The School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo offers a second-entry four-year professional program leading to an entry-to-practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, with the co-operative program designation.
Notes
- The final year will be composed of three clinical rotations starting with the winter term and running through the spring term. Students must complete a total of no less than 960 hours of direct patient care distributed over three distinct rotations in Ontario-based practice settings. During this period, students also complete coursework assigned to the fourth year of study. To accommodate clinical rotations, students are advised that the 4A academic term classes may begin earlier than what is described by the University’s Calendar of Events and Academic Deadlines. Additionally, the 4A academic term is excluded from the University’s winter term study days.
- The maximum duration allowed for a student to complete the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program is six years from the initial registration.
- Normally PHARM electives are taken beginning in Year Three. The associate director (or delegate) will notify students as to which PHARM elective options will be available in advance of the Course Selection Period. Independent student electives require permission of the associate director (or delegate). A student may take a maximum of 0.5 unit as independent study electives.
Curriculum
Successful completion requires:
- 29.65 total units distributed as described by the Year One through Year Four curriculum sequence.
- Full-time enrolment following the Year One through Year Four curriculum sequence (unless exception for a reduced load has been granted).
Year One
Winter
PHARM 110 Systems Approach to the Study of the Human Body 1
PHARM 120 Pharmacy in an Evolving Healthcare System
PHARM 124 Pharmaceutics 1
PHARM 126 Pharmaceutical Calculations
PHARM 127 Professional Communication Skills in Pharmacy Practice
PHARM 129 Professional Practice 1
Spring
PHARM 111 Systems Approach to the Study of the Human Body 2
PHARM 125 Pharmaceutics 2
PHARM 130 Professional Practice 2
PHARM 141 Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacology
PHARM 151 Foundation and Application of Health Informatics
PHARM 155 Introduction to Drug Information Fundamentals
Year Two
Fall
PDPHRM 1 Co-op Fundamentals
PHARM 220 Integrated Patient Focused Care 1
PHARM 221 Integrated Patient Focused Care 2
PHARM 224 Pharmacokinetic Fundamentals
PHARM 228 Professional Practice 3
PHARM 230 Culturally Safe Patient Care
PHARM 232 Medical Microbiology
Winter
Work Term 1
Spring
PHARM 222 Integrated Patient Focused Care 3
PHARM 223 Integrated Patient Focused Care 4
PHARM 226 Pharmacy Management
PHARM 229 Professional Practice 4
PHARM 290 Seminars in Pharmacy 1
Fall
Work Term 2
Year Three
Winter
PHARM 320 Integrated Patient Focused Care 5
PHARM 321 Integrated Patient Focused Care 6
PHARM 326 Institutional Pharmacy Practice
PHARM 329 Professional Practice 5
PHARM 391 Seminars in Pharmacy 2
Two PHARM electives (0.5 unit)
Spring
Work Term 3
Fall
PHARM 323 Integrated Patient Focused Care 7
PHARM 324 Integrated Patient Focused Care 8
PHARM 330 Professional Practice 6
PHARM 392 Seminars in Pharmacy 3
Two PHARM electives (0.5 unit)
Year Four
Each Term: Winter, Spring
PHARM 422 Integrated Patient Focused Care 9
PHARM 425 Symposium
PHARM 430 Clinical Rotation 1: Primary Care
PHARM 440 Clinical Rotation 2: Institutional
PHARM 450 Clinical Rotation 3: Elective
PHARM 491 Seminars in Pharmacy 4
Pharmacy Program and Co-op
Pharmacy students must complete three co-op work terms. During each work term, students must complete one PDPHRM course.
In their first academic year, students are required to register as a pharmacy student with the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP). The OCP is the body that is responsible for issuing certificates of registration for students, interns, and pharmacists as well as regulating the pharmacy profession in Ontario. Only students registered with the OCP are allowed to perform the controlled acts of a pharmacist/pharmacy student under the direct supervision of a pharmacist. Students should make themselves aware of any OCP requirements that must be followed during degree studies.
Mid-Point Assessment
All Pharmacy students must participate in a mid-point assessment that will take place in the second year of the program. The mid-point assessment will not affect academic progression. Rather, this assessment will help identify students for whom a remediation plan may be implemented to help them succeed in the program.
Community Service Learning Milestone
All Pharmacy students must satisfy the program's requirement for community service learning. Details of the requirements will be provided to students at the beginning of the degree program. In order to graduate, students must achieve this milestone before the end of the 4B academic term.
Final Year Objective Structured Clinical Examination Milestone (Final Year OSCEm)
The Final Year OSCEm is a milestone that must be passed for a student to satisfy the PharmD degree requirements. A passing grade in this assessment is mandatory for graduation. The first attempt at the Final Year OSCEm is offered to students in their 3B academic term. A completed Final Year OSCEm milestone on a student’s academic record will indicate successful completion of this requirement. Students who fail the first attempt will be offered two subsequent opportunities to successfully complete the Final Year OSCEm. A maximum of three attempts will be permitted to complete this milestone. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a Failed – Required to Withdraw academic standing.