Doctor of Pharmacy
Pharmacists for healthier lives.
From consulting patients to assisting with pharmaceutical research and clinical trials, pharmacists work to ensure health and wellness in their communities.
Where you put theories into practice.
Experiential rotations are opportunities for students to learn by doing. This crucial part of the pharmacy training program places students in working environments where they put classroom theories into practice.
During the final year of the professional phase, students participate in 10 one-month rotations at community pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory clinic practices, and other nontraditional pharmacy experiences, including clinical and basic research in the laboratory. There are numerous choices for the type and locations of rotations at excellent sites throughout Indiana with options across the nation and abroad.
The Doctor of Pharmacy, or PharmD, is the only degree in the United States that supports pharmacist licensure. It’s the credential that sets pharmacists apart from pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical sales representatives, and other pharmacy-adjacent professionals.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts organizations will hire 11,300 pharmacists over the next decade. These pharmacists will have titles such as:
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- Clinical Pharmacist
- Community Pharmacist
- Pharmacologist
- Research Pharmacist/Medical Scientist
- Toxicology Pharmacist
- Veterinary Pharmacist
Earning a Doctor of Pharmacy offers a degree of career versatility. You can contribute to your community’s well-being as a clinical pharmacist, train the next generation of practicing pharmacists, support discoveries in the pharmaceutical industry, or make your mark on public health.
Most Doctor of Pharmacy programs last about four years, though some last six years because they let pre-pharmacy students combine the necessary bachelors and doctoral education into a single program. Candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must pass a minimum of 206 semester hours.
RPh is a Registered Pharmacist licensed within the state to practice, whereas PharmD is the degree earned by studying pharmacy. The RPh designation shows the graduate has passed state and national board exams. The Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional degree that takes several years to earn.
Though PharmD and PhD are similar in that they are both doctorate degrees, PharmD programs are specifically for individuals who wish to become pharmacists. PhD programs are designed for individuals who seek a research career.
Depending on your location and position, immediately upon completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, graduates can earn between $76,457-$133,619 annually.
Learn from Experienced Professors
Many pharmacy faculty continue to practice and conduct research in their fields, guaranteeing that their teaching—and your learning—always reflects the most up-to-date industry practices and technology.