Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Bulletin (July 2021 Ed) 
    
2021-2022 Academic Bulletin (July 2021 Ed) [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pharmacy, PharmD


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Curriculum Summary (Class of 2025)

The PharmD degree is granted upon successful completion of the professional curriculum and compliance with the requirements of the University for graduation. The course of instruction covers eight terms over four academic years and six terms over 3 academic years for the 3-year pathway (ImPAcT). [See curriculum]. 

The curriculum includes lecture and laboratory courses that are delivered using a variety of pedagogy. Although students are introduced to the clinical environment as early as the fall term of the first professional year, clinical instruction is emphasized in the third and fourth years of the curriculum. During this time students receive experiential learning in traditional practice settings such as community and hospital pharmacy arenas as well as advanced clinical rotations in internal medicine, ambulatory care, pediatrics, mental health, parenteral nutrition, cardiology, critical care and other specialty areas.

Students may be required to complete a portion of the introductory and advanced practice experiences in various parts of the state. US rotations located outside Tennessee (e.g., Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina) and international professional experiences (e.g., Bulgaria, Canada, England, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand) are available to a limited number of students.

CPR Certification

All College of Pharmacy students are required to obtain American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification with external defibrillation by the end of their first academic term. Following initial certification, all students must maintain active CPR certification during the P2, P3, and P4 years. Students will not be allowed to enter the subsequent year without approved CPR certification. For the convenience of UT College of Pharmacy students, the UT Chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) offers this certification before orientation and to third year students.

Content Areas

A. Pharmacology

B. Medicinal Chemistry

C. Biopharmaceutics

D. Sterile and Non-Sterile Product Preparation

E. Pharmacotherapy including both prescription and non-prescription medications andsupplements

F. Communications with Patient and Healthcare Professionals

G. Patient Assessment

H. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

I. Pharmacogenomics

  1. Pharmacy Management and Pharmacoeconomics
  2. Healthcare Systems and the Medication Use Process
  3. Experiential Learning, (conducted across all 4 years)

4-year Pathway


First Professional Year


Second Professional Year


Third Professional Year


Fourth Professional Year


Total: 2.5 credit hours (didactic)


Total: 2.5 credit hours (didactic)


Final Terms


Students must take the following during the last two terms (P3 Fall and P3 Spring) for the 3-year pathway (ImPAcT) and three terms (P3 Spring, P4 Fall, P4 Spring) for the 4-year pathway. Students will be provided a list of rotations that are included in each of the following categories.

1 month APPE Advanced Community Pharmacy Rotation
1 month APPE Advanced Institutional Pharmacy Rotation
1 month APPE Ambulatory Care Rotation
1 month APPE Medicine Rotation
4 months APPE Patient Care Rotations
3 months APPE Elective Rotations (Patient Care or Other)

Elective Policy

1.  All students will take a minimum of 6 credit hours of didactic electives beginning with the Class of 2024. 

2.  All students will take a minimum of 4 credit hours of didactic electives before the end of the P3 Fall term.

3.  Students enrolled in the Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Health, Masters of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership, Masters in Health Informatics and Information Management, or Informatics, Nuclear, or LEAD Certificates obtain all 6 credit hours of didactic electives through that program.

4. Students enrolled in a Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Health, or Masters of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership degree programs are responsible to obtain and submit the necessary paperwork to obtain such credit. Information regarding requirements can be obtained from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment.

5. Students not enrolled in one of the dual degree or certificate programs cannot take more than 6 credits of an elective concentration (e.g., TA elective, research).

3-year Pathway (ImPAcT)


First Professional Year


Second Professional Year


26 credit hours


28.5 credit hours


Third Professional Year


2.5 credit hours (didactic)


2.5 credit hours (didactic)


Final Terms


Students must take the following during the last two terms (P3 Fall and P3 Spring) for the 3-year pathway (ImPAcT) and three terms (P3 Spring, P4 Fall, P4 Spring) for the 4-year pathway. Students will be provided a list of rotations that are included in each of the following categories.

1 month APPE Advanced Community Pharmacy Rotation
1 month APPE Advanced Institutional Pharmacy Rotation
1 month APPE Ambulatory Care Rotation
1 month APPE Medicine Rotation
4 months APPE Patient Care Rotations
3 months APPE Elective Rotations (Patient Care or Other)

Elective Policy

1.  All students will take a minimum of 6 credit hours of didactic electives beginning with the Class of 2024. 

2.  All students will take a minimum of 4 credit hours of didactic electives before the end of the P3 Fall term.

3.  Students enrolled in the Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Health, Masters of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership, Masters in Health Informatics and Information Management, or Informatics, Nuclear, or LEAD Certificates obtain all 6 credit hours of didactic electives through that program.

4. Students enrolled in a Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Health, or Masters of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership degree programs are responsible to obtain and submit the necessary paperwork to obtain such credit. Information regarding requirements can be obtained from the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment.

5. Students not enrolled in one of the dual degree or certificate programs cannot take more than 6 credits of an elective concentration (e.g., TA elective, research).

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