The School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences offers baccalaureate degrees in pharmacy and physical therapy and the M.S. degree in the pharmaceutical sciences.
The focus of these programs is to provide a composite of educational experiences which will produce both a well-educated person and a highly trained, professional, health care practitioner.
Pharmacy is the study of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of medicinal substances and the utilization of these substances in the prevention, treatment, and control of illness and disease. It also encompasses a study of the systems of delivering health care and the function of the professional pharmacist within these systems.
The School of Pharmacy was established in 1907 at Montana State College and was transferred to the University in 1913. The pharmacy program consists of two departments, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The School of Pharmacy is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the baccalaureate program is accredited fully by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education, 311 West Superior Street, Suite 512, Chicago IL 60610, telephone (312) 664-4652 or Pharmacists' Learning Assistance Network (P.L.A.N.) number (800) 533-3606.
The curriculum offered by the School of Pharmacy consists of a five-year program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. The first two years, or pre-professional portion of the curriculum, are spent in studies of the basic physical and biological sciences, and in course work necessary to satisfy the University general education requirements.
During the final three years or professional portion of the curriculum, students devote their time to the study of the pharmaceutical sciences and pharmacy practice. Areas of study include pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, social administrative pharmacy, and therapeutics. A program of selected electives allows the student to obtain further educational experience in specialized areas of pharmaceutical knowledge.
Students in the professional program may choose elective courses in specific areas of interest which include community pharmacy practice, sales and management, research and teaching, or hospital and institutional pharmacy practice. All students must confer with assigned advisors prior to each registration period and receive approval of proposed courses.
In addition to their formal educational program, students, to become registered pharmacists, must complete "practical experience" or internship under the direction of a registered pharmacist and pass an examination given by the State Board of Pharmacy.
Career opportunities exist in the fields of community pharmacy, institutional pharmacy, federal or state government service, public health agencies, and with the pharmaceutical industry in sales positions or in manufacturing. Those with advanced degrees are in demand for research positions and in pharmaceutical education.
High School Preparation: In addition to the general University admission requirements, algebra, trigonometry, biology, chemistry, physics and a course in typing are recommended.
The general requirements for admission to the University are listed separately in this catalog.
The pre-pharmacy curriculum, which requires a minimum of two years of full-time study, may be taken at any accredited college or university.
Students at The University of Montana may enter the pre-pharmacy program during any semester. It is recommended that students considering pharmacy as a major declare a pre-pharmacy major as early as possible in order to receive appropriate advising. Upon designating pre-pharmacy as a major, students will be assigned an advisor within the pharmacy program.
Students must apply for admission to the professional program. Class size in the professional pharmacy program is restricted, and admission to the program is competitive. The admission process is designed to admit the best overall class into professional study. Completed applications are evaluated by the School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee. Acceptances are made by the pharmacy faculty and the dean based on the recommendations of the committee. The primary admission criteria are the student's grade point averages, both overall and in the required pre-pharmacy course work, the student's score on the PCAT exam, and the other components of the student's application. To be eligible for admission, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4 point scale, both overall and in required pre-professional courses. For the past several years there have been more than four to five applicants for each opening, and the grade point average of the entering class has been about 3.4. Students must complete all pre-professional course requirements before entering the professional pharmacy program. Students may be admitted with deficiencies in certain general education course work, but any deficiencies must be removed prior to entering into the second year of the professional curriculum.
As a state supported institution, the School of Pharmacy gives all applicants from the Montana University System equal consideration for admission into the professional pharmacy program. There is no restriction on admission of out-of-state students, however, Montana residents are given priority among students with equal qualifications. Students will be notified of their admission status in writing.
The curriculum of the professional pharmacy program is sequential. Therefore, students may enter the program in the autumn semester only. Application forms for admission to the professional curriculum may be obtained from the Office of the Dean, School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences. Applications must be received no later than March 1st preceding the autumn semester of the year for which admission is requested.
An application fee must be submitted with the application. Admission for one academic year cannot be deferred to another academic year. Official transcripts of all academic courses taken must be forwarded directly to the School of Pharmacy. In addition, students are required to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Students should request their scores be reported directly to the School of Pharmacy when they pre-register for the exam. Test results must be received by the school by the March 1st deadline.
The professional curriculum of the School of Pharmacy must be taken in residence at the University. Students transferring from other accredited schools of pharmacy may be admitted with advanced standing, determined on the basis of credits accepted, provided they are in good academic standing. Transfer credit for required professional courses taken at other institutions is accepted only for those courses which are deemed equivalent and in which a letter grade of C or better is obtained.
The general University academic standing requirements are listed separately in this catalog. See index.
Students in the professional curriculum must maintain cumulative, professional, and pharmacy grade averages of 2.0 or higher. The professional grade average consists of all required course work in the professional curriculum with the exception of elective courses. The pharmacy grade average consists of all courses with a pharmacy (PHAR) prefix.
Students enrolled in the professional pharmacy program must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students in the professional program who have a pharmacy or professional grade average of less than 2.0 or who receive a grade of F in any required course in the professional curriculum will be placed on academic probation. A student must petition to continue in the professional pharmacy program if he or she is on probation for two consecutive terms. A student will be dismissed from the professional pharmacy program if he or she is on probation for a total of three terms, not necessarily consecutive, subject to review by the dean. A student will be removed from probation when a grade average of 2.0 has been achieved. Because the program is academically intense, employment beyond minimal, part-time work is not recommended.
Students who have failed ten or more credits of required professional course work or who fail to progress in the expected manner for two consecutive years may be dismissed from the professional pharmacy program, subject to review by the Academic Standards Committee and the dean of the School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences.
Students dismissed from the program for substandard performance will not be readmitted, except in cases where substantiation is made to the faculty, by written petition, that the substandard performance was the result of circumstances that no longer exist, or that the student has demonstrated the capability and desire to perform satisfactory work since his or her dismissal from the program.
Students leaving the program on their own volition are guaranteed readmission if they are in good academic standing and exit by interview with the assistant dean for student affairs. Those students leaving the program on their own volition and not in good standing must reapply for admission.
The professional pharmacy curriculum consists of an integrated sequence of required courses which is designed to be completed in three consecutive academic years. With appropriate justification, part-time study in the professional pharmacy program may be allowed. Students desiring to be enrolled in part-time study must make their request by petition to the Academic Standards Committee. Because the curriculum is revised periodically, students who take longer than three years to complete the professional program normally will be required to complete curricular changes applicable to the class in which they graduate.
Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.
Candidates for the B.S. in Pharmacy degree must:
An applicant for licensure as a registered pharmacist in Montana must pass an examination administered by the State Board of Pharmacy. The State Board Examination is usually administered by the Montana State Board of Pharmacy in June at the School of Pharmacy. To qualify for the examination, the applicant must be of good moral character and a graduate of an accredited school of pharmacy; however, an applicant will not receive a license until an internship is completed.
Pharmacy 380_Pharmacy Practice, 1 to 3 credits at two hours per week per credit; Pharmacy 581_Community Pharmacy Externship, a minimum of 4 credits and 160 clock hours; Pharmacy 582_Hospital Pharmacy Externship, a minimum of 4 credits and 160 clock hours; Pharmacy 583_Clerkship, a minimum of 4 credits and 160 clock hours. Other clinical pharmacy courses and programs developed by the School of Pharmacy and approved by the Board of Pharmacy will be included as they become available to the student. 5. Students will receive credit for internship time and/or courses taken if such experience is certified by the preceptor and/or instructor and approved by the State Board of Pharmacy.