Washington State University (WSU) Honors College students who are interested in working in the growing health care industry and protecting the health of the communities they serve can now do so through the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program.
Thanks to a new agreement between the two colleges, Honors College students admitted to the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (CPPS) during their sophomore or junior year will be able to use PharmD courses to complete their bachelor’s degree electives while in the first year of their pharmacy education. This means completing the two programs will take seven years instead of the traditional eight. Students will also be able to work with a CPPS mentor to complete their honors thesis. Honors College students admitted into PharmD program during their junior or senior year can still complete their bachelor’s degree in Pullman.
Honors College students interested in pursing their PharmD have two options for applying to the pharmacy program. Those who know in advance that pharmacy is the right career path for them can apply through the college’s Save-a-Seat program by the end of their sophomore year. Save-a-Seat is an early assurance program for students to fast-track their career in pharmacy. Admission to the Save-a-Seat program secures a spot in the WSU Doctor of Pharmacy program so students can focus on preparing for their future instead of competing for admissions. Honors College students admitted to the pharmacy program through Save-a-Seat will work with the Honors College to identify coursework meeting prerequisites for PharmD admission while receiving additional guidance from CPPS academic advisors. Honors College students who need more time to decide whether or not pharmacy is the right career path for them can apply through the normal admissions process during their junior or senior year.
“This agreement creates an exciting pathway for students in the Honors College to enter the pharmacy profession and ultimately serve the citizens of the state of Washington. Student pharmacists in CPPS will be exposed to all areas of innovative pharmacy practice, including our increasing emphasis on serving underserved populations in rural Washington state” said CPPS Dean Mark Leid who met with Honors College Dean M. Grant Norton to formalize the new pathway in October.