UWM, Concordia partner on dual degree pharmacy program

MILWAUKEE _ The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Concordia University School of Pharmacy have reached an agreement to offer a dual degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and a doctorate in pharmacy. In the program, students will spend three years in a pre-pharmacy program through UWM’s College of Letters and Science, then four years in Concordia’s doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program.

The dual degree program, which can be completed in seven years, would be one year shorter than completing a bachelor’s and then entering the pharmacy program. Several first-year courses in the Concordia pharmacy program will fulfill requirements for the bachelor’s degree at UWM.

“We are thrilled to partner with Concordia on this initiative,” said David P. Clark, senior associate dean of UWM’s College of Letters and Science. “Students are going to leave UWM with a solid foundation in biology and chemistry that will be built upon when they arrive at Concordia’s pharmacy school through their pharmacy curriculum. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Students in the UWM program will work closely with advisors at UWM and admissions staff at the Concordia School of Pharmacy to make sure they are completing needed pre-pharmacy coursework and are competitive in the admissions process for the pharmacy program.

“We look forward to developing other partnerships for the benefit of our students,” Clark said, noting the university already has a similar agreement with Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago that results in both the Bachelor of Science degree in biology and the doctor of podiatric medicine in a 3+4 structure.

“Additional accelerated health care-related degree programs are under discussion,” Clark said.

About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 25,000 students from 91 countries on a budget of $653 million. Its 14 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2018 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews, and the Sierra Club has recognized it as Wisconsin’s leading sustainable university.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.