College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

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At the College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus, we are focused on training compassionate, patient-centered pharmacists. Our student-centered curriculum is an innovative year-round, three-year program that integrates the latest in basic and pharmaceutical sciences while emphasizing the clinical skills and experiences you need for success. Through our depth of partnerships with the best medical centers, clinics, and diversity of pharmacies in the region, and the proven track record of our alumni, CPDG will build your future as a pharmacist.

Program
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

Location
Downers Grove, IL

Duration
Three Years, full time, year round

Intake
June

Class Size
80 - 100

Graduation Rate
90% (84% on time)


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 – 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 early 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. View our Three-Year Curriculum Overview.

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 2022, our competing Class of 2022 graduates achieved a match rate that was in-line with the national residency match-rate average. And our Class of 2022 grads achieved a 95% job placement rate within six months of graduation. 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 5,000 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/MWUpharmacy

Twitter.com/MWUpharmacy

Instagram.com/MWUpharmacy

LinkedIn.com/showcase/MWUpharmacy

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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 accepted)
  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 2017 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). If necessary, virtual interviews may take place
  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 prepharmacy academic records presented by applicants. When assessing the prepharmacy 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 Summer 2021 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 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

Prerequisite Courses

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

Course

Sem Hrs

Qtr Hrs

Biology with labs

8

12

Human or Vertebrate Anatomy

3

4

General Chemistry with labs

8

12

Organic Chemistry with labs

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 (Any two courses within the areas of psychology, sociology, anthropology, or political science)

6

9

General Education Electives
(Any three courses not related to science, math, physical education or healthcare. Recommended courses include arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, foreign language, and business and computer courses.)

8

12

Total

62

90


$128,570
Median
Salary

7,500+
Alumni
across the U.S.

95%
Job Placement
Rate

Presentations to Help You Learn More

Pharmacy: A Profession with Many, Many Career Paths - While you may be familiar with traditional pharmacists in retail settings, there are numerous other career pathways for pharmacists that also mix medication expertise and patient-centered care.

General Requirements

  • At least two years of prerequisite course work (please refer to the Prerequisite Course Guides page for specific courses at numerous undergraduate  institutions)
  • Preferred minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50
  • Preferred minimum science GPA of 2.50

Special PCAT NOTE: The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) score is not 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. Also accepted in such cases are MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE scores from those who are current MWU students in other programs, or those who have additionally applied to other MWU programs that require these exams.  

On-Time Graduation Rates

Class of 2022 – Standard Graduation Option (March graduates)
On-time graduation rate: 84% 1
Delayed graduation due to an academic or personal issue: 6%
Overall retention rate: 90%

Class of 2022 – Accelerated Graduation Option (September graduates)
On-time graduation rate: 74% 2
Delayed graduation due to an academic or personal issue: 14%
Overall retention rate: 88%

Class of 2023 - Standard Graduation Option (March graduates)
On-time graduation rate: 84% 3

Class of 2023 - Accelerated Graduation Option (August graduates)
On-time graduation rate: 71% 4

Please note: The SGO and AGO curricula are no longer available to incoming pharmacy students. These have been replaced with the standard three-year curriculum that begins in Summer Quarter with graduation three years later in May.

1  Based on the SGO Class of 2022, which had 135 matriculants. This percentage is reflective of those students admitted in Fall 2018 and graduated on time. This percentage accounts for students who voluntarily withdrew from the program, as well as students who had their graduation delayed due to an academic or personal issue, or were dismissed.

2  Based on the AGO Class of 2022, which had 42 matriculants. This percentage is reflective of those students admitted in Fall 2019 and graduated on time. This percentage accounts for students who voluntarily withdrew from the program, as well as students who had their graduation delayed due to an academic or personal issue, or were dismissed.

3  Based on the Class of 2023, which had 116 matriculants. This percentage is reflective of those students admitted in Fall 2019 and graduated on time. This percentage accounts for students who voluntarily withdrew from the program, as well as students who had their graduation delayed due to an academic or personal issue, or were dismissed. Retention data will be available in summer 2024.

4  Based on the AGO Class of 2023, which had 41 matriculants. This percentage is reflective of those students admitted in Fall 2020 and graduated on time. This percentage accounts for students who voluntarily withdrew from the program, as well as students who had their graduation delayed due to an academic or personal issue, or were dismissed. Retention data will be available in summer 2024.

 

Licensing Examination Scores

NAPLEX 2022 first time test-taking pass rate
CPDG graduates: 78%

MPJE 2022 first-time test-taking pass rate
CPDG graduates: 69%

In 2022, CPDG graduates achieved the highest licensing exam first-time pass rates among all pharmacy schools in the Chicago area for both the NAPLEX and MPJE exams

Data for 2022 provided by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP, www.nabp.pharmacy) to Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove Campus for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE, or state law exam).

 

Incoming Students Summer 2023 (Class of 2026) Class Profile

Class Size: 104

Female: 68%
Male: 32%

Average Age: 25

Overall GPA: 3.29
Science GPA: 3.13

Top Home States: Illinois (65%), Michigan (6%), Florida (4%), Wisconsin (3%)

Career Settings

Pharmacists practice patient-centered care in community pharmacies, hospitals, physician offices, home health care, managed care organizations, and in corporate offices as patient advocates. For additional insights, visit Pharmacy as a Career.

Placements

Class of 2022 Job Placements


March Graduates
(Standard Graduation Option (SGO))

Total Job Placement Rate: 95% 

Job Placements:

Community / Retail               72              71%

Residency / Fellowship          27              26%

Hospital / Health-System        2                 2%

Pharmaceutical Industry         1                 1%

Total                                      102            

To determine Job Placement Rate for this graduating class, the following methodologies were used: Two surveys were administered: 1.) three weeks prior to graduation in February 2022 in which 125 (100%) of the graduating students responded, and 2.) In October 2022, a follow-up survey was administered to the graduates who had indicated they had not yet secured employment at the time of the earlier survey. Collectively, a total Job Placement Rate of 95% was achieved (102/107) within seven months of graduation, based on those who had reported such information to the College. There are 18 graduates where no information is available, as of October 2022.

 

September Graduates (Accelerated Graduation Option (AGO))

Community / Retail                15             57%

Residency / Fellowship           8               31%

Hospital / Health-System       1                4%

Pharmaceutical Industry        1                4%

Other                                           1                4%

Total                                         26             

To determine Job Placement Rate for this graduating class, the following methodologies were used: 1.) A survey was administered three weeks prior to graduation in August 2022 in which 33 (100%) of the graduating students responded, and 2.) In March 2023, ASHP residency matches were reviewed, along with other sources. There are seven graduates where no information is available, as of August 2023.


Please note:
The SGO and AGO curricula are no longer available to incoming pharmacy students. These have been replaced with the standard three-year curriculum that begins in Summer Quarter with graduation three years later in May.

 

2023 Residency Match


Class of 2022 (AGO) September graduates: 89% (8/9)

Class of 2023 (SGO) March graduates: 81% (30/37)

Combined Residency Match Rate: 83% (38/46)

National Match Rate: 81.8%

 

Based on 2023 National Matching Service (NMS) data obtained from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in April 2023. Match rates are calculated by dividing the number of individuals who matched to a residency program by the number of individuals who submitted a rank list to NMS in 2023, plus those who matched outside of the process. The CPDG graduates' rates are based on the AGO Class of 2022 (September grads) and the SGO Class of 2023 (March grads) exclusively, and do not include students from previous graduating classes. These rates represent the entire match process.

 

US Employment Projections and Median Salary

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)

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