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Eligibility

While the dual degree programs are administered separately by the partner college or program, pharmacy students undergo an internal degree screening process prior to applying to a dual degree program.  The process is completed at the conclusion of the Spring PY1 semester, with the exception of the MSPS program, which has a separate program design and timeline.

Pre-pharmacy students are eligible to complete a dual degree program’s prerequisites prior to entering pharmacy school. PharmD students without a bachelor’s degree are eligible to participate in these programs, as their prerequisite and pharmacy course credit hours meet the graduate school requirements.

I chose the MBA program because I wanted to enhance my leadership skills along with my management skills.

student with glasses in suit jacket
Delaney Wright, PharmD, MBA
Class of 2020

MPH: Master of Public Health

The PharmD + MPH dual degree program is designed to prepare students to become effective leaders, practitioners, researchers, and educators in pharmacy and in public health. 

Graduates of the PharmD + MPH program are more competitive for positions in numerous agencies and organizations, including official government and regulatory agencies, not-for-profits, and the private sector (e.g. pharmaceutical industry, managed care organizations, and academic institutions).

Students can specialize in any the following core public health areas:  epidemiology, environmental health, or health systems and policy analytics.

MBA: Master of Business Administration

The PharmD + MBA dual degree program prepares students for managerial responsibilities in a variety of health care settings.

Graduates of the PharmD + MBA program pursue careers in institutional practice settings, the pharmaceutical industry, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit management organizations, and academics.

MSPS: Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The PharmD + MSPS dual degree program is designed for students that have an interest in the complete drug development pipeline, from discovery to delivery. 

  • Drug discovery
  • Drug development
  • Clinical and experimental therapeutics
  • Pharmaceutical outcomes and policy

Graduates of the PharmD + MSPS program may choose to pursue research and drug development opportunities with large pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, academic institutions, or governmental agencies. 

MPA: Master of Public Administration

The PharmD + MPA dual degree program at the University of Kentucky is designed to prepare students for careers in drug policy development and analysis.

  • Drug policy development
  • Research and analysis

Graduates of the PharmD + MPA program are prepared to serve in drug and health policy development, implementation, and analysis roles with large pharmaceutical companies, government and regulatory agencies, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and universities.

Certificates

Accentuate your resume with a certificate in a focused area of study. Receive a certificate in focus areas such as Global Health, Gerontology, Maternal & Child Health, and Public Health Management.  Graduate certificates are managed independently of the College of Pharmacy, and students must meet all program requirements for admission. 

 

Why a Dual Degree?

Hear from our recent graduates as to why they chose a dual degree and advice they have for incoming students.

We wish to remember and honor those who inhabited this Commonwealth before the arrival of the Europeans. Briefly occupying these lands were the Osage, Wyndott tribe, and Miami peoples. The Adena and Hopewell peoples, who are recognized by the naming of the time period in which they resided here, were here more permanently. Some of their mounds remain in the Lexington area, including at UK’s Adena Park.

In more recent years, the Cherokee occupied southeast Kentucky, the Yuchi southwest Kentucky, the Chickasaw extreme western Kentucky and the Shawnee central Kentucky including what is now the city of Lexington. The Shawnee left when colonization pushed through the Appalachian Mountains. Lower Shawnee Town ceremonial grounds are still visible in Greenup County.

We honor the first inhabitants who were here, respect their culture, and acknowledge the presence of their descendants who are here today in all walks of life including fellow pharmacists and healthcare professionals.