Pharmacy School Rankings
Pharmacy School Rankings
Pharmacy is concerned more with the study of medicine. It is an essential part of the entire health care gamut and the study of pharmacy is becoming incessantly popular. A pharmacist should not be confused with a physician, although, professionals in both the cases are concerned with medicines and the over all well being of patients, pharmacists are not authorized to prescribe medicines. They generally border on extending their contribution to the world of medicine by doing research on new and existing drugs.
As the scope for a pharmacist is growing so is the number of universities offering a degree in Pharmacy. Choosing the right pharmacy school is of utmost importance as the quality of education differs from one school to another. In the United States, the U.S News and World Report is one of the most creditworthy sources of pharmacy school rankings, the other being the Annals of Pharmacotherapy list. Based on these two reports, a list of the top pharmacy schools has been chalked up to assist students to get a clear idea of the best schools offering a degree in Pharmacy.
Pharmacy School Rankings List
1. With a credit score of 4.7 the University of California – San Francisco is on top. With a mission to improve human health, the school provides phenomenal pharmaceutical research and world class education to its students.
2. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill is almost at par the University of California with a credit score of 4.4
3. University of Minnesota, with an aim to become world leaders in providing outstanding pharmacy education and has a credit score of 4.3
4. University of Texas – Austin with a credit score of 4.2
5. Ohio State University
5. University of Kentucky
5. University of Michigan
5. University of Washington, along with the above three universities, is tied at the fifth position with a credit score of 4.1
9. Purdue University offers bachelors to doctor degree in pharmacy and has been accredited a credit score of 4.0 and is tied at the ninth position along with next five universities
9. University of Arizona
9. University of Florida
9. University of Illinois – Chicago
9. University of Maryland – Baltimore
9. University of Wisconsin – Madison
15. University of Southern California ranks fifteenth according to Pharmacy school rankings and has a credit score of 3.9
16. A tie again between University of Iowa and the following two universities with a credit score of 3.8
16. University of Tennessee Health Science Center
16. University of Utah
19. University of Kansas has a credit score of 3.7 and was established way back in 1885
19. University of Pittsburgh also has a credit score of 3.7, established in 1878 is the oldest of the University of Pittsburgh’s school of the health science.
21. University at Buffalo – Suny is just o.1 point behind the University of Pittsburgh and has accredit score of 3.6
21. Virginia Commonwealth University has also been given a credit score of 3.6
The Pharmacy school rankings list is drawn up on the basis of a number of factors including cost, competitiveness, job opportunities, location, etc.
Pharmacy School Requirements
To become a pharmacist one has to be educationally qualified and to that effect one has to obtain a degree in Pharmacy by attending any pharmacy school. There are a certain pre mentioned pharmacy school requirements that the prospective students ought to suffice.
Initially, the first pharmacy degree that was essential to commence practicing as a pharmacist was the Bachelor of Pharmacy.
However, recently it has been made mandatory by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy that having a Doctor of Pharmacy would be labeled as the first professional degree in the study of pharmacy.
Pharmacy School Requirements
Pharmacy school requirements of most of the pharmacy school states that the student has to have completed a total of at least sixty two semester units of the pre – pharmacy undergraduate program to obtain a degree to become a pharmacist. However, students who have completed the required number of semester units in other academic related course works also stand a chance to undertake this course. These students could have a degree in Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Physiology, Physics, Calculus or Social Science.
Most colleges put down a Pharmacy College Admission Test Scores as one of the requirements. Also personal essays or statements, resume, references and letters of recommendations could be a part of pharmacy school requirements.
Another extremely important part of pharmacy school requirements for admission is having sound computer knowledge. In today’s era having basic and advanced knowledge of the computer is not an added bonus but an essential requirement. A lot of pharmacy schools lay strong emphasis on computer literacy requirements as the curriculum involves a lot of computer related applications and methodology.
Having knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Internet Browsers, Adobe Reader and Anti – virus software should suffice.
The course requires the students to complete the degree program in three or four years based on the curriculum of the particular school which generally begins with courses in physiology, medicinal chemistry, toxicology and pharmacognosy.
In addition to theoretical teaching the students get a chance to gain practical experience under the purview of the school itself. These practical assignments are one of the requirements and have to be undertaken by the students if they want to complete the course. Usually the entire of the last semester is directed towards practical assignments and internship which are extended to the students to give them a thorough knowledge of the actual work scenario and to prepare them for practical work.
An intern license requirement is essential for all the students as they must obtain an intern license directly from the board of pharmacy. Registration as an intern pharmacist is a basic requirement and has to be fulfilled even before the completion of the course. The license is generally procured after enrolling in a particular pharmacy related course as to get a valid intern pharmacist license you have to gain admission in pharmacy course first.
In case the student decides to withdraw himself from the Pharmacy school, the pharmacy school requirements list states that the intern license should be deposited with the board to avoid its misuse.