This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2025-2026 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Advanced study in pharmacy and aging studies is available through a dual degree and certificate program co-sponsored by the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Gerontology in the College of Health Professions.
The program allows students to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Certificate in Aging Studies with a minimum of 167 credits rather than the 170 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree and certificate program are to:
- Prepare graduates to address the complex needs of a diverse aging population using holistic knowledge of the biopsychosocial aging process
- Provide graduates with an understanding of empirically and theoretically based components contributing to optimal aging using evidence-based, best-practice approaches
- Prepare graduates to develop skills in comprehensive geriatric care to promote well-being among older adults
- Prepare graduates with an understanding of the interrelationship between pharmacology and social issues and aging (e.g., family, cultural, community, housing, access to care, policy issues)
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree and certificate program is the following:
- Students holding these degrees will be more competitive in obtaining a pharmacy residency or employment caring for older adults in the community, ambulatory care or hospital settings.
The diplomas for this dual degree and certificate program may be awarded simultaneously. Students must complete a separate graduation check out for each program.
Student learning outcomes
See the individual program pages for student learning outcomes.
Advising
The student is assigned an adviser from each program to develop a plan of study. Advisers from each program will provide guidance on course requirements for their respective programs.
Admission requirements
Students must meet the admission requirements for each program. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other.
The Certificate in Aging Studies program is open to qualified students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or the equivalent and who have met all general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.
The admission requirements for the Pharm.D. can be found on the program page.
Application procedure
Applicants may apply after completion of their first or second professional year. Applications are made through the Graduate School and are due by May 15.
Students do not need to take any additional tests as part of the application process. There is a fee associated with applying to the VCU Graduate School.
Dual degree and certificate requirements
As standalone programs, the Pharm.D. comprises 148.5 credits while the certificate requires 15 credits. The dual degree and certificate program allows students to share three credits, therefore decreasing total credits to completion from 163.5 to 160.5.
Students are advised that based on the equivalent knowledge acquired by successfully completing PHAR 670 and PHAR 691 (with appropriate topic) as electives in the Pharm.D. program, the elective requirement is satisfied in the certificate curriculum.
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pharm.D. requirements | ||
| IPEC 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| IPEC 502 | Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 1 |
| IPEC 560 | Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults | 1 |
| MEDC 527 | Basic Pharmaceutical Principles for the Practicing Pharmacist | 3 |
| MEDC 533 | Pharmacognosy | 1 |
| MEDC 542 | Biotechnology-derived Therapeutic Agents | 1 |
| MEDC 553 | Concepts in the Medicinal Chemistry of Therapeutics Agents | 1 |
| PCEU 507 | Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics I | 2.5 |
| PCEU 508 | Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| PCEU 509 | Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics II | 3 |
| PCEU 601 | Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics | 2.5 |
| PHAR 501 | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 1 |
| PHAR 502 | Introduction to Pharmacoeconomics | 1 |
| PHAR 503 | Ethics and Equity | 1.5 |
| PHAR 505 | Pathophysiology and Patient Assessment Skills | 3 |
| PHAR 506 | Nonprescription Medications and Self-care | 2 |
| PHAR 507 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 1 |
| PHAR 508 | Evidence-based Pharmacy I | 2 |
| PHAR 511 | Evidence-based Pharmacy II | 2 |
| PHAR 515 | Continuous Professional Development I | 1 |
| PHAR 523 | Foundations I | 2 |
| PHAR 524 | Foundations II | 1.5 |
| PHAR 530 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Practice | 4 |
| PHAR 532 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice | 3 |
| PHAR 533 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Patient Care | .5 |
| PHAR 534 | Foundations III | 1.5 |
| PHAR 535 | Foundations IV | 1.5 |
| PHAR 544 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Cardiovascular | 4.5 |
| PHAR 545 | The U.S. Health Care System | 1.5 |
| PHAR 546 | Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery | 1.5 |
| PHAR 551 | Pharmacy-based Point of Care Testing | 1.5 |
| PHAR 555 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Endocrinology | 2.5 |
| PHAR 556 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Neurology | 3.5 |
| PHAR 602 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Psychiatry | 3 |
| PHAR 603 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Respiratory/Immunology | 2.5 |
| PHAR 604 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Infectious Diseases | 4 |
| PHAR 605 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Hematology/Oncology | 2.5 |
| PHAR 606 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Nephrology/Urology | 2 |
| PHAR 609 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Reproductive Health, Dermatology, EENT, Bone and Joint | 3.5 |
| PHAR 615 | Continuous Professional Development II | 1 |
| PHAR 618 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition | 2.5 |
| PHAR 640 | Foundations V | 1.5 |
| PHAR 645 | Foundations VI | 1.5 |
| PHAR 652 | Health Promotion and Communication in Pharmacy Practice | 2 |
| PHAR 702 | Pharmacy Practice Management | 2.5 |
| PHAR 703 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Complex Patient Cases and Critical Care | 3.5 |
| PHAR 715 | Continuous Professional Development III | 1 |
| PHAR 724 | Pharmacy Law | 2.5 |
| PHAR 730 | Continuous Professional Development IV | .5 |
| PHAR 760 | Acute Care Pharmacy Practice I | 5 |
| PHAR 761 | Advanced Hospital Pharmacy Practice | 5 |
| PHAR 763 | Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice | 5 |
| PHAR 765 | Elective I | 5 |
| PHAR 766 | Elective II | 5 |
| PHAR 767 | Clinical Selective I | 5 |
| PHAR 768 | Advanced Community Pharmacy Practice | 5 |
| PHAR 773 | Acute Care Pharmacy Practice II | 5 |
| PHTX 606 | Introduction to Pharmacology of Therapeutic Agents | 1 |
| Electives (three credits will satisfy certificate electives) | 8 | |
| Certificate requirements | ||
| GRTY 601 | Biological and Physiological Aging | 3 |
| GRTY 602 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| GRTY 603 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
| GRTY 606 | Aging and Human Values | 3 |
| Restricted elective (satisfied by PHAR 670 and PHAR 691 Pharm.D. electives) | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 160.5 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this dual program is 160.5.
Sample plan of study
| P1 year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | ||
| IPEC 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| MEDC 527 | Basic Pharmaceutical Principles for the Practicing Pharmacist | 3 |
| MEDC 533 | Pharmacognosy | 1 |
| PCEU 507 | Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics I | 2.5 |
| PHAR 501 | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 1 |
| PHAR 505 | Pathophysiology and Patient Assessment Skills | 3 |
| PHAR 515 | Continuous Professional Development I (continues) | 1 |
| PHAR 523 | Foundations I | 2 |
| PHAR 545 | The U.S. Health Care System | 1.5 |
| PHAR 652 | Health Promotion and Communication in Pharmacy Practice | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| MEDC 553 | Concepts in the Medicinal Chemistry of Therapeutics Agents 1 | 1 |
| PCEU 508 | Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| PCEU 509 | Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics II | 3 |
| PHAR 506 | Nonprescription Medications and Self-care | 2 |
| PHAR 515 | Continuous Professional Development I | 1 |
| PHAR 524 | Foundations II | 1.5 |
| PHAR 530 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Practice | 4 |
| PHAR 544 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Cardiovascular 1 | 4.5 |
| PHTX 606 | Introduction to Pharmacology of Therapeutic Agents 1 | 1 |
| Term Hours: | 21 | |
| P2 year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MEDC 542 | Biotechnology-derived Therapeutic Agents | 1 |
| GRTY 602 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PCEU 601 | Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics | 2.5 |
| PHAR 508 | Evidence-based Pharmacy I | 2 |
| PHAR 534 | Foundations III | 1.5 |
| PHAR 546 | Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery 1 | 1.5 |
| PHAR 555 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Endocrinology 1 | 2.5 |
| PHAR 603 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Respiratory/Immunology 1 | 2.5 |
| PHAR 615 | Continuous Professional Development II (continues) | 1 |
| PHAR 618 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition | 2.5 |
| Elective 2 | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 21 | |
| Spring | ||
| GRTY 601 | Biological and Physiological Aging | 3 |
| IPEC 502 | Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 1 |
| PHAR 502 | Introduction to Pharmacoeconomics | 1 |
| PHAR 503 | Ethics and Equity | 1.5 |
| PHAR 511 | Evidence-based Pharmacy II | 2 |
| PHAR 532 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice | 3 |
| PHAR 535 | Foundations IV | 1.5 |
| PHAR 604 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Infectious Diseases 1 | 4 |
| PHAR 606 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Nephrology/Urology 1 | 2 |
| PHAR 615 | Continuous Professional Development II | 1 |
| Elective 2 | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 22 | |
| P3 year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GRTY 603 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
| PHAR 507 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 1 |
| PHAR 551 | Pharmacy-based Point of Care Testing | 1.5 |
| PHAR 556 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Neurology 1 | 3.5 |
| PHAR 602 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Psychiatry 1 | 3 |
| PHAR 605 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Hematology/Oncology 1 | 2.5 |
| PHAR 640 | Foundations V | 1.5 |
| PHAR 670 | Geriatrics – Demystifying a Population | 2 |
| PHAR 715 | Continuous Professional Development III (continues) | 1 |
| Term Hours: | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| GRTY 606 | Aging and Human Values | 3 |
| IPEC 560 | Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults | 1 |
| PHAR 533 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Patient Care | 0.5 |
| PHAR 609 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Reproductive Health, Dermatology, EENT, Bone and Joint | 3.5 |
| PHAR 645 | Foundations VI | 1.5 |
| PHAR 691 | Special Topics in Pharmacy | 1 |
| PHAR 702 | Pharmacy Practice Management | 2.5 |
| PHAR 703 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Complex Patient Cases and Critical Care | 3.5 |
| PHAR 715 | Continuous Professional Development III | 1 |
| PHAR 724 | Pharmacy Law | 2.5 |
| Electives | 1 | |
| Term Hours: | 21 | |
| P4 year (over 45 weeks) | ||
| PHAR 730 | Continuous Professional Development IV | 0.5 |
| PHAR 760 | Acute Care Pharmacy Practice I | 5 |
| PHAR 761 | Advanced Hospital Pharmacy Practice | 5 |
| PHAR 763 | Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice | 5 |
| PHAR 765 | Elective I | 5 |
| PHAR 766 | Elective II | 5 |
| PHAR 767 | Clinical Selective I | 5 |
| PHAR 768 | Advanced Community Pharmacy Practice | 5 |
| PHAR 773 | Acute Care Pharmacy Practice II | 5 |
| Term Hours: | 40.5 | |
| Total Hours: | 160.5 | |
Course will be taught as a module.
Students will complete four total credits of electives over the course of the year.
The minimum number of credit hours required for this dual program is 160.5.
Contact
Jennifer Pryor
Program director, Department of Gerontology
pryorjm@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1565
Additional contact
Krista L. Donohoe, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCGP
Associate professor, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science
kldonohoe@vcu.edu
(804) 628-4551
