This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 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 191 graduate credits rather than the 200 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 12 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 191 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 513Contemporary Pharmacy Practice2
PHAR 526Community Pharmacy Practice2
PHAR 532Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice3
PHAR 545The U.S. Health Care System2

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 501Foundations of Interprofessional Practice1
IPEC 502Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety1
IPEC 561IPE Virtual Geriatric Case2
MEDC 527Basic Pharmaceutical Principles for the Practicing Pharmacist3
MEDC 533Pharmacognosy2
MEDC 542Biotechnology-derived Therapeutic Agents1
MEDC 553Concepts in the Medicinal Chemistry of Therapeutics Agents1
PCEU 507Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics I3
PCEU 508Pharmacokinetics3
PCEU 509Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics II3
PCEU 615Applied Pharmacokinetics2.5
PHAR 501Pharmaceutical Calculations1
PHAR 509Evidence-Based Pharmacy I: Introduction to Pharmacy Information Skills1.5
PHAR 513Contemporary Pharmacy Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective)2
PHAR 515Continuous Professional Development I1
PHAR 523Foundations I1.5
PHAR 524Foundations II1.5
PHAR 526Community Pharmacy Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective)2
PHAR 529Clinical Therapeutics Module: Introduction to Special Populations2
PHAR 530Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Practice4
PHAR 532Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective)3
PHAR 533Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Patient Care.5
PHAR 534Foundations III1.5
PHAR 535Foundations IV1.5
PHAR 540Self-Care and Alternative and Complementary Treatments2.5
PHAR 541Patient Assessment in Pharmacy Practice2
PHAR 544Clinical Therapeutics Module: Cardiovascular4.5
PHAR 545The U.S. Health Care System (satisfies M.B.A. elective)2
PHAR 546Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery 11.5
PHAR 549Personalized Medicine1
PHAR 551Pharmacy-based Point of Care Testing 11.5
PHAR 555Clinical Therapeutics Module: Endocrinology2.5
PHAR 556Clinical Therapeutics Module: Neurology4
PHAR 565Evidence-based Pharmacy II: Research Methods and Statistics2.5
PHAR 566Evidence-based Pharmacy III: Drug Literature Evaluation2
PHAR 602Clinical Therapeutics Module: Psychiatry3
PHAR 603Clinical Therapeutics Module: Respiratory/Immunology2.5
PHAR 604Clinical Therapeutics Module: Infectious Diseases4.5
PHAR 605Clinical Therapeutics Module: Hematology/Oncology2.5
PHAR 606Clinical Therapeutics Module: Nephrology/Urology2
PHAR 607Clinical Therapeutics Module: Dermatology/EENT2
PHAR 615Continuous Professional Development II1
PHAR 618Clinical Therapeutics Module: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition2.5
PHAR 619Clinical Therapeutics Module: Women's Health/Bone2
PHAR 620Clinical Therapeutics Module: Critical Care/Toxicology and Complex Patients2.5
PHAR 621Pharmacoeconomics2
PHAR 640Foundations V1.5
PHAR 645Foundations VI1.5
PHAR 652Health Promotion and Communication in Pharmacy Practice2.5
PHAR 660Community Pharmacy Practice Management II1.5
PHAR 715Continuous Professional Development III1
PHAR 724Pharmacy Law2.5
PHAR 730Continuous Professional Development IV.5
PHAR 760Acute Care Pharmacy Practice I5
PHAR 761Advanced Hospital Pharmacy Practice5
PHAR 763Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice5
PHAR 765Elective I5
PHAR 766Elective II5
PHAR 767Clinical Selective I5
PHAR 768Advanced Community Pharmacy Practice5
PHAR 773Acute Care Pharmacy Practice II5
PHTX 606Introduction to Pharmacology of Therapeutic Agents1
Electives5
M.B.A. requirements
• Required courses
ACCT 507Fundamentals of Accounting3
ACCT 608Managerial Accounting Concepts3
ECON 610Managerial Economics3
FIRE 520Financial Concepts of Management3
FIRE 623Financial Management3
INFO 661Information Systems for Managers3
INFO 664Information Systems for Business Intelligence3
MGMT 641Leading People and Organizations3
MGMT 642Business Policy and Strategy3
MKTG 671Marketing Management3
SCMA 524Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management3
SCMA 675Operations Management3
• Electives
Satisfied by PHAR 513, PHAR 526, PHAR 532 and PHAR 545
Total Hours191

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 191.

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 2
PCEU 507 Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics I 3
PHAR 501 Pharmaceutical Calculations 1
PHAR 509 Evidence-Based Pharmacy I: Introduction to Pharmacy Information Skills 1.5
PHAR 515 Continuous Professional Development I (continues) 1
PHAR 523 Foundations I 1.5
PHAR 545 The U.S. Health Care System (satisfies M.B.A. elective) 2
PHAR 652 Health Promotion and Communication in Pharmacy Practice 2.5
 Term Hours: 17.5
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 513 Contemporary Pharmacy Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective) 2
PHAR 515 Continuous Professional Development I 1
PHAR 524 Foundations II 1.5
PHAR 526 Community Pharmacy Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective) 2
PHAR 529 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Introduction to Special Populations 1 2
PHAR 530 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Practice 4
PHTX 606 Introduction to Pharmacology of Therapeutic Agents 1 1
 Term Hours: 20.5
Summer
ACCT 507 Fundamentals of Accounting 3
FIRE 520 Financial Concepts of Management 3
 Term Hours: 6
P2 year
Fall
PHAR 534 Foundations III 1.5
PHAR 541 Patient Assessment in Pharmacy Practice 2
PHAR 544 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Cardiovascular 1 4.5
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 1 2.5
PHAR 565 Evidence-based Pharmacy II: Research Methods and Statistics 1 2.5
PHAR 603 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Respiratory/Immunology 1 2.5
PHAR 615 Continuous Professional Development II (continues) 1
SCMA 524 Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management 3
 Term Hours: 21.5
Spring
ACCT 608 Managerial Accounting Concepts 3
IPEC 502 Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety 1
MEDC 542 Biotechnology-derived Therapeutic Agents 1 1
PCEU 615 Applied Pharmacokinetics 2.5
PHAR 532 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice (satisfies M.B.A. elective) 3
PHAR 535 Foundations IV 1.5
PHAR 566 Evidence-based Pharmacy III: Drug Literature Evaluation 2
PHAR 604 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Infectious Diseases 1 4.5
PHAR 606 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Nephrology/Urology 1 2
PHAR 615 Continuous Professional Development II 1
 Term Hours: 21.5
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 540 Self-Care and Alternative and Complementary Treatments 2.5
PHAR 549 Personalized Medicine 1
PHAR 556 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Neurology 1 4
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 660 Community Pharmacy Practice Management II 1.5
PHAR 715 Continuous Professional Development III (continues) 1
Electives 2 2-3
 Term Hours: 25
Spring
FIRE 623 Financial Management 3
PHAR 533 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Patient Care 0.5
PHAR 607 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Dermatology/EENT 1 2
PHAR 618 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition 1 2.5
PHAR 619 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Women's Health/Bone 1 2
PHAR 620 Clinical Therapeutics Module: Critical Care/Toxicology and Complex Patients 1 2.5
PHAR 621 Pharmacoeconomics 2
PHAR 645 Foundations VI 1.5
PHAR 715 Continuous Professional Development III 1
PHAR 724 Pharmacy Law 2.5
Electives 2 2-3
 Term Hours: 21.5
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
IPEC 561 IPE Virtual Geriatric Case 2
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: 48.5
 Total Hours: 191
1

Course will be taught as a module.

2

Students will complete five total credits of electives over the course of the year.

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 191.

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