Two Chapman University students in white coats sit at desk in lab looking at computer screen
School of Pharmacy

» Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program (Pharm.D.)

Earn Your Pharm.D. at Chapman University

In just 33 months, students can earn a professional degree that prepares them for a career in pharmaceutical sciences, including as pharmacists, researchers or public health and policy advocates.

Become a Practicing Pharmacist in Three Years

Technological advancements and evolving healthcare needs have changed the pharmaceutical industry. Now more than ever, leaders must foster innovation in delivering personalized care and improving the quality, efficacy and safety of drugs. 

Chapman University School of Pharmacy (CUSP) prepares students to tackle these challenges and beyond in our rigorous, comprehensive Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program. 

Chapman Pharm.D. By the Numbers 

  • 6:1 - Student-Faculty Ratio
  • 980 - Rotation Sites From San Diego to Northern California
  • 86.8% - NAPLEX First-Time Pass Rate

Why Earn Your Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at Chapman?

  • With a high standard of excellence, CUSP is one of the best pharmacy schools in the nation.
  • Located in beautiful Irvine, California, the School of Pharmacy offers students the unique ability to network with nearby biomedical, biotech and pharmaceutical companies. 
  • Innovative research experiences allow our students to become leaders in their field and prepare for advanced career opportunities.
  • Students apply the skills they learned in the classroom to real-world contexts during their clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings.
  • Applicants can apply to the Pharm.D. program without submitting their PCAT scores.
  • Integrated professional learning means students work with other health professionals, such as physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists and speech pathologists. This ensures they gain insight into all aspects of a patient’s health, enabling them to deliver more comprehensive care.

What to Expect

Years One and Two

During the first two professional years, introductory experiential courses expose students to various pharmacy practice settings, practitioners and community health needs. These, coupled with the other courses in the curriculum, adequately prepare them for advanced pharmacy practice in year three.

Students can also apply to the Leadership Emphasis in their first year, which supplements their Doctor of Pharmacy degree through the development of personal and professional skill sets that position them for outstanding, lifelong leadership in healthcare.

Visit the catalog to learn more about the Leadership Emphasis.

Year Three

In the third year, students complete advanced experiential courses, which consist of six 6-week rotations. Required areas of practice include community, health system, ambulatory care and acute care practices. Students may also complete elective areas of practice such as managed care, administration, pharmaceutical industry, etc.

During this time, students can apply their knowledge and skills in direct patient care environments in the experiential courses, comprising nearly one-third of the entire curriculum. The goal of these courses is to hone the abilities that empower competent and caring healthcare delivery.

Get Involved at CUSP

We encourage students to participate in national and local pharmacy organizations to assimilate into the pharmacy profession, develop as leaders and better appreciate their role in the field and how they can contribute to the larger community. CUSP recommends that all students complement their education with activities that extend their participation throughout their careers, including advocacy for their patients, themselves and the profession.

Hear from our Students

Dr. John Andraos
Class of 2019
Dr. John Andraos has merged his passions for teaching and patient care. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Western University College of Pharmacy, Dr. Andraos completed a PGY-1 and 2 and took advantage of a variety of opportunities to get involved in leadership and research.
Dr. Caitlin Calhoun
Class of 2021
A recipient of the 2024 Miltenyi Biotec Immunology Innovator Award, Dr. Calhoun is a Staff Scientist at the Children's Hospital of Orange County. Her research aims to improve pediatric patient outcomes of high risk leukemias through biomarker discoveries.
Dr. Inna Tagarino
Class of 2024
Entering into a PGY-1 ambulatory care residency for the County of Santa Clara, Dr. Tagarino's time with Chapman University was defined by brotherhood and seizing every opportunity. "Anytime you join a professional fraternity, doors open for you because there is a huge network of people to connect with."

Program Details

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree program consists of eight 15-week trimesters of personalized education, a core value of Chapman University. You learn in a tight-knit environment with a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Find out more about the Pharm.D. program, including prerequisites, courses, technical standards and more.


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Career Outlook

 

What Can You Do With a Pharm.D. Degree?

A Pharm.D. degree offers a wide range of career opportunities, including roles in:

  • Clinical and community pharmacy
  • Specialized pharmacy
  • Research and academia
  • Industry and regulation
  • Government and public health
  • Healthcare management and administration

Many of our graduates become pharmacists, which means they must pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). After successful completion of their exams, students then apply for licensure in their state and consider post-graduate training and certification through residency, fellowship or board certification.

Learn How to Apply to the Pharm.D. Program


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Financial Aid

Chapman University offers financial aid for graduate students, including scholarships, loans and graduate assistantships.

If you have questions regarding financial aid, please review the graduate student financial aid page, call the Graduate Financial Aid Office at (714) 628-2730 or reach out to the Office via email.

Join a Pharm.D. Program Committed to Your Success

Take the next step — apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy program. You can also request information or attend an information session to learn more.


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  • Accreditation
  • Vital Statistics
  • The Chapman University School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and thereby meets the educational eligibility criteria for licensure as a pharmacist in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Students graduating from Chapman University’s ACPE accredited Pharmacy program are eligible to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, the NAPLEX is just one component of the licensure process. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) https://nabp.pharmacy/.

    Requirements for licensure in all states include passage of the NAPLEX. However, additional requirements can vary by state. Most states utilize the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), whereas California requires the California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Exam (CPSJE). Each of the 50 states has different requirements in terms of reciprocity, jurisprudence examination, number of experiential/intern hours required to be eligible for the state license, and other documents to be submitted. The NABP provides information on requirements to practice as a pharmacist in each state: https://nabp.pharmacy/about/boards-of-pharmacy/

    The information provided above does not provide any guarantee that any particular state licensure or certification entity will approve or deny a candidate’s application. Further, this disclosure does not account for changes in state law or regulation that may affect a candidate’s application for licensure that occur after this disclosure has been made. In addition to the information provided herein, students are strongly encouraged to contact their State’s licensure entity to review all licensure and certification requirements imposed by their state(s) of choice.

  • NAPLEX First-Time Pass Rates (%)

    Chapman National CA
    2023 Graduates: 86.8 77.8 78.8
    2022 Graduates: 83.5 79.6 80.7
    2021 Graduates: 87.2 84.0 86.5
    2020 Graduates: 82.7 86.5
    2019 Graduates 85.7 88.3
    2018 Graduates: 71.2 89.5

     

    % at Level 3 or 4 Achievement* in NAPLEX Competency Domains 

    2023 2022
    Domain (% of Exam) Chapman National Chapman National
    1. Obtain, Interpret, or Assess Data, Medical, or Patient Information (18) 66.2 75.8 72.7 76.5
    2. Identify Drug Characteristics (14) 66.2 69.2 74.6 70.4
    3. Develop or Manage Treatment Plans (35) 79.4 76.1 87.3 78.8
    4. Perform Calculations (14) 72.1 68.5 69.6 71.0
    5. Compound, Dispense, or Administer Drugs, or Manage Delivery Systems (11) 70.6 72.8 81.0 73.4
    6. Develop/Manage Practice/Med-Use Systems to Ensure Safety and Quality (8) 76.4 78.8 81.0 77.3

     

     

    *Meets (Level 3) or Exceeds (Level 4) minimum performance to demonstrate competency

     

    CPJE First-Time Pass Rates (%)

    Chapman CA
    October 2023 - March 2024 60.0 54.1
    April - September 2023 61.4 63.7
    October 2022 - March 2023 56.4 58.7
    May - September 2022 63.2 66.8
    October 2021 - April 2022 47.7 44.6
    April - September 2021 51.9 61.5
    October 2020 - March 2021 50.0 50.9
    May-September 2020 66.7 70.0
    December 2019-April 2020 43.9 50.9
    April-November 2019 72.1 76.5
    October 2018-March 2019 43.5 54.5
    April-September 2018 84.0 89.7

     

    MPJE First-Time Pass Rates (%)

    Chapman National CA
    January 2023- December 2023 62.5 72.2 57.7
    January 2022- December 2022 55.6 75.1 56.9
    January 2021- December 2021 78.6 78.3 70.9
    September 1, 2020-December 31, 2020 62.5 76.8
    May 1, 2020-August 31, 2020 80.0 85.7
    January 1, 2020-April 30, 2020 100 82.4
    September 1, 2019-December 31, 2019 87.5 76.4
    May 1, 2019-August 31, 2019 40.0 84.0
    January 1, 2019-April 30, 2019 50.0 82.0
    September 1, 2018-December 31, 2018 83.3 76.0
    May 1, 2018-August 31, 2018 100 85.0

     

    On-Time Graduates (%)

    Chapman
    Class of 2023 82.0
    Class of 2022 82.4
    Class of 2021 81.8
    Class of 2020 80.0
    Class of 2019 86.0
    Class of 2018 96.2

     

    Program Outcomes:

    Class of 2023

    PGY1 Residency Match Results: 25 (accredited) programs

    PGY2 Residency Match Results: 5 (accredited) programs

    Fellowship Results: 3

    Ph.D. Programs: N/A

     

    Class of 2022

    PGY1 Residency Match Results: 28 (accredited) programs

    PGY2 Residency Match Results: 1 (accredited), 1 (unaccredited)

    Fellowship Results: 4

    Ph.D. Programs: N/A

     

    Class of 2021

    PGY1 Residency Match Results: 16 (accredited) programs

    PGY2 Residency Match Results: 0

    Fellowship Results: 1 fellow 

    Ph.D. Programs: N/A

     

    Class of 2020

    PGY1 Residency Match Results: 12 (accredited) programs

    PGY2 Residency Match Results: 1 (accredited), 1 (unaccredited)

    Fellowship Results: 1 fellow 

    Ph.D. Programs: 1 graduate joined Ph.D. programs

     

    Class of 2019

    PGY1 Residency Match Results: 10 (accredited) programs

    PGY2 Residency Match Results: 2 (accredited) programs

    Fellowship Results: 1 fellow

    Ph.D. Programs: N/A

     

    Class of 2018

    PGY1 Residency Match Results: 7 (accredited) programs

    Fellowship Results: 2 fellows

    Ph.D. Programs: 3 graduates joined Ph.D. programs