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Dual Degree Master in Business Administration
Improving patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner is one of the most critical challenges in health care today. Strong management and business skills in concert with clinical knowledge are necessary to keep health care costs under control. Individuals grounded in both business management and clinical skills provide an increasingly important and unique interface between practitioners and managers to balance clinical decision making with bottom line financial realities. The PharmD / MBA dual degree program is designed to provide students with the necessary educational foundation so that they not only are prepared to begin practice as a pharmacist, but to assume managerial responsibility in a variety of health care settings. The dual degree is thought to be highly desirable for persons seeking careers in institutional practice settings, the pharmaceutical industry, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit management organizations, and academics.
To be admitted, an applicant is required to meet the independent admission standards of the College of Pharmacy, The MBA Program, and The Graduate School. Students must be admitted to the Graduate School prior to undertaking MBA coursework. Pharmacy students who do not hold an awarded bachelor's degree must have at least 90 hours of undergraduate credits to apply to the Graduate School. All applicants must meet the minimum grade point average requirements of the Graduate School for admission, complete all prerequisite courses and successfully complete the GMAT examination.
M.B.A./Pharm.D. Advantages
The Pharm.D./MBA program of study affects the total number of minimum required hours and calendar years required as follows:
| MBA and Pharm.D. Pursued Sequentially | Credit Hours | Calendar Years |
| Total hours required in MBA program (33 required + 3 elective) | 36 | 1.5 |
| Total credit hours required in Pharm.D. program 106 required didactic + 8 elective + 44 clerkship) | 158 | 4 |
| Total | 194 | 5.5 Calendar Years |
| Dual Program | Credit Hours | Calendar Years |
| Total MBA hours required in joint program (33 required) | 33 | |
| Total Pharm.D. credit hours required in joint program (106 required didactic + 44 clerkship) | 150 | |
| Total | 183 | 4 Calendar Years |
This dual program of study may be completed in 4 years plus two summers.
From the perspective of the MBA program, an approved Pharm.D. course serves as the MBA elective course. From the College of Pharmacy perspective, the MBA coursework satisfies 8 hours of required electives.
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