Chicago College of Pharmacy

Midwestern University was founded in 1900 as the American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. In 1991, the Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP) was established, and we have been educating patient-centered pharmacists for a wide array of practice settings since then. Located 25 miles west of Chicago, our beautiful gated campus features 105-acres of wooded land and provides students with excellent living and learning opportunities.

Dynamic Curriculum - In students' first years in the program, they engage in interactive lectures, labs, workshops, simulations, and introductory pharmacy practice experiences. In their final year, students participate in advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

Student Success - There were 127 students from our Class of 2018 who tested in the second trimester of 2018 (May - August), and they achieved a more than 90% first-time pass rate on the North American Pharmacy Licensing Exam (NAPLEX). The class also achieved an average starting salary of $111,250.

Choice in Curriculum Length - Each option is designed to provide students with flexibility and opportunities they desire:

• Three-year year-round curriculum offers a fast-track, intensive program that prepares students to begin their pharmacy careers as quickly as possible, while still benefiting from a well-rounded education focused on excellent patient care. Students in this program attend courses year-round, including summers, and graduate in late August.
• Three-and-a-half-year curriculum offers two summers free of coursework, which may be used for pharmacy enrichment experiences, such as summer internships, research, and/or a pharmacy-related job. Students in this program graduate in early March, which allows them to get a jump start on their job search or prepare for residency training.
• Detailed comparison chart
• We are pleased to announce: For students planning to start pharmacy school in 2021, CCP will begin offering a single three-year, year-round curriculum that begins in June of that year, with an eventual May graduation date. This new curriculum will continue to provide the high quality pharmacy and experiential education that Midwestern University is long known for, in an efficient timeframe for the benefit of our students. Curriculum details to come.

Interprofessional Education - At Midwestern University, healthcare education is all we do. Our pharmacy students work with other healthcare profession students to practice communication across disciplines, as well as collaboration.

Premier Clinical Partners - CCP partners with the best medical centers, clinics, and community pharmacies in the Chicago area to provide rotation sites for students. International and out-of-state rotations are also available.

Accessible Faculty - Our dedicated faculty mentor students in clinical service, research projects, community outreach, and leadership.

Community Outreach - With more than 20 pharmacy-related student organizations, students develop leadership skills, serve the community, and work with professional pharmacy organizations.

Supportive Alumni - CCP has nearly 4,000 alumni who practice in all areas of pharmacy all over the country.

Career Support - From part-time pharmacy jobs and summer internships, to residency training and full-time career searches, CCP offers valuable resources to students to help ensure their success in beginning professional pharmacy careers.

Comprehensive CCP Pharm.D. Brochure

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Thanks to PioneerRx, our students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in simulated, real-world pharmacy functions in preparation for future practice.  See how PioneerRx compares to other pharmacy systems.

At the conclusion of the Pharm.D. Program, all graduates will achieve the following outcomes:

1. Demonstrate professionalism
2. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills
3. Communicate effectively
4. Practice evidence-based decision-making
5. Practice patient-centered care
6. Promote health and wellness
7. Manage medication use systems
8. Manage a pharmacy practice
9. Contribute to the interprofessional healthcare environment

College's Strategic Goals

1. Educate and prepare pharmacists to excel in a changing healthcare environment.
2. Promote advancements in the profession of pharmacy.
3. Contribute meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge.
4. Foster professional development of faculty, staff, preceptors, and students.
5. Develop and cultivate relationships with alumni and external stakeholders.
6. Optimize and enhance resources needed to fulfill the College's mission.

The Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), 190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603; 312-664-3575, 800-533-3606; Fax 312-664-4652; or www.acpe-accredit.org.

Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.

2018 MEDIAN SALARY for all pharmacists was $126,120, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm (accessed 8/6/2019)

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

1. Completion of 62 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of nonremedial, prerequisite coursework from regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities, or recognized postsecondary Canadian institutions that use English as its primary language of instruction and documentation:
   • Preferred minimum cumulative GPA and science GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale
   • Grades of "C" or better for prerequisite courses (grades of C- are not acceptable).
2. 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;
   • Applicants currently applying to another college within Midwestern University may have scores from the MCAT, DAT, or OAT transferred;
   • Current MWU students wishing to apply to the College of Pharmacy may have scores from the MCAT, DAT, or OAT transferred;
   • Only scores earned from the test offered in 2015 or more recently are acceptable.
3. Demonstration of a people or service orientation as evidenced by community service or extracurricular activities.
4. Motivation for and commitment to the pharmacy profession as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
5. Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with patients and colleagues.
6. Completion of the CCP on-campus interview process (by invitation only).
7. Satisfactory Midwestern University criminal background check.
8. 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 pre-pharmacy academic records presented by applicants. When assessing the pre-pharmacy academic records of applicants, the Admissions Committee will:

1. 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 preferred minimum cumulative GPA for admission consideration, higher cumulative GPAs are more competitive and recommended.
   • The average cumulative GPA of applicants admitted for Fall 2018 was 3.15 on a 4.00 scale
2. View component and composite PCAT scores below the 50th percentile with particular concern, although there are no minimum PCAT scores.
3. View with concern applicants whose pre-pharmacy math and science coursework was completed longer than 10 years ago.
   • More recent (within four years) prepharmacy math and science coursework is preferred
4. 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.

Prerequisite Courses

To see which courses at your undergraduate institution will fulfill our prerequisites, please visit our CCP Course Guides page.