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 business administration and pharmacy is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the School of Business and School of Pharmacy.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Pharmacy program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 184.5 graduate credits rather than the 193.5 graduate 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.
Students must complete their first year of the Pharm.D. program in good standing before considering the dual degree program. A recommendation from the School of Pharmacy is required to be submitted with the M.B.A. application.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are to:
- Prepare pharmacy graduates to be effective leaders and managers in organizations
- Equip pharmacy graduates with tools and techniques that optimize managerial decisions
- Provide the ability to organize, synthesize and analyze information for decision-making to achieve strategic organizational goals
- Develop managerial skills necessary to design and implement effective governance mechanisms in organizations
- Develop interpersonal and professional skills critical to business including communication and presentation skills, leadership and management, and situational awareness, among others
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Complementing the technical knowledge obtained in the pharmacy program with general management skills obtained in the M.B.A.
- Enhanced ability to effectively compete for managerial positions across a wide spectrum of levels in today’s organizations
- Enhanced job prospects particularly for candidates intending to switch careers or striving to move up within their organizations
- The ability to effectively complete both degrees within a shorter time frame with considerable time and tuition savings through the nine dual-counted credits
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously. Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must be enrolled in both degrees for at least one semester prior to graduation from either program for credits to be shared across programs.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager and/or faculty adviser from each program will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. They will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 184.5 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Pharmacy.
A total of nine credits may be counted toward both programs. Each of the courses below are requirements for the Pharm.D. that satisfy M.B.A. electives.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHAR 502 | Introduction to Pharmacoeconomics | 1 |
| PHAR 507 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 1 |
| PHAR 532 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice | 3 |
| PHAR 545 | The U.S. Health Care System | 1.5 |
| PHAR 702 | Pharmacy Practice Management | 2.5 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| 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 (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 1.5 |
| PHAR 546 | Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery 1 | 1.5 |
| PHAR 551 | Pharmacy-based Point of Care Testing 1 | 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 (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 | 8 | |
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by PHAR 502, PHAR 507, PHAR 532, PHAR 545 and PHAR 702 | ||
| Total Hours | 184.5 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 184.5.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| 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 (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 | |
| Summer | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| P2 year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MEDC 542 | Biotechnology-derived Therapeutic Agents 1 | 1 |
| 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 1 | 2.5 |
| Elective 2 | 2 | |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 21 | |
| Spring | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| IPEC 502 | Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety | 1 |
| PHAR 502 | Introduction to Pharmacoeconomics (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 1 |
| PHAR 503 | Ethics and Equity | 1.5 |
| PHAR 511 | Evidence-based Pharmacy II | 2 |
| PHAR 532 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 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 | |
| Summer | ||
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| P3 year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| PHAR 507 | Introduction to Health Informatics (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 1 |
| PHAR 551 | Pharmacy-based Point of Care Testing 1 | 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 715 | Continuous Professional Development III (continues) | 1 |
| Elective 2 | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 21 | |
| Spring | ||
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 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 1 | 3.5 |
| PHAR 645 | Foundations VI | 1.5 |
| PHAR 702 | Pharmacy Practice Management (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 2.5 |
| PHAR 703 | Clinical Therapeutics Module: Complex Patient Cases and Critical Care 1 | 3.5 |
| PHAR 715 | Continuous Professional Development III (continues) | 1 |
| PHAR 724 | Pharmacy Law | 2.5 |
| Elective 2 | 2 | |
| Term Hours: | 21 | |
| Summer | ||
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 3 | |
| P4 year (over 45 weeks) | ||
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| 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: | 46.5 | |
| Total Hours: | 184.5 | |
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 graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 184.5.
Contacts
School of Business
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
School of Pharmacy
Admissions and Student Services
vcupharm@vcu.edu
(804) 828-3000