Doctor of Pharmacy

The College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree is a full-time program requiring four academic years. This includes both introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) that must be completed during the summer semesters and the fourth year of the program. Additionally, a combination of pre-pharmacy and MUSC professional program courses are required to complete the Pharm.D. degree.

Curriculum

Year 1, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

COP601	Foundations of Pathophysiologics & Pharmacologics I	2
COP609	Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Pharmgenomics I	2
COP607	Dosage Forms & Drug Delivery Systems	4
COP615	Pharmaceutical Biochemistry	3
COP605	Introduction to Pharmacy Practice	2
COP625	Pharmacy Calculations	1
COP627	Medical Terminology	1
COP620	Introduction to Drug Information	1
COP630	Compounding & App Pharmacy Lab	1
Semester Total		17

Year 1, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

COP603	Foundations of Pathophysiologics & Pharmacologics II	4
COP611	Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Pharmgenomics II	3
COP616	Pharmaceutical Biotechnology	2
COP618	Self-care & Complementary Medicine	4
COP640	Clinical Applications I	1
COP632	Introduction to Community Pharmacy Lab	2
IP711	IP Foundations & TeamSTEPPS	1
IP###	IP Concentration Course of Choice	1
Semester Total		18

Year 1, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

COP650, COP651	Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Community, or Advanced Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience I: Community	4
Semester Total		4

Year 2, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

COP713	Disease Processes & Therapeutics I	3
COP715	Disease Processes & Therapeutics II	4
COP717	Clinical Microbiology	2
COP722	Biopharmaceuticals & Pharmacokinetics	2
COP732	Intravaneous Admixtures Lab	0.5
COP735	Applied Pharmacy Calculations Lab	0.5
COP742	Clinical Applications II	1
ELEC	Elective*	2-3
Semester Total		15-16

Year 2, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

COP716	Disease Processes & Therapeutics III	3
COP718	Disease Processes & Therapeutics IV	4
COP720	Clinical Pharmacokinetics	3
COP725	Outcomes Design & Assessment	3
COP733	Applied Health Systems Lab	1
COP744	Clinical Applications III	1
ELEC	Elective*	2-3
Semester Total		17-18

Year 2, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

COP750, COP753	Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Hospital, or Advanced Hospital Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
Semester Total		4

Year 3, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

COP822	Disease Processes & Therapeutics V	3
COP823	Disease Processes & Therapeutics VI	4
COP804	Healthcare Systems & Management	3
COP821	Advanced Drug Information	2
COP846	Clinical Applications IV	1
COP834	Applied Community Pharmacy Lab	2
ELEC	Elective*	2-3
Semester Total		17-18

Year 3, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

COP825	Disease Processes & Therapeutics VII	4
COP826	Disease Processes & Therapeutics VIII	3
COP805	Pharmacy Law & Ethics	3
COP836	Clinical Assessment	3
COP848	Clinical Applications V	1
ELEC	Elective*	2-3
Semester Total		16-17

Year 3, Summer A, Trailer (5/4/26-8/14/26)

COP990	Board Preparation I	1
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
Semester Total		5

Year 4, Fall A (8/18/25-12/19/25)

COP991	Board Preparation II	1
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience x 1-2	4-8
Semester Total		17-21

Year 4, Spring (1/5/26-5/1/26)

COP950	Grand Rounds	4
COP992	Board Preparation III	1
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience	4
	Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience x 1-2	4-8
Semester Total		21-25

Curriculum Total		151-163
Pre-Pharmacy Credit Hour Total		63
Required Credit Hour Total		214-226

* By the end of the third year, students must complete eight hours of electives, which typically ranges from one to three credit hours.

• Minimum 320 hours of Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) required by the college (300 hours is required by ACPE) will be satisfied by two four-credit (four-week) externships in the summers of the Year 1 and Year 2.
• Minimum 1440 hours of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) (as required by ACPE) will be satisfied by nine four-credit (one-month) externships in Year 4. Courses include: two acute medicine, one ambulatory care, one community, one health-system, and four electives.
• COP652, IPPE I, and COP653, IPPE II, in Year 2, Fall and Spring if COP650 or COP651 are not completed in Year 1, Summer.
• COP751, Longitudinal IPPE Hospital I, and COP752, Longitudinal IPPE II, in Year 2, Fall and Spring if COP750 or COP753 are not completed in Year 2, Summer.