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Founded in 1991, the Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP) offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Its successful curriculum emphasizes patient-centered care, communications, and uses group learning to develop team-oriented work skills needed for today's healthcare environment.
CCP alumni work in community pharmacies, hospital settings, educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and managed care organizations. Graduates of the College are well-positioned to be offered full-time positions in rewarding and challenging practice environments with excellent salaries.
Curriculum
During the first professional years in the program, students complete required courses, elective courses, and introductory pharmacy practice experiences. The final professional year transitions into experiential learning at diverse clinical rotation sites.
The complete sequences of all required courses, effective Fall 2019:
Three-Year Pharm.D. Curriculum - Accelerated Graduation Option (effective Fall 2019) - limited seats available
Three-and-a-Half-Year Pharm.D. Curriculum - Standard Graduation (effective Fall 2019)
For a summary of the differences and similarities between the two curricula, please review the Comparison of Three- vs. Three-and-a-Half-Year Curricula
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.
Sample Block Schedules
Each class of pharmacy students follows the same schedule of courses each quarter, also known as a "block schedule." With this system, the University will enroll students in their required courses on the days and times they are offered. There is no option to create a custom schedule of required courses.
In the second and third professional years in the program, students may sign up for elective courses of their choice (subject to availability) in addition to their required courses.
To better understand how block schedules work, please click on the links below to see previous quarters' schedules for the current three-and-a-half-year curriculum. In the coming year, additional links will be added for the second and third professional years. (The block schedules for the three-year curriculum are not yet available.) These block schedules reflect the current Three-and-a-Half-Year Pharm.D. Curriculum (began Fall 2016).
Please note: Quarterly block schedules are subject to change each year for each class. The following are posted for informational purposes only.
3.5-Year Curriculum
First Professional Year:
Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter
Second Professional Year:
Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter
Third Professional Year:
Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter
Course Descriptions
Courses for the three-year curriculum and three-and-a-half-year curriculum are identical.
Required Courses
Elective Courses - Must complete at least eight hours of elective coursework.
Additional Information
Visit these helpful links to learn more about the pharmacy curriculum:
- Pharmacy Departments
- Faculty Members
- Office of Experiential Education - Student Resources
- Research & Summer Internships
Students who are strong in math and science have the greatest success rates in pharmacy school. Other helpful qualities include possessing a high desire to help people, analytical thinking, communication skills, attention to detail, high ethical standards, a natural desire to learn, as well as good judgment and professionalism.
Our caring faculty take a personal approach to teaching our students. Meet two of our faculty members who balance their professional pharmacy endeavors with their passion for teaching our students:
Dr. Shridhar Andurkar
Dr. Jennifer D'Souza
Meet one of our recent graduates who reflects back on how his time at CCP has impacted his career:
Dr. Tolu Akinwale, CCP Class of 2013
For additional details, please fill out our Request Information Form. Select our Illinois campus, then select "Chicago College of Pharmacy" and complete the remainder of the fields. Or email us at AdmissIL@midwestern.edu.
Student Life
There are many pharmacy-related student organizations, so students can develop leadership skills, get involved in projects that serve the community, and work with professional pharmacy organizations. Guided by dedicated faculty members, these are great opportunities to collaborate with professors, get to know more about their leadership in professional pharmacy organizations, offer the opportunity for students to build their own networks, as well as build their resumes.
Published three times per academic year, our Script for Success newsletter features the latest in pharmacy student and campus news:
Script for Success - Spring 2017 - Students' Summer Internship and Research Experiences * A Student's Perspective: How I Spent My Summer Vacation * Summer Internships * Student Research Poster Presentations * Contact Us
Script for Success - Winter 2017 - CCP Student Travels to Serbia for Summer Internship Experience * Midwestern University Embraces One Health Philosophy * A Student's Perspective: The Transition to Pharmacy School * Hear More About CCP's Heroes and Happenings as They Occur * CCP Student Wins Patient Counseling Competition * Alumni Networking Breakfast * Advocacy 101: Preparation for Legislative Day * Mayor Proclaims October as American Pharmacists Month in Downers Grove * Calendar & Contact Us
Script for Success - Summer 2016 - International Pharmacy Rotation in Belize * A Student's Perspective: Making the Most of Your Time at Pharmacy School * Revised Pharm.D. Curriculum at CCP * Annual Student Award Night * CCP Student Becomes Chair of APhA-ASP Communications Committee * Student Leadership Institute Graduates its Class of 2016 * CCP Student Earns Gateway to Research Scholarship * Calendar & Contact Us
Script for Success - Spring 2016 - Summer Breaks Offer CCP Students Opportunity to Expand Horizons * A Student's Perspective: How I spent My Summer Vacation * Summer Internships * Student Research Poster Presentations * Calendar & Contact Us
Script for Success - Winter 2016 - New Clinical Skills and Simulation Center Opens * CCP Students Attend Planning Meetings in Washington D.C. for APhA-ASP Academics * A Student's Perspective: Your Future in Pharmacy * Student Resources for Careers in Pharmacy * ICHP at ASHP * CCP Faculty Member Has Book Published * Calendar
Script for Success - Summer 2015 - A Student's Perspective: Leveraging Campus Leadership * Student Chapters of National Pharmacy Organizations * MWU Chapters of National Pharmacy Organizations * Professional Pharmacy Fraternities * Calendar
Script for Success - Winter 2015 - Summer Breaks Offer CCP Students Opportunity to Expand Horizons * A Student's Perspective: How I Spent My Summer Vacation * Midwestern University Community Health Fair * Summer Internships * Student Research Poster Presentations * Calendar
Script for Success - Fall 2014 - CCP Students are Taking Advantage of Research Opportunities * CCP Professor Receives Prestigious Biotechnology Award * Target's Student Competition for Scholarship Awards * A Student's Perspective: Second-Year Balance * CCP Preceptor wins CVS Preceptor of the Year Award * CCP Student Meets Acting U.S. Surgeon General * Calendar
Script for Success - Summer 2014 - A Student's Perspective: Opportunities Outside the Classroom * CCP Executive and Class Student Councils * Student Chapters of National Organizations * Professional Pharmaceutical Fraternities * Calendar
Script for Success - Winter 2014 - Students Broaden Their Pharmacy Education Through Summer Internships * A Student's Perspective: The reality ... it's fun! * Midwestern University Community Health Fair * Strong CCP Student Representation at ASHP * Calendar
Script for Success - Fall 2013 - Chicago College of Pharmacy Student is Second Runner-Up at APhA-ASP National Patient Counseling Competition * CCP Students Make a Difference in Chicago's Chinatown Community * CAREERxPO * A Student's Perspective: Third-Year Inspiration * Students Collaborate with Their Preceptor and Impact Patient Care Procedures * Featured by ASHP * Calendar
Script for Success - Winter 2013 - Student Organization Round-Up * Preparing CCP Students for Residencies * A Student's Perspective: Second Quarter of Pharmacy School * Pharmacy Student Organizations at Midwestern University * Strong CCP Student Representation at the 2012 ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting * Calendar
Script for Success - Fall 2012 - Two Chicago College of Pharmacy Students Among Eight National Award Winners * Downers Grove Students Went Bald for St. Baldrick's Foundation * A Winning Team * A Student's Perspective: First Quarter of Pharmacy School * Midwestern University: Students Reach Out to the Community for American Pharmacists Month * Fall Color on Campus * CCP Alumni Shared Career Insights with Students * Calendar
Student Performance Data
CLASS OF 2023 SIZE
- 160 students
CLASS OF 2023 PROFILE
- Female: 64%
- Male: 36%
- Average Age: 24
- Top Home States: Illinois (77%), Michigan (10%), California (2%)
GRADUATION AND RETENTION RATES - CLASS OF 2019 1
- On-time graduation rate: 89%
- Delayed graduation due to an academic or personal issue: 4%
- Overall retention rate: 93%
LICENSING EXAMINATION SCORES 2,3
| National | CCP Graduates | |
| 2017 NAPLEX first-time pass rate | 87.95% | 79.58% |
| 2017 MPJE first-time pass rate | 85.20% | 83.33% |
| 2018 NAPLEX first-time pass rate | 89.46% | 85.53% |
| 2018 MPJE first-time pass rate | 83.76% | 77.23% |
JOB PLACEMENT RATES - CLASS OF 2019
| Total Job Placement Rate | 70% |
| Seeking employment/other activities | 18% |
| Unreported | 12% |
Job placements (N=144):
| Community | 62% |
| Residency | 27% |
| Fellowship | 1% |
| Hospital/Other | 10% |
To determine Job Placement Rate, the following methodologies were used: Two surveys were administered: 1.) three weeks prior to graduation in May 2019 in which 206 (100%) of the graduating students responded, and 2.) In September 2019, 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. Additional confirmations of employment were received from graduates' correspondence with CCP faculty, as well as reviews of LinkedIn profiles. Collectively, a total Job Placement Rate of 70% was achieved (144/206) within six months of graduation based on those who had reported such information to the College. Of the 56 total respondents to the follow-up survey in September 2019, 38 respondents (18% of total class) indicated that they are not employed and no further information was received by the College. Finally, 24 graduates (12%) did not respond to the follow-up survey in September 2019, nor have any additional information available that indicated employment status. The total number of graduates includes students who may have begun the curriculum earlier.
CCP GRADUATE RESIDENCY MATCH RATE - CLASS OF 2019 4
| Number Submitting Rank Lists to the Match | Number Matched | Match Rate | |
| CCP Graduates | 60 | 37 | 62% |
| National | 5475 | 3667 | 67% |
- Based on the Class of 2019, which had 206 matriculants. This percentage is reflective of those students admitted in Fall 2015. This percentage does not include students who voluntarily withdrew from the program, as well as students who had their graduation delayed due to an academic or personal issue.
- Based on 2017 data published on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Website.
- Based on 2018 data published on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) Website.
- Based on 2019 National Matching Service (NMS) data obtained from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in April 2019. 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 2019. These rates are based on students from the Class of 2019.
For additional details, please email us at AdmissIL@midwestern.edu.