In today's world of specialization, pharmacy degrees are required by pharmacists to advance in the healthcare field. There are a number of career opportunities in the field of pharmacy. Candidates may pursue the job of a pharmacy technician. This may require obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent. However, in order to become a pharmacist, candidates are required to have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. The job of a pharmacist involves helping people overcome their illness through administration of medications.
Pharmacy degrees are offered through on campus and online programs these days. Online programs offer certain benefits to students. They provide a flexible learning schedule to professionals with busy lives. They also enable candidates to save on time and costs related to commuting to campuses. Finally, they may be less expensive as compared to campus based programs.
Pharm. D. Degree
Nowadays, a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) degree has become a standard level of education required for new pharmacists, so individuals who would like a career in pharmacy will need to obtain a Pharm. D degree. The coursework may be delivered through classroom lectures, online communication and discussions, reading assignments, and laboratory and clinical sessions. The program aims to develop problem-solving skills needed for monitoring, recommending, and designing patient-specific pharmacotherapy. The topics covered may include pharmacokinetics, drug information, literature evaluation, assessment of disorders, and pharmaceutical treatment options. Other objectives of the program may include the following:
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Prepare pharmacists to be innovative leaders in the pharmaceutical industry and medication therapy
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Teach students team work and at the same time, independent thinking
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Provide knowledge and skills in pharmacotherapy, so that students meet industry standards
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Provoke lifelong learning desire in students, so that they remain experts in the use and distribution of medications
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Enable students to identify challenges in the field of pharmacy now and in future, and to determine methods of countering those challenges.
The coursework may include the following medical areas:
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Foundations of Pharmaceutical Care
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Cardiac Disorders
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Circulatory Disorders
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Kidney Disorders
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Respiratory Disorders
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Women's Heath Disorders
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Protective Structural Systems Disorders
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Gastrointestinal Disorders
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Endocrine and Hematologic Disorders
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Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Please note that the above mentioned curriculum is for one program. It will vary for each school, you should check the curriculum details of the specific program in which you enroll.
Career Opportunities
After completing the Pharm. D degree, graduates have the opportunity to develop a pharmacy specialty. Some of the areas of expertise pharmacy graduates usually choose include the following:
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Pharmacy Informatics
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Pharmacotherapy
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Pharmacy Cog Nosy
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Pharmaceutics
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Psychiatry
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Medication Therapy Management
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Pediatrics
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Oncology
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Medicinal Chemistry
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Nutrition
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Cardiovascular Diseases
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Infectious Diseases
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Drug Information
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Critical Care Management
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Compounding
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Consulting
The job responsibilities of pharmacists involve giving prescription medications to patients, and providing expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of pharmacists was $116,670 in May 2012.