College of Pharmacy

Program Description

The College of Pharmacy, located in the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences, offers a 3.5-year program of professional study leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The 3.5-year professional program consists of 150 semester hour credits divided into online, in-class, and experiential instruction. The first 8 semesters are a combination of didactic instruction and introductory pharmacy practice experiences. Summer didactic classes are online with self-paced and module-based coursework. Fall and spring semesters are on campus for in-person instruction. The final 3 semesters consist of ten advanced pharmacy practice experiences culminating in a December graduation.

As part of the Harding Community and the larger Center for Health Sciences (CHS), the College places an emphasis on the integration of faith, learning and living; the development of Christian scholarship; the promotion of Christian ethics; and the promotion of citizenship within a global perspective through participation in mission efforts.

The College of Pharmacy Student Handbook contains a comprehensive description of all policies and procedures that apply to pharmacy students.

Mission

Harding University College of Pharmacy seeks to graduate pharmacists who accept the responsibility of improving the spiritual and physical wellness of the world by providing patient-centered care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes delivered through the highest standards of Christian service.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States and selected non-US sites. Harding University’s Doctor of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603 312/664-3575; FAX 866/228-2631 web site www.acpe-accredit.org

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements and standards are designed to ensure scholastic success in the professional Pharm.D. program. Selecting a candidate for the future practice of pharmacy involves many important factors, including academic background, letters of reference, pharmacy experience, national test scores, and a formal interview process. Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program requires completion of a minimum of 64 semester hours* of preprofessional education at an institution within the United States accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This typically takes two years of preprofessional study.

1. Applicants should possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 (preferred) on a 4.0 scale on all previous college work; grades for all undergraduate coursework attempted are included in the calculation of the overall undergraduate GPA.
2. Grades below C cannot be accepted for any math or science course.
3. No more than 6 hours of CLEP or credit by examination will be accepted to meet the pre-pharmacy requirements; such credit must be listed on the official transcript.
4. Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be used to satisfy prerequisite coursework provided that the AP credit is accepted by the applicant’s institution and is posted on the applicant’s official academic transcript.
5. All science courses must be majors courses; non-majors courses will not fulfill the requirements.
6. The speech requirement should be fulfilled with a public speaking course.
7. The economics requirement must be fulfilled with one of the following: microeconomics, macroeconomics or financial accounting.
8. No credit toward the 64 semester hour requirement will be accepted for military science or physical education courses.
9. The calculus requirement may NOT be fulfilled with a business calculus course.

* Although only 64 semester hours are required for admission, federal financial aid eligibility for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program begins when a student has earned a minimum of 72 semester hours of combined preprofessional and graduate coursework.

Prospective pharmacy students are strongly encouraged to obtain work experience in a pharmacy setting. An example of appropriate experience is as a pharmacy technician in either a hospital or community pharmacy.

Prerequisite Coursework

The minimum specific prepharmacy course requirements are listed below. Prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to matriculation in the fall semester following admission. The Harding courses that fulfill each requirement are listed for comparison to courses at other universities. Please note that course equivalencies will be determined by Harding University.

*lab required
**no lab required
***Biology I & II, Cell Biology, Genetics, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Immunology; other biology for majors courses may be considered

Application Procedure

All applicants are required to submit a Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) application via the PharmCAS website. Students should submit PharmCAS application, application fees, reference letters, and official transcripts from each university attended to PharmCAS. Any transcripts for courses completed after the final PharmCAS deadline must be sent directly to the College of Pharmacy. Applicants should submit three letters of reference that focus on the applicant’s academic and professional abilities. Having at least one reference from a pharmacist is highly recommended. All application materials must be completed and postmarked by the application deadline to be considered for interviews.

National test scores may enhance a candidate’s application. To submit PCAT scores in PharmCAS, applicants should request scores be sent directly to PharmCAS (school code 104). The Admissions Committee reserves the right of final decision with regard to submitted PCAT scores and establishing minimum standards thresholds for applicant consideration each year.

Because admission information is updated regularly, applicants should verify current requirements on the College of Pharmacy website.

Application Review and Selection for Interview

Personal interviews are a required portion of the application process. Qualified students will be notified if they are selected for an interview. The College of Pharmacy works on a rolling admission basis. Interviews begin in September and applicants are accepted to the program on a continual basis until each cohort is full. Interviewed candidates are ranked comparatively on the criteria established by the HUCOP Admissions Committee. Applicants are notified of admission status within approximately one week of the official interview.

Offers of admission are contingent upon the successful completion of any remaining prerequisites, ability to meet defined technical standards, eligibility to obtain an Arkansas intern license, satisfactory review of a criminal background check, and compliance with established immunization policies.

Transfer Students

Harding University College of Pharmacy accepts transfer students with advanced standing; however, space is limited and because curricula in pharmacy schools vary greatly, students may not transfer at the same level achieved at the previous college. To be considered for transfer admission applicants must meet the following criteria:

   1. Be in good standing in a Pharm.D. program at another college of pharmacy that is ACPE-accredited with a minimum of Candidate status.
   2. Satisfy core prerequisites for Harding University College of Pharmacy.
   3. Have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Application materials include:

   1. Transfer Student Application.
   2. Transcripts from the current program and all undergraduate coursework.
   3. Course syllabus for every pharmacy course completed and every pharmacy course that will be completed prior to transfer.
   4. National standardized test scores (PCAT, GRE, DAT, MCAT, etc.) if completed.
   5. Four letters of recommendation:
         a. One from a supervising pharmacist (work or volunteer),
         b. Two from faculty members from the current pharmacy school,
         c. One courtesy letter from the Dean of the current pharmacy school.
   6. Letter of explanation that addresses the reason transfer is being sought.
   7. Updated curriculum vitae which includes education, employment history, and any extracurricular activities or volunteer work.
   8. Personal interview is required.
 
Application materials must be submitted to: Harding University College of Pharmacy, Office of Student Affairs and Admissions, Box 12230, Searcy, AR 72149-5615.

A minimum of 2.5 years in enrollment residence is required to receive the Pharm.D. degree from Harding University College of Pharmacy. No consideration will be given to students who wish to transfer solely to complete their Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. The Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) will review advanced standing requests and determine course equivalence. Based upon this evaluation and input from the admissions committee after review of the applicant’s packet, the ADAA will make a recommendation regarding transfer credit for advanced standing and admittance into the College.

International students

An applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must submit all application material as requested in the “Application Procedures” section. This includes completing all prepharmacy course requirements in an American college or university.

1. The College of Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs and Admissions will only review coursework completed outside the United States that has been evaluated by World Education Services (WES) www.wes.org or a similar organization. Credit may be given only for the number of hours as evaluated by WES or that is transferred to an institution within the United States accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. All of the credit accepted for transfer must appear on the transcript of an American college or university.
2. Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted if English is not the applicant’s native language. Harding University’s TOEFL code is 6267. The TOEFL is not required if an applicant completes a BA or BS degree within the United States. In lieu of these exams, students may be assessed via the required college interview.
3. Students must submit documentation of financial ability to pay all expenses for the first year of study at Harding University College of Pharmacy and demonstrate adequate coverage for health insurance in the United States.
4. Non-U.S. citizens must supply documentation of current status with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (i.e., I-20, I-94, and F-1 or H-4 Visa). International students must have a U.S. Social Security Number in order to apply for an Arkansas Pharmacy Intern License.

Other Program Requirements 

1. Technical Standards: In addition to the academic requirements for admission, candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must be able to exhibit mastery of technical standards for this field by performing the essential functions in each of the following categories: observation, communication, sensory/motor, intellectual, behavioral/social and ethical. The College is committed to enabling students with disabilities by reasonable means of accommodations to complete the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program. Some accommodations cannot be made because they are not reasonable.
   
   When a student is admitted to the College of Pharmacy, a list of the technical standards is sent with each acceptance letter. Students must respond in writing whether they can meet the standards with or without accommodations. If accommodation is requested, the student must submit documentation of disability with proposed accommodation from a certified specialist to the Office of Student Affairs and Admissions. Following admission to the College, students who fail to continue to exhibit mastery of these technical standards may be subject to dismissal from the College.
   
   The College of Pharmacy at Harding University has an ethical responsibility for the safety of patients with whom the students come into contact. It is the patent’s safety that is the driving force in establishing technical requirements.
   
   These functions include, but are not limited to:
   
   Observation: A candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, including but not limited to physiological and pharmacological demonstrations in animals, evaluation of microbiological cultures, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathological states. A candidate must be able to visually observe and interpret presented information. A candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. This standard necessitates the functional use of vision, hearing and somatic senses.
   
   Communication: A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, caregivers, and all members of the health care team. The purpose of this communication is to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communication. Communication includes speech, reading, writing and computer literacy. These skills include the appropriate use of oral and written English, hearing, reading and computer literacy.
   
   Sensory/Motor: A candidate must have sufficient motor function and skills required in the compounding of medications including using techniques for preparing sterile solutions, e.g., parenteral or ophthalmic solutions. A candidate must have sufficient motor function to gain information from patients by physically touching patients. Examples of such tasks may include assessing range of motion of a joint, blood pressure reading, and taking a pulse reading. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
   
   Intellectual (Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities): A candidate must demonstrate a fundamental and continuing ability to use critical thinking and analytical skills to independently and in collaboration with a health care team synthesize knowledge, solve problems and explain health care situations. A candidate must be fully alert and attentive at all times in clinical settings.
   
   Behavioral/Social: A candidate must demonstrate professional demeanor appropriate to his/her educational level. A candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all patient care responsibilities. A candidate must possess the ability to develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. A candidate must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. A candidate must be able to function within regulatory limits and modify behavior based on criticism. A candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. A candidate must possess compassion, integrity, interpersonal skills, and motivation to excel in pharmacy practice.

2. Ethical Standards: A candidate must demonstrate the highest level of professional demeanor and behavior, and must perform in an ethical manner in all dealings with peers, faculty, staff preceptors, and patients.
    
3. Health requirements: Applicants selected for admission to the program must provide evidence of good health, no communicable diseases, and required immunizations and screenings prior to matriculation. Forms will be available to those accepted into the program.
   
   All students are required to maintain health insurance and CPR certification.
   
   Immunizations and screening tests required are as follows:
   1. Hepatitis B series (3 doses) and a positive Hepatitis B Surface Antibody titer (blood draw). This can take up to seven months to complete.
   2. Two MMRs give at least 28 days apart or positive measles, mumps, and rubella titer. If titer is negative, students must receive 2 doses of MMR vaccine.
   3. Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (DPT, DTaP) primary series and a Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap) booster within the last 5 years.
   4. Evidence of varicella immunity is required by written documentation of one of the following: two doses of varicella vaccine given at least 28 days apart or laboratory evidence of immunity (titer).
   5. Documentation of a negative TB status. This may include a two-step Tuberculin skin test (PPD), T-spot, or Chest X-ray. PPD results must be in millimeters of induration. Students with a prior positive PPD must contact the Office of Experiential Education. A One-step PPD is required annually after admission.
   6. Influenza vaccine is required every year.
       
4. Computer Requirements: Proficiency in basic computer skills (word-processing, databases, internet searches, email) is expected of all entering students, as the curriculum incorporates the use of computer technology. Additionally, all students in the program are expected to have access to the internet. Students are required to have their own laptop computer and approved privacy screen upon entry into the program.
    
5. Equipment Requirements: All students will be expected to purchase or have the required medical equipment needed to meet program requirements. This will include acquiring an approved lab coat with a school-issued patch, a stethoscope, and a sphygmomanometer.
    
6. Liability Requirements: Professional liability insurance coverage is provided by the university for all pharmacy students as a part of the student program fees.
    
7. Travel Requirements: Portions of the curriculum require travel to various locations. Clinical experiences entail travel to clinical sites. Students must provide their own transportation to experiential sites and classroom activities. It is therefore required that all pharmacy students have a means of transportation. This includes a valid driver’s license and current auto liability insurance if transportation is to be provided through a personal vehicle. Doctor of Pharmacy students are responsible for all costs associated with travel and off campus clinical experiences. Transportation and food are the most common out-of-pocket expenses. Some sites will require additional living arrangements to be made, which will be the student’s responsibility.
    
8. Background Check Requirements: The College of Pharmacy requires a background check for admission. Once a student is admitted and the admission decision is transmitted to the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS), PharmCAS will initiate a criminal background check through Certiphi Screening, Inc. Potentially adverse background information will be discussed with the student and a decision will be made regarding how the information will impact the student’s ability to progress in the program. An additional criminal background check with fingerprinting and drug screens may be required based on experiential placements. An Arkansas pharmacy intern license is required for participation in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Inability to obtain an Arkansas pharmacy intern license would be cause for dismissal from the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Successful completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy program does not guarantee the ability to secure licensure as a pharmacist in any given state. It is the candidate’s responsibility to satisfy all requirements of state licensure including completion of internship hours, satisfactory completion of state law examination, satisfactory criminal background checks and drug screening. Harding University College of Pharmacy seeks to provide the best possible preparation for its graduates by adhering to best practice standards. Therefore, the College conducts regular random drug screenings each semester. A percentage of students in each cohort (e.g., class of 20XX) is randomly selected for participation. Selected students receive notification and instructions for compliance with the drug screening process. Any student who does not comply with the drug screening process is considered to be in violation of the College’s Code of Professional Conduct. The College bears the cost of random drug screenings. The results of all drug screenings are handled in compliance with applicable rules of confidentiality and the duty to report to state licensing agencies. Some students may also be expected to submit to random drug testing required by clinical practice sites. These additional costs are the students’ responsibility. Non-compliance with the criminal background checks and/or drug testing policies may be cause for dismissal from the program. Criminal background checks and drug screens are common pre-employment procedures.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Available scholarships and financial aid include:

Agatha Culpepper Wallace Scholarship. The recipient of this scholarship is a student with demonstrated scholarship, leadership, diligence, capability, and financial need.

Arkansas Pharmacy Foundation Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a student who has expressed an intent to practice in Arkansas after graduation, has demonstrated leadership skills, and is a member of at least one student organization affiliated with a national pharmacy organization.

Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy Rural Loan Program. This program was established by the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy to provide tuition loans to a select number of pharmacy students who intend to work in rural Arkansas communities of less than 15,000 people and which are at least 15 miles from the nearest incorporated municipality/city with 50,000 or more inhabitants. The tuition loan does not require repayment if the graduate works full-time as a pharmacist for 36 consecutive months in an eligible community.

Dean’s Merit Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to the top ten percent of the first, second, third and fourth professional year classes.

Faculty and Staff Scholarship. This scholarship was established by the inaugural faculty and staff of the Harding University College of Pharmacy to recognize superior talent within the student body and who possess strong leadership ability, academic and professional promise, and exemplify the ideals of the Harding University College of Pharmacy.

Gay Nell Hixson Memorial Scholarship. In choosing among various applicants, Harding shall consider scholarship, leadership, diligence, demonstrated capability and financial need. Recipients shall maintain a satisfactory grade point average and a good reputation among faculty and students.

Joey Baker/Emerson/Emerson, Arkansas Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a student from Emerson, Arkansas, attended Southern Arkansas University, is from Columbia County, or is an Arkansas resident.

Mark Story Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship was established by the Mark Story family and is awarded to a P3 or P4 student pursuing a focus in pharmacy management. The student will have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and good academic standing. Preference is given to those completing an M.B.A. in addition to their Pharm.D.

Richie’s Specialty Pharmacy Scholarship. The recipient of this scholarship is a student who is in good academic standing and who has financial need.

Walgreens Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student engaged in efforts to raise awareness in diversity and community outreach.

Walgreens Multilingual Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to a single student who is fluent speaking in one or more languages in addition to English with an interest in community pharmacy.

Faculty

Dean: Jeffrey Mercer, Pharm.D.

Professors:

Dan Atchley, Ph.D.
     Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Julie A. Hixson-Wallace, Pharm.D., BCPS
Rodney Richmond, Pharm.D., BCGP
     Chair of the Department of Pharmacy Practice
Forrest Smith, Ph.D.

Associate Professors:

Josh Brown, Ph.D.
Lana Gettman, Pharm.D.
Sarah Griffin, Pharm D., BCPS
     Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs
Landry Kamdem, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Debbie Knight, Pharm.D.
     Interprofessional Education and Co-Curricular Coordinator for Center for Health Sciences
Jeffrey Mercer, Pharm.D.
Henry North, Ph.D.
Melissa Shipp, Pharm.D., BCPS
Jeanie Smith, Pharm.D.
     Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions
Rayanne Story, Pharm.D.
     Assistant Dean for Experiential Education
Jim Tarrant, Ph.D.
Kwame Yeboah, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors:

Daniel Bailey, Pharm.D., BCPS
Ellen Jones, Pharm.D.
James Nesbit, B.S.Pharm., Ph.D.
Courtney Selby, Pharm.D.
Mallory Turner, Pharm.D., BCPS
Emily Wagner, Pharm.D.
Richard Ward, Pharm.D.
     Director of Experiential Education
Charlie Wright, Pharm.D., BCPS

Interprofessional education in the pharmacy didactic curriculum is delivered in conjunction with the following colleges, departments, or programs at Harding University.

College of Allied Health

Physical Therapy Program
Physician Assistant Program

College of Nursing

College of Sciences

Programs

• Pharmacy (PharmD)