Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacy

Complete the online application​ or contact the DDP Office to obtain a PDF copy of the application form.

A personal statement defining the applicant's professional work experience, goals and reasons for applying to the M.S. in Clinical Pharmacy program. Statements should be limited to two pages, double spaced.

Two letters of recommendation are to be submitted through the online application. Recommendation forms will be sent electronically to recommenders listed in the online application. Contact the DDP Office with questions about this process.

Recommendations will be completed by people who know the applicant's professional, academic, and/or personal achievements or qualities well. As such, references must be from professional contacts, such as employers, supervisors, former faculty, preceptors or professional colleagues. References from clergy, family members, friends or politicians will not be accepted. ​​​​​

Scanned copy of either a driver’s license, passport or other government-issued identification. ​​

Official transcripts from the locally-approved or accredited school of pharmacy from which the applicant graduated and from any degree program(s) in which the applicant has been enrolled in since obtaining the pharmacy degree.

Applicants who receive their bachelor of pharmacy degree from outside the United States or Canada will have their transcripts evaluated through World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators(ECE). An official copy of the transcript review must be sent from the transcript review agency to the DDP Office.

Applicants must also include official transcripts from any degree program(s) enrolled since obtaining their bachelor's of pharmacy degree. If completed outside the United States or Canada, applicants must follow the transcript evaluation process through WES or ECE.​​

A non-refundable application fee of $200.00 (U.S. dollars).

The interview process is designed to assess an applicant’s communication skills and ability to perform in a positive, professional manner when working with others. To be considered for admission, applicants must participate in the interview process. The DDP office will contact applicants to schedule an appointment to complete the interview, which will be conducted via telephone. ​

All applicants must be proficient in the English language, as detailed in the program’s technical standards. Applicants can meet the English language proficiency requirements through one of the following:

• Earned a bachelor of science in pharmacy from an ACPE/CCAPP accredited U.S. or Canadian school of pharmacy (excluding Quebec).
  • Any CCAPP accredited institution outside of Canada (excluding Quebec) will also require the applicant to obtain a formal letter from their institution stating the language of instruction from their pharmacy program was in English. The letter should be presented on university letterhead, include the applicant’s name, program of completion and a signature from a school official.
• Earned a master degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Completion of an evaluation of English proficiency by taking either the internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or academic-based International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Only exam scores completed within two years of the application deadline will be accepted.

Applicants must achieve a minimum composite score of 89 on the internet-based TOEFL exam taken within the past two years. The required minimum scores for each individual exam component are as follows:

• Listening – 20
• Speaking – 22
• Writing – 21

Applicants must achieve a minimum composite score of 6.5 on the IELTS exam taken within the past two years. The required minimum scores for each individual exam component are as follows:

• Listening – 6.5
• Speaking – 7.0
• Writing – 6.0

Exam scores cannot be older than two years from the program application deadline date. If the applicant completed the exam more than two years ago, the applicant will retake the exam to complete the admissions process. ​

The DDP committee may request an applicant complete the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) on a case-by-case basis, and with the requirement that a level of Advanced Low be achieved.

The DDP office will email the applicant within two weeks of receiving the application materials to provide a status report and schedule an appointment to complete a telephone interview.

After the interview, the DDP office will email the applicant to confirm admissions into the program, or if the need to revise any application materials exists.

Acceptance into the program will be honored for one year from the start of the semester for which admissions was requested. Students who fail to enroll in any course within one year from which admission was requested may be required to reapply. ​​​

• Identify and collect information from health records that will influence optimal pharmacotherapy
• Obtain a history from patient or caretaker (e.g. chief complaint, medical medication management, financial, social, cultural, review of systems)
• Conduct appropriate physical assessment relevant to pharmacy practice

• Recognize common symptoms/complaints
• Identify drug-related problems
• Determine disease severity, chronic disease control and therapeutic goals
• Prioritize identified problems in collaboration with the patient and other health care providers

• Critically evaluate treatment options using sound scientific principles (including basic and clinical sciences) and evidence
• Consider patient specific characteristics including health literacy, cultural diversity, and behavioral psychosocial issues
• Select appropriate drug therapy (e.g. drug, dose, route, frequency)
• Select appropriate non-drug therapy
• Develop a monitoring plan
• Conduct patient education including verification of patient understanding of treatment plan
• Implement interventions to improve adherence
• Refer to other providers as appropriate

• Perform calculations required to compound, dispense and administer medications
• Dispense medications in a manner that promotes safe, accurate and effective use
• Prepare and compound extemporaneous preparations
• Carry out duties in accordance with legal, ethical, social, economic and professional guidelines

• Analyze epidemiologic, pharmacoeconomic, and pharmacogenomic data, medication use review, and risk management strategies
• Develop and implement population-specific, evidence-based disease management programs and protocols

• Comply with laws and regulations
• Apply ethical and professional principles
• Assess and improve medication distribution and control systems
• Employ effective personnel management principles
• Use sound principles of fiscal resource management

• Develop a plan for the establishment, marketing and compensation for medication therapy management and patient care services
• Use sound principles that support efficient and cost-effective utilization of resources (e.g. human, physical, medical, informational and technological)

• Identify and select appropriate drug information resources
• Demonstrate expertise in informatics by acquiring, storing, analyzing, using, and disseminating medication-related data and knowledge in a manner that optimizes patient care and health outcomes
• Evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacoeconomic implications of medications, medical devices and patient care services

• Predict, identify, evaluate and report adverse drug reactions and medication errors and recommend actions to minimize drug misadventure
• Participate in the process of conducting medication use evaluations
• Describe, evaluate and navigate a health system’s formulary process
• Compile and evaluate literature necessary to review a class of medications and make formulary recommendations that influence pharmacy benefits
• Participate in the development of policies related to medication use and health systems

• Participate in immunization provision programs
• Engage in public education programs (e.g. health fairs, screenings, brown bags, disease prevention)
• Collaborate with other organizations (e.g. governmental organizations, health organizations, business groups) to develop and promote public health policy

• Develop and maintain professional relationships with patients
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with other health care providers
• Make and defend rational, ethical decisions within the content of professional and personal values
• Respect and protect patient privacy

• Identify and analyze emerging issues (including basic and clinical scientific advances), products, and services to improve pharmacy practice and public health
• Self-assess learning needs and design, implement and evaluate strategies to promote intellectual growth and continued professional competence
• Advance oneself and the profession through leadership, service activities and participation in professional organizations

• Formulate a relevant and significant question or hypothesis
• Develop a strategy or method to answer the question or hypothesis
• Analyze available information to answer the question or reformulate hypothesis
• Provide evidence based solutions that most effectively answers the question or hypothesis
• As part of the Master’s Thesis requirement, achieve all of the above outcomes at an advanced level through an application- and evidence-based research or program evaluation project designed to enhance clinical pharmacy practice by building on a combination of the student’s awareness of a current, relevant practice issue or problem, and their learning in the program.

• Communicate and collaborate with patients, caregivers and health care professionals to engender an intraprofessional and interprofessional approach to patient-centered and population-centered care
• Provide accurate and succinct verbal or written information that is appropriate for the target audience (e.g. patient, caregiver or other health care professional)
• Identify factors (e.g. low health literacy, cultural) that influence effective communication and modify communication strategies to optimize health care interactions
• Display verbal and non-verbal mannerisms that promote empathetic, respectful and compassionate communication
• Appropriately document patient-specific information in health records
• Explain health-system related issues (e.g. pharmacy benefits, formularies) to relevant stakeholders (e.g. patients, caregivers, and health care providers)