages the development of professional attitudes and behaviors to prepare pharmacists who will provide exemplary patient care in a culturally diverse society.

Accreditation

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The Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), 20 North Clark Street, Suite 2500, Chicago, Illinois 60602-5109; 312/664-3575, 800/533-3606; Fax 312/664-4652.

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602.