Why Ole Miss Pharmacy?
It’s simple, and yet hard to define: the Ole Miss Pharmacy phamily
It’s not just because of the rankings, accolades or awards (although we’d love to tell you about them).
The Ole Miss Pharmacy phamily is a unique atmosphere of support and fellowship that fills the school, created by professors who are Friends of the Students, classmates who work together to and a common mission of improving the health and well-being of people in Mississippi and beyond.
And it’s because of what follows.. hundreds of hours of community service, collaborative research and a culture of patient care above all.
It’s because of interprofessional education that pushes you to improve and innovate within healthcare.
It’s because of the friends you make even before you come to campus. (Early Entry photo and link)
At Ole Miss Pharmacy, we support you so you can support those who need it most. (photo of a student helping a patient)
Is pharmacy right for you?
Are you a highly-motivated student with a strong interest in science, health care or research? Do you have a passion for patient care or a desire to contribute to the future of health care? One of the over 600 career pathways in pharmacy may be for you.
What do pharmacists do?
Pharmacists ensure patients get the right medications in the correct doses, keep track of all medications patients take to prevent harmful interactions and offer advice to physicians and patients to help manage their medication therapies. Pharmacists also have the authority and ability to administer immunizations and help patients manage chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Many pharmacists practice in independent, chain or supermarket pharmacies, while others practice in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health care organizations and even veterinary clinics. They also work in the pharmaceutical industry, law enforcement and government, as well as private companies and universities.
Why pharmacy?
Pharmacists are the top #2 and #3 highest paying jobs in the United States. Average annual starting salaries of our recent graduates range from $105,000 to $122,000, depending upon where they practice. Few degrees match a pharmacy degree’s versatility, value and return on investment.
And on top of that, pharmacists have the unequaled privilege of making a real and positive contribution to the lives of patients who are impacted by their work. Pharmacists are a vital part of a health care team and their innovations and care are transforming the future of health care.
The journey to becoming a pharmacist
To become a pharmacist, one must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and pass the national licensure exam. Earning a Pharm.D. from the University of Mississippi requires seven years of collegiate study, including three years of pre-pharmacy courses during undergraduate studies and four years of professional pharmacy course work.
Students apply to the professional pharmacy program after completing pre-pharmacy coursework during undergraduate studies. Following the first year of pharmacy professional courses (the fourth year of undergrad), students earn a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS).
The first and second years of professional coursework take place in Oxford on the Ole Miss campus, while the third year takes place at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. The fourth and final year is spent on rotations in and around the state.
Why Ole Miss?
The University of Mississippi pre-pharmacy program is unique among public colleges of pharmacy in that the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) major is administratively housed in the School of Pharmacy. As such, advising of pre-pharmacy students is conducted by School of Pharmacy staff and administrators. The School of Pharmacy will assure that all pre-pharmacy courses are offered at appropriate intervals so that students can complete the pre-pharmacy program in a timely manner.
Our degree programs foster mastery of the practical and theoretical knowledge and analytical, communications and teamwork skills needed in today’s rapidly changing health care environment. Because of this balance of knowledge and skills, our graduates are leaders and managers in biomedical research companies, hospitals, government agencies, universities, trade organizations, Fortune 500 companies and every imaginable pharmacy practice setting.
Job placement
Pharmacists enjoy one of the highest employment rates of any profession in the country. Most UM Pharm.D. students receive job offers months before they graduate and begin work within weeks of graduating.
Impeccable credentials
Our curriculum provides ample opportunities to assess and counsel patients, monitor their drug therapies and dispense their medications. As a result, our students’ five-year pass rate on the national licensure exam is 91.15 percent, which is higher than the national average. (Updated February 22, 2018.)
Highly affordable
With Ole Miss tuition among the nation’s lowest and many of our programs among the nation’s finest (e.g., Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College), our students often say Ole Miss provides a private education at a public school price.
Prolific scholarship opportunities
UM pharmacy students who maintain a 3.5 grade-point average receive scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Additional scholarships are awarded to students who earn 4.0 GPAs. The scholarships, which increase as students progress through the curriculum, reward academic performance and are entitlements for which students need not apply.
Safe and beautiful campus
Our Oxford campus is the second safest in the SEC and among the top 20 safest campuses in the nation. It’s also the most beautiful.
Outstanding faculty
Our energetic and talented research and teaching faculty members successfully secure extramural funding for their internationally competitive research, enabling them to share emerging scholarship with students in state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories.
Special places
Oxford Campus—Pre-pharmacy and pharmacy students take classes on UM’s main campus in Oxford, one of the best college towns in America. Our students enjoy such activities as shopping and fine dining on the historic Oxford Square, visiting William Faulkner’s home Rowan Oak and fishing, camping and kayaking on Sardis Lake.
Jackson Campus—Students in the third professional year move to UM’s Medical Center in Jackson for active learning and practice experiences. Jackson is the center of the state’s bustling medical enterprise and provides numerous opportunities for students to begin their career-long interaction with physicians, nurses and other health professionals.
Superb clinical training
Our students practice what they learn in their classrooms and laboratories by working with patients under the supervision of a faculty member or licensed pharmacist. Many of these practical experiences take place at the UM Medical Center, where students apply their therapeutics knowledge and hone their skills in ambulatory care, cardiology, critical care, internal medicine, nutrition support, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatry and other specialties.
Nurturing mentors and preceptors
In addition to its 100 full-time teaching and research faculty, the School of Pharmacy has more than 350 pharmacists serving as preceptors at 160 sites in Mississippi and the Mid-South. These preceptors acquaint our students with patient care in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings during their professional rotations. These firsthand experiences prepare our students to practice wherever they choose.
Friends for life
With enrollment limited to 115 students in each year of our professional program, opportunities abound for developing personal and professional friendships with faculty, preceptors, staff and other students. Many of those friendships will last a lifetime.
Strong alumni network
In addition to its faculty, administrators and preceptors, our school’s alumni take pride in supporting and mentoring our students. They know the value of a pharmacy degree and want to share their experience.
Remarkable involvement
UM’s more than 200 student organizations provide ample opportunities for your child to get involved in philanthropic, recreational and professional activities and develop leadership, communications and teamwork skills.
Accreditation
The University of Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and its Doctor of Pharmacy program was reaccredited in 2012 for the maximum eight years by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
Pass rates and graduation
The pass rate on the national licensure examination for the 2017 graduating class was 91.15 percent, and 86.1 percent of the entering professional class in August 2013 graduated with their Pharm.D. degree prior to September 2017. (Updated February 22, 2018.)
Campus visits
The best way to find out what the UM School of Pharmacy has to offer is to visit our campus. To schedule your visit to experience Ole Miss firsthand, please call the admissions office at 662-915-7226 anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or go to admissions.olemiss.edu/visit. We would be happy to personally show you why the UM School of Pharmacy is right for you.
Link to admissions
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