College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus

Midwestern University was founded in 1900 as the American College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. In 1991, the College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus (CPDG) 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.

Streamlined Admissions – You’ve worked hard on your pre-pharmacy coursework, and this is evident in your application. As such, we no longer require PCAT scores as part of the admissions process (though you are welcome to submit them if you wish to enhance your application).

Three-year, year-round curriculum - In our program, you will attend courses year-round beginning in June, with an ultimate May graduation. Our innovative program prepares you to begin your pharmacy career sooner, while still benefiting from a well-rounded education focused on excellent patient care.

Dynamic Curriculum - In your first years in the program, you will engage in interactive lectures, labs, workshops, clinical simulations, and introductory pharmacy practice experiences. In these environments, the safety of our students is our utmost priority. So when needed, interactive technology is leveraged, along with small group sizes and other safety protocols.

In your final year, you will participate in advanced pharmacy practice experiences, where you will be off campus learning in a variety of healthcare environments.

Premier Clinical Partners – We have longstanding partnerships with the best medical centers, healthcare groups, clinics, and diverse pharmacies in the Chicago area to provide a large variety of rotation sites for you, as you explore the many ways pharmacists provide patient-centered care. International, out-of-state, and government agency rotations are also available. Learn more about our pharmacy student rotation opportunities.

Interprofessional Education - At Midwestern University, healthcare education is all we do. In our curriculum, you will have the opportunity to work with other healthcare profession students to practice communication across disciplines, as well as collaboration.

Student Success – Each year a large portion of our students vie for desired residency positions that begin after graduation. In the spring of 2020, our competing Class of 2020 students achieved the highest Phase I match rate of all Illinois pharmacy schools and collectively were 4% above the national Phase I match-rate average. For more student successes as they happen, visit our social media sites listed below.

Accessible Faculty - As soon as you arrive on campus, you will meet your own faculty mentor who will be available to you throughout your studies at CPDG. In addition to teaching, our dedicated faculty also support students in clinical service, research projects, community outreach, and leadership.

Accomplished Faculty –

• A majority of our faculty members are in leadership positions in their respective pharmacy associations. Further, thirteen have achieved Fellow status, which recognizes a depth of leadership, research, and contributions to their associations.
• Seven faculty members are on editorial boards that review the latest in pharmacy research and perspectives, and three have written books.
• Nearly all faculty who practice pharmacy outside of the classroom are board-certified in their respective specializations.

Community Outreach - With more than 20 pharmacy-related student organizations, you will have multiple opportunities to develop your leadership skills, serve the community, and work with professional pharmacy organizations. Several of our organizations have won regional and national awards for their local initiatives.

Supportive Alumni - CPDG has more than 4,000 alumni who practice in all areas of pharmacy all over the country.

Career Support - From part-time pharmacy jobs to residency training and full-time career searches, we offer valuable resources for you to help ensure your success as you embark on your professional pharmacy career.

Follow us on social media~

Facebook.com/chicagocollegeofpharmacy

Twitter.com/MWUCCP

Instagram/MWUCCPharmacy

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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.

For the new three-year program, all graduates will achieve these outcomes at the conclusion of the Pharm.D. program:

1. Knowledge and problem-solving skills
2. Patient and population care
3. Practice and systems management
4. Communications and interpersonal skills
5. Personal and professional development
6. One Health and interprofessionalism

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 College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus 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.

2019 MEDIAN SALARY for all pharmacists was $128,090, 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 7/14/2020)

Students seeking admission to CPDG 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. 2. No Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) score is required for admission, however if an applicant's cumulative and science GPAs are below 2.75, then the submission of PCAT scores is preferred to enhance the application.
   • Scores may be submitted 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, OAT, or GRE transferred, if their cumulative and science GPAs are below 2.75
   • Current MWU students wishing to apply to the college of pharmacy may have scores from the MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE transferred, if their cumulative and science GPAs are below 2.75
   • Only scores earned from the test offered in 2016 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 CPDG 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 CPDG is rigorous and challenging. The CPDG 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 2019 was 3.18 on a 4.00 scale
2. When submitted, view component and composite PCAT scores below average with particular concern, although there are no minimum PCAT scores and a PCAT score is not required for admission.
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 CPDG Course Guides page.