PharmD Combination Degrees

a.  Current enrollment in the PharmD Program.

b.  Good standing and successful completion of the first year PharmD program with a minimum cumulative professional GPA of 3.5.

c.  Complete and submit the Pharmacy-CBSS MBA Application.

d.  Obtain signature approvals from the College of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the College of Business and Social Sciences Associate Dean (MBA Coordinator) to validate a student applicant meets qualifications for combination degree program. 

e.  Successful completion, current enrollment, and/or planned enrollment in MBA background prerequisite courses as follows at either the undergraduate or graduate level:

Undergraduate business courses:

ACCT 2020 - Introductory Managerial Accounting

ACCT 2030 - Introductory Financial Accounting

ECON 2001 - Macroeconomic Principles

ECON 2002 - Microeconomic Principles

QMDS 2010 - Statistics and Quality Control

FINA 3015 - Business Finance

Graduate business courses:

ACCT 5002 - Accounting for Administrators (ACCT 2020 & 2030 equivalency credit)

ECON 5002 - Survey and Analysis (ECON 2001 & 2002 equivalency credit)

BUSN 5002 - Fundamentals of Business Statistics and Finance (QMDS 2010 & FINA 3015 equivalency credit)

a.  Application submission date - Students may apply for the combination degree PharmD/MBA degree during the spring semester of the P1 year (or thereafter); acceptance into the program will be pending as based on completion of the above requirements.

b.  Admission approval notification date - Students will be notified of pending acceptance and of final admission after a student's application has been processed and upon completion of the above requirements.

c.  Primary student major - A student's primary major must remain as PharmD in Banner for students enrolled in the PharmD/MBA combination degree program.

d.  Advisement for class enrollment - Students will meet with both their PharmD advisor and the MBA Coordinator during posted advising time periods to determine optimal semester class enrollment.  

e.  Maintain a 3.0 cumulative PharmD GPA - If a combination degree student's cumulative PharmD GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be required to put the MBA on hold until the PharmD GPA returns to 3.0 or greater or after completion of the PharmD degree.

f.  Meet academic standards compliance for both PharmD and MBA programs - Combination-degree students are required to remain in compliance with the academic standards of each degree granting unit.  For example, a student has to satisfy the College of Pharmacy GPA requirements solely on the basis of graded pharmacy school coursework, and a student has to satisfy the Graduate School's GPA requirements solely on the basis of graded graduate coursework taken within the Graduate School.

g.  Meet "30 hour" rule in earning MBA degree - In earning the MBA degree, a student must have earned 30 credit hours towards the MBA degree that are not applied towards the PharmD degree (i.e. 24 credit hours of MBA courses plus six hours of background/prerequisite courses).

h.  Completion of PharmD and MBA degrees - A student can complete the MBA degree at the same time or after earning the PharmD degree; however, a student cannot complete the MBA degree prior to completing the PharmD degree.

• • If a students completes both the PharmD degree and the MBA degree at the same time and receives both degrees concurrently, the student must complete two graduation applications.  The student must also notify the Graduate School of his/her intent to graduate with an MBA degree at the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to graduate.
  • If a student plans to continue the MBA degree after receiving his/her PharmD degree, the student must apply to the Graduate School for re-entry into the Graduate School and MBA program and submit the Graduate School application fee.

a.  Current enrollment in the PharmD Program.

b.  Good standing and successful completion of the first year PharmD program with a minimum cumulative professional GPA of 3.5 and receipt of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) degree or other previous undergraduate degree.  

c.  Successful completion of either the GRE or the PCAT exam.

d.  Complete and submit the Pharmacy-PhD Application.

e.  Obtain signature approvals from the College of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the College of Business and Social Sciences Associate Dean (MBA Coordinator) to validate a student applicant meets qualifications for combination degree program. 

Additional Program Information

a.  Application submission date - Students may apply for the combination degree PharmD/PhD degree during the spring semester of the P1 year (or thereafter); acceptance into the program will be pending as based on completion of the above requirements.

b.  Admission approval notification date - Students will be notified of pending acceptance and of final admission after a student's application has been processed and upon completion of the above requirements.

c.  Primary student major - A student's primary major must remain as PharmD in Banner for students enrolled in the PharmD/PhD combination degree program.

d.  Advisement for class enrollment - Students will meet with both their PharmD advisor and their graduate major advisor during posted advising time periods to determine optimal semester class enrollment.

e.  Maintain a 3.0 cumulative PharmD GPA - If a combination degree student's cumulative PharmD GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be required to put the PhD on hold until the PharmD GPA returns to 3.0 or greater or after completion of the PharmD degree.

f.  Meet academic standards compliance for both PharmD and PhD programs - Combination-degree students are required to remain in compliance with the academic standards of each degree granting unit.  For example, a student has to satisfy the College of Pharmacy GPA requirements solely on the basis of graded pharmacy school coursework, and a student has to satisfy the Graduate School's GPA requirements solely on the basis of graded graduate coursework taken within the Graduate School.

g.  Completion of all PhD degree requirements.

• • Completion of the PharmD Research Concentration
  1. 1. Summer Research Program in the summers after the P1 and P2 years with enrollment in the PHRD 5064 research elective.  This will be completed in addition to the required Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE).  This program is a chance for the student to explore areas of research interest and major professors prior to beginning focused graduate research.  It requires active participation in a summer research project under the supervision of a graduate faculty member, a written summary of the research findings with presentation of their research in a research forum such as the College or University Research Symposium.
     2. Participation in Graduate Seminars.
     3. Completion of at least one research Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) elective during the P4 year.
  • Completion of all PhD coursework (minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework plus a minimum of 30 additional semester hours of seminars, dissertation research and directed study).  Some of this coursework can be combined credit for PharmD and PhD.
  • Complete a written dissertation with defense.
  • Pass a comprehensive written exam at the completion of 100% of coursework listed on the student's degree plan or be enrolled in all courses listed on the student's degree plan.

h.  Completion of PharmD and PhD degrees

• • The student will not be able to complete the PhD degree at the same time as the PharmD degree due to the requirements of the PhD degree.  The student also may not completed the PhD degree prior to completing the PharmD degree.
  • The student must apply to the Graduate School for re-entry into the Graduate School and Pharmacy PhD program and submit the Graduate School application fee upon graduating with the PharmD degree. 
  • The application process should be completed during the spring of the P4 year.

i.  Stipends

• • A research or teaching stipend may be available after completion of the PharmD degree and upon acceptance into the Graduate Program.  The student should consult their major professor or Director of COP Graduate Studies.

a.  Current enrollment in the PharmD Program.

b.  Good standing and successful completion of the first year PharmD program with a minimum cumulative professional GPA of 3.5 and receipt of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) degree or other previous undergraduate degree.  Second through fourth year PharmD students will be evaluated individually.

c.  Complete and submit the Pharmacy-Louisiana Tech MHI Application.

d.  Obtain signature approvals from the College of Pharmacy Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to validate that a student applicant meets qualifications for the program.

Louisiana Tech Admission Requirements (MHI):

a.  Admission is competitive; consequently, applicants who meet the minimum requirements specified herein are not assured admission.  The Department Admissions Committee qualitatively and quantitatively evaluates applicants and makes decisions based on performance, personal qualifications, and evidence of potential for success.

b.  Applicants will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee after the following items have been received:

• • Application form
  • Application fee
  • Essay
  • Reference letters
  • All applicable transcripts

c.  Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must meet the minimum admission requirements of the Graduate School, as well as the admission requirements of the Department of Health Informatics and Information Management.

d.  Admission criteria are described further on the Louisiana Tech website.

e.  Students will apply online via the Graduate School website.  Louisiana Tech is on the quarter system, links to the deadlines and academic calendar are listed below.

• • Deadlines
  • Academic Calendar (check Academic Calendar in the right hand menu)

a.  Application submission date - Students may apply for the PharmD and MHI/Certificate degree during the fall semester of the P2 year (or thereafter); acceptance into the program will be pending based on completion of the above requirements.

b.  Admission approval notification date - Students will be notified of pending acceptance and of final admission after a student's application has been processed and upon completion of the above requirements.

c.  Primary student major - A student's primary major must remain as PharmD in Banner for students enrolled in the PharmD/MHI Certificate program.

d.  Advisement for class enrollment - Students will meet with both their PharmD advisor and the MHI/Certificate advisor during posted advising time periods to determine optimal semester class enrollment.

e.  Maintain a 3.0 cumulative PharmD GPA - If a combination degree student's cumulative PharmD GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be required to put the MHI/Certificate on hold until the PharmD GPA returns to 3.0 or greater or after completion of the PharmD degree.

f.  Meet academic standards compliance for both PharmD and MHI programs - Combination-degree students are required to remain in compliance with the academic standards of each degree granting unit.  For example, a student has to satisfy the College of Pharmacy GPA requirements solely on the basis of graded pharmacy school coursework, and a student has to satisfy the Louisiana Tech Graduate School's GPA requirements solely on the basis of graded graduate coursework taken within the Graduate School.

g.  Completion of PharmD and MHI degrees - A student can complete the MHI/Certificate degree at the same time or after earning the PharmD degree.  

• • If a student completes both the PharmD degree and the MHI/Certificate programs at the same time and receives both degrees concurrently, the student must complete both ULM and Louisiana Tech graduation applications.
  • The student may also continue the MHI/Certificate program after receiving his/her PharmD degree.