title: A pharmacy political advocacy elective course.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and implement an elective course to increase pharmacy students' awareness of legislation that might affect the pharmacy profession and to promote advocacy for the profession.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students participated in class discussions regarding current legislative issues and methods to advocate for the pharmacy profession. Assignments included a student-led presentation of the advocacy agendas for various pharmacy organizations, a take-home examination, participation in class debates, and a legislative presentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight students enrolled in the elective course over 3 years. Assignments and class participation were assessed using grading rubrics. At the end of the semester, students completed a questionnaire to assess the overall benefit of the course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in an elective course devoted to pharmacy political advocacy increased awareness of legislation and the desire to become involved in pharmacy organizations to promote the pharmacy profession.
authors.affiliation: South Carolina College of Pharmacy, USC Campus, 715 Sumter Street, CLS 314A, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. blake@sccp.sc.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Patricia H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Powell
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007885:Legislation, Pharmacy; D008297:Male; D011057:Politics; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult