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Dual Degree Master of Public Administration
The PharmD/MPA dual degree program at the University of Kentucky was the first of its type offered in the nation. As of 2006 there are sixteen graduates from this program. The dual degree program is designed to enable students to obtain both the Doctor of Pharmacy and the Master of Public Administration in 4 years, using a time efficient approach and decreasing the number of credit hours necessary for graduation from 203 to 172.
There has never been a greater need for professionally trained drug policy analysts, and there has never been greater opportunity for dedicated and qualified pharmacists to provide leadership in shaping the course of the pharmacy profession. There is a critical need nationally for trained drug policy analysts as drug policy problems become larger and more complex. Pharmacists trained in policy analysis are able to break down complicated problems into manageable issues and are able to envision and articulate the objectives to be achieved. Furthermore, policy analysts with a pharmacy background are best equipped to develop and implement cost-effective pharmaceutical programs in hospitals, healthcare delivery systems and government health programs.
The PharmD/MPA program integrates and applies disciplinary knowledge in pharmacy, economics, politics, and organizational theory to the health care system. It is designed for individuals wishing to pursue drug and health policy development / implementation / analysis careers in private firms (e.g. the pharmaceutical industry), local, state and federal government and regulatory agencies, nonprofit organizations and foundations and Universities. Graduates of the PharmD/MPA program are employed in both the public (e.g. Management Sciences for Health, Kentucky Pharmacists Association) and private sectors (e.g. Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Proctor and Gamble).
To be admitted, an applicant is required to meet the independent admission standards of the College of Pharmacy, The Martin School of Public Policy and Administration, and The Graduate School. Pharmacy students who do not hold an awarded bachelor's degree must have at least 90 hours of undergraduate credit to apply to the Graduate School. All applicants must meet the minimum grade point average requirements of the Graduate School for admission and successfully complete the GRE examination. There are no prerequisite course requirements for pharmacy students wishing to pursue the PharmD / MPA dual degree. For additional information about the PharmD / MPA contact Karen Blumenschein
M.P.A./Pharm.D. Advantages
The Pharm.D./MPA program of study affects the total number of minimum required hours as follows:
| MPA and Pharm.D. Pursued Independently | Credit Hours |
| Total hours required in MPA program (30 required Core + 15 Area of Concentration + 3 Internship) | 48 |
| Total credit hours required in Pharm.D. program 158 106 required didactic + 8 elective + 44 clerkship) | 158 |
| Total | 206 |
| Dual Program | Credit Hours |
| Total MPA hours required in joint program (30 required Core + 3 internship) | 33 |
| Total Pharm.D. credit hours required in joint program 142 (106 required didactic + 36 clerkship) | 142 |
| Total | 175 |
This dual program of study may be completed in 4 years plus two summers.
From the perspective of the MPA program, the Pharm.D. program serves as the MPA student's Area of Concentration, thereby more than satisfying the required 15-hours of MPA Area of Concentration coursework. The required Internship in Public Administration is satisfied with two four credit hour Pharm.D. clerkships.
From the College of Pharmacy perspective, the MPA coursework satisfies 8 hours of required electives. Eight credit hours of Pharm.D. clerkship are satisfied by the Internship in Public Administration.
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