PharmD Concentrations

The PharmD program offers eight different degree concentrations (similar to a minor or a focus area) as part the degree. PharmD concentrations are listed on transcripts upon graduation, and they help PharmD students develop new knowledge and policies for the field of pharmacy, as well as help secure competitive fellowships, residences, and jobs after graduation. For students who choose not to add a concentration to their degree, they will still have access to the wide range of elective courses offered as part of each concentration.

The concentrations draw from areas of study and expertise in all three departments within the college: Pharmaceutical Sciences; Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy; and Pharmacy Practice.

What is a Concentration?

  • Course groups that define a specific area or sub-area of study.​
  • Establishment of a formal concentration is required where focused study in a substantial subcomponent of an academic discipline is required in the degree program, where those areas are clearly defined in terms of requirements, and only when the sponsoring units want these areas or sub-areas to be formally recognized by the campus.​
  • Sponsoring units will determine the number, type and level of courses that constitute a concentration within their disciplines. Typically, a concentration is defined as a minimum of 3 related courses (a minimum of 9 or more hours) that a student may take as part of a degree program.​

Purpose

  • Offer an enhanced PharmD experience to students ​
  • Improve competitiveness of students for residencies, fellowships, and graduate programs​
  • Demonstrate progressive curriculum offerings​
  • Showcase faculty talent​
  • Improve competitiveness and standing of the College ​

When to Apply to a Concentration?

Students must apply to the Rural Pharmacy (RPHARM) or Urban Pharmacy (UPHARM) concentration after they have been admitted to UIC but before they have enrolled in courses.

For the other concentrations, students apply after they have completed one full year of the PharmD program. A minimum 3.0 GPA in first-year (P1) courses is required. This year, students will be asked to apply by April 30, 2024.

Each concentration offers a limited number of spaces per year, so not all students who apply may be admitted.

Application Info Heading link

Current students may only apply to one concentration. Students who have already been admitted to UPHARM or RPHARM are allowed to apply to one of the six other concentrations.

The application will open in early April. Application-based questions, a current CV, and at least one letter of recommendation will be required.

Letter of Recommendation

Students can submit up to three letters of recommendation, and it is recommended that at least one letter of recommendation comes from a professor or staff of the UIC College of Pharmacy.

P1 Students: Start Your Application

Drawing on faculty expertise in our Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, the HEOR concentration teaches key aspects of health economics and outcomes research, including pharmacoeconomics, patient-reported outcomes, and decision analysis.

  • The Concentration requires 9 credit hours of didactic electives and 1 approved elective APPE​
  • Required electives (6 credit hours total) are taken by all PSOP Concentration students.​
  • Selectives are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor.  A minimum of 3 credit hours of selectives are required.​
  • APPEs are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor and approved by the Concentration Advisor and APPE Director.​

 

REQUIRED – Counts Toward Elective Hours​

PSOP 485 (2) Concentration Research​

PSOP 489 (2) Health Economics and Outcomes Research Overview​

PSOP 595 (2) Departmental Seminar in Pharmacy Outcomes, Research, and Policy​

 

Selectives (Guided Electives) – choose from the following list of electives in coordination with the Concentration Advisor​

PSOP 516 (3) Comparative Effectiveness Research​

PSOP 526 (3) Pharmacoepidemiology​

PSOP 535 (3) Pharmaceutical Policy​

PSOP 573 (3) Principles of Economic Evaluation of Health Care Interventions​

Focuses on sciences such as chemistry, biology, pharmaceutics, pharmacognosy, genomics, and bioinformatics. Provides research opportunities on advanced topics related to drug discovery and development.

  • The Concentration requires 9 credit hours of didactic electives and 1 approved elective APPE​
  • Required electives (5 credit hours total) are taken by all PSCI Concentration students.​
  • Selectives are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor. A minimum of 4 credit hours of selectives are required. ​
  • APPEs are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor and approved by the Concentration Advisor and APPE Director.​

 

REQUIRED – Counts Toward Elective Hours​

PSCI 485 (2) Concentration Research​

PSCI 501 (3) Drug Discovery, Design, and Development​

 

Selectives (Guided Electives) – choose from the following list of electives in coordination with the Concentration Advisor​

PSCI 425 (1) College of Pharmacy Colloquium Lecture Series (P1)​

PSCI 510 (3) Principles of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery ​

PSCI 520 (3) Research Techniques in Pharmacognosy​

PSCI 530 (5) Principles of Medicinal Chemistry​

PSCI 541 (2) Pharmaceutical Applications of Genomics (P2/P3)​

PSCI 503 (1) Biostatistics​ for Pharmaceutical Scientists

PSCI 518 (2 or 3) Advanced Drug Delivery Systems​

Already an area of strength for the college, the Acute Care Pharmacy concentration develops abilities in providing high quality care in inpatient hospital environments such as intensive care units and emergency departments.

  • The Concentration requires 9 credit hours of didactic electives and 1 approved elective APPE​
  • Required electives (5 credit hours total) are taken by all PMPR Concentration students.​
  • Selectives are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor.  A minimum of 4 credit hours of selectives are required.​
  • APPEs are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor and approved by the Concentration Advisor and APPE Director.​

 

REQUIRED – Counts Toward Elective Hours​

PMPR 485 (2) Concentration Research​

PMPR 486 (1) Concentration Seminar ​

PMPR 376 (2) Applied Research Methods and Skill Development ​

OR​

PMPR 487 (2) Clinical Research Design​

 

Selectives (Guided Electives) – choose from the following list of electives in coordination with the Concentration Advisor​

PMPR 345 (3) Clinical Toxicology (P3)​

PMPR 349 (2) Case Based Infectious Diseases   (P3)​

PMPR 430 (2) Critical Care I  (P3)​

PMPR 381 (2) Chronic Kidney Disease (P2)​

PMPR 347 (2) Adv Transplant Therapeutics (P3)​

PMPR 359 (2) Topics and Issues in Clinical Post-Graduate Training Programs (P2)​

PMPR 378 (2) Pediatric Therapeutics (P3)​

PMPR 330 (1) Journal Club and Advanced Literature Analysis (P3)​

Develops well-trained and well-rounded care practitioners in general and specialty outpatient clinics, dialysis centers, outpatient surgical facilities, and community pharmacies. This concentration pays special attention to the prevention and management of chronic disease states such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and congestive heart failure.

  • The Concentration requires 9 credit hours of didactic electives and 1 approved elective APPE​
  • Required electives (5 credit hours total) are taken by all PMPR Concentration students.​
  • Selectives are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor. A minimum of 4 credit hours of selectives are required.​
  • APPEs are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor and approved by the Concentration Advisor and APPE Director.​

 

REQUIRED – Counts Toward Elective Hours​

PMPR 485 (2) Concentration Research​

PMPR 486 (1) Concentration Seminar​

PMPR 376 (2) Applied Research Methods and Skill Development ​

OR​

PMPR 487 (2) Clinical Research Design​

 

Selectives (Guided Electives) – choose from the following list of electives in coordination with  the Concentration Advisor​

PMPR 348 (2) Exploring Advanced Topics in Ambulatory Care  (P3)​

PMPR 381 (2) Chronic Kidney Disease (P2)​

PMPR 383 (2) Managed Care Pharmacy (P2/P3)​

PMPR 358 (1) Pharmacotherapeutic Issues in Women’s Health (P3)​

PMPR 378 (2) Pediatric Therapeutics (P3)​

PMPR 359 (2) Topics and Issues in Clinical Post-Graduate Training Programs (P2)​

PMPR 356  (2) Role of the Pharmacist in Tobacco Cessation  (P1/P2)​

PMPR 362 (2) Clinical Aspects of Diabetes Mellitus (P3)​

PMPR 339 (2) Exploration of Telemedicine in Pharmacy Practice (P1/P2/P3)​

PMPR 338 (2) Management of HIV (P3)​​

Exposes students to aspects of clinical and translational research design and analysis, communication, and application of medical evidence. Students will be integrated into this process by participating in research under supervision of a faculty mentor.

  • The Concentration requires 9 credit hours of didactic electives and 1 approved elective APPE​
  • Required electives (5 credit hours total) are taken by all PMPR Concentration students.​
  • Selectives are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor. A minimum of 4 credit hours of selectives are required.​
  • APPEs are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor and approved by the Concentration Advisor and APPE Director.​

 

REQUIRED – Counts Toward Elective Hours​

PMPR 485 (2) Concentration Research​

PMPR 486 (1) Concentration Seminar​

PMPR 376 (2) Applied Research Methods and Skill Development ​

OR​

PMPR 487 (2) Clinical Research Design​

 

Selectives (Guided Electives) – choose from the following list of electives in coordination with the Concentration Advisor​

PMPR 330 (1) Journal Club and Advanced Literature Analysis (P3)​

PMPR 450 (1) Medical Writing (P3)​

PSCI (1) 425 College of Pharmacy Colloquium Lecture Series (P1)​

PMPR 380 (1-3) Undergraduate Research in Pharmacy Practice ​

PMPR 390 (1-3) Special Projects in Pharmacy Practice ​

PMPR 485 (2) Concentration Research (additional hours) ​

PMPR 487 (2) Clinical Research Design (P1/P2/P3)​

OR​

PMPR 376 (2) Applied Research Methods and Skill Development (P1/P2/P3)​

Focuses on developing a strong foundation in pharmacy administration and leadership. Exposes students to a variety of practice settings, including hospital, ambulatory, managed care, specialty pharmacy, and industry. Covers topics such as leadership styles, change management, forecasting/research, financial management, types of planning, communication skills, and advocacy.

  • The Concentration requires 9 credit hours of didactic electives and 1 approved elective APPE​
  • Required electives (7 credit hours total) are taken by all PMPR Concentration students.​
  • Selectives are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor.  A minimum of 2 credit hours of selectives are required.​
  • APPEs are chosen in coordination with the Concentration Advisor and approved by the Concentration Advisor and APPE Director.​

 

REQUIRED – Counts Toward Elective Hours​

PMPR 485 (2) Concentration Research​

PMPR 486 (1) Concentration Seminar​

PMPR 376 (2) Applied Research Methods and Skill Development ​

OR​

PMPR 487 (2) Clinical Research Design​

PMPR 488 (2) Pharmacy Practice Leadership​

 

Selectives (Guided Electives) – choose from the following list of electives in coordination with the Concentration Advisor​

PMPR 383 (2) Managed Care Pharmacy (P2/P3)​

PMPR 422 (2) Introduction to Specialty Pharmacy (P2/P3)​

PMPR 359 (1) Topics and Issues in Clinical Post-Graduate Training Programs (P2)​

PMPR 329 (1) Deans Leadership Forum (P2)​

The Rural Pharmacy Education (RPHARM) Program is an interprofessional program with the goal of preparing pharmacy students with rural backgrounds or interests to provide pharmacy services in rural communities.

The Urban Pharmacy Education (UPHARM) Program is designed to introduce students to concepts and issues as they relate to urban public health and primary care practice.  Many urban communities qualify as medically underserved and the expectation/hope is that graduates go on to live and practice in urban medically underserved communities.

Questions? Fill out this form Heading link

  • We will send your question(s) directly to the designated concentration coordinator.

    If you have general questions that are not specific to a certain concentration, including deadlines, application questions, etc., please contact Dr. Kristen Goliak at kgoliak@uic.edu.