Status of PharmD/PhD programs in colleges of pharmacy: the University of Tennessee dual PharmD/PhD program.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the University of Tennessee PharmD/PhD program and assess the prevalence and characteristics of PharmD/PhD programs in the United States.


METHODS
Survey instruments were mailed in May 2004 to UT dual-degree program participants and deans of US colleges and schools of pharmacy.


RESULTS
University of Tennessee PharmD/PhD students completed more than 30 hours of graduate credit before obtaining their PharmD and 72.2% agreed or strongly agreed that the program met their professional goals. More than 40% of US pharmacy colleges and schools have or plan to have PharmD/PhD programs. A wide variation exists in the level of integration, PhD concentrations offered, entrance requirements, and student benefits. Most schools with PharmD/PhD programs had few students enrolled in the program, but attrition rates were low (<20%) for 69% of the schools.


CONCLUSIONS
Dual-degree programs attract and retain pharmacy students in research programs and 47.6% of graduates entered academia and industry.
Gourley
Dick R
DR
College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, USA.
Rowell
Crescent
C
Wingate
LaMarcus
L
Yates
Charles R
CR
Gourley
Greta K
GK
Miller
Duane D
DD
Vleet
Van
V
D003479:Curriculum; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000191:economics; D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate / Q000191:economics; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000191:economics; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D013714:Tennessee