PharmD Curriculum
Our curriculum combines classroom learning with experiential activities, focusing on patient-centered outcomes. In their first year, students learn patient assessment, clinical, and counseling skills in the Pharmacy Simulation and Clinical Skills Laboratory. They further develop these skills through experiential activities in their second, third, and fourth years. Students complete introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences at leading medical and teaching hospitals, as well as in various pharmacy practice settings across Georgia and the country. Unique to Mercer’s Pharm.D. Program are four exceptional fourth-year opportunities: Advanced Clinical Track, Global Medical and Pharmacy Services, Indian Health Service, and International Pharmacy.
Mercer’s “spiral” learning style introduces broad concepts initially and then delves into more complex topics, emphasizing the skills needed for pharmacy care.
Comprehensive Patient-Centered Care courses in the P1-P3 years to prepare students for managing patients with complex conditions. The Integrated Patient Care sequence provides a broad foundation in pharmacy practice.
Our courses align with what students encounter in their rotations:
- Infectious disease and endocrine topics are in the P2 year to reflect their prevalence in community pharmacy rotations. The more complex nervous system is covered in the P3 year, preparing students for advanced rotations in the P4 year.
- Introductory Law teaches P1 students the essentials before their initial rotations. Advanced Law in the P3 year explores complex aspects of pharmacy law through case-based scenarios, preparing students for advanced rotations in the P4 year.
- Community Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences lasts four weeks and Institutional Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences last three weeks, giving students more time to learn about pharmacy operations.
Entrepreneurial-Focused Track
Entrepreneurial-Focused Track
A constant hunger to make things better. A drive to imagine new solutions and create value. Resourcefulness. Perseverance. An innate need to create, build, and grow.
These are the qualities of an entrepreneur. Does that describe you?
Entrepreneurship isn’t confined to the pharmaceutical industry — it thrives in every corner of pharmacy, including community practice, academia, pharmacy associations, and IT. Students who want to define their own path in pharmacy can enroll in the Entrepreneurship Track during their P1 year.
Goal
The Mercer University College of Pharmacy Entrepreneurial-Focused Track builds entrepreneurial innovation skills and develops leaders within the pharmacy profession and the broader community.
Program Structure
Students earn distinction in the Entrepreneurial-Focused Track by passing the following coursework:
Required Courses — 13 total hours
- PHA 516: Advanced Community Practice (2 hours)
- PHA 681: Advanced Community (5 hours)
- ENT 620: Innovation Management (3 hours)*
- ENT 610: Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship and Innovation (3 hours)*
*Prerequisites are waived for Pharm.D. students in this track for both Stetson-Hatcher School of Business courses.
Elective Courses — 7 total hours
Choose at least one (2 hours):
- PHA 505: Community Pharmacy Ownership (2 hours)
- PHA 529: Contemporary Compounding (2 hours)
- PHA 520: Veterinary Pharmacy (2 hours)
- PHA 583: Advanced Leadership (2 hours)
Choose at least one (5 hours):
- PHA 603: Compounding (5 hours)
- PHA 605: Pharmacy Informatics and Technology (5 hours)
- PHA 649: Managed Care Pharmacy (5 hours)
- PHA 651: Leadership in Pharmacy Management (5 hours)
- PHA 668: Pharmacy Association Management (5 hours)
Other Considerations
Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA throughout the track. Students who successfully complete the Entrepreneurship Track receive special recognition on their transcript, which will indicate a Doctor of Pharmacy major with a concentration in entrepreneurship.
Interested? Email Dr. Lea Winkles.