title: Evolution of preprofessional pharmacy curricula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine changes in preprofessional pharmacy curricular requirements and trends, and determine rationales for and implications of modifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prerequisite curricular requirements compiled between 2006 and 2011 from all doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) programs approved by the Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education were reviewed to ascertain trends over the past 5 years. An online survey was conducted of 20 programs that required either 3 years of prerequisite courses or a bachelor's degree, and a random sample of 20 programs that required 2 years of prerequisites. Standardized telephone interviews were then conducted with representatives of 9 programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2006, 4 programs required 3 years of prerequisite courses and none required a bachelor's degree; by 2011, these increased to 18 programs and 7 programs, respectively. Of 40 programs surveyed, responses were received from 28 (70%), 9 (32%) of which reported having increased the number of prerequisite courses since 2006. Reasons given for changes included desire to raise the level of academic achievement of students entering the PharmD program, desire to increase incoming student maturity, and desire to add clinical sciences and experiential coursework to the pharmacy curriculum. Some colleges and schools experienced a temporary decrease in applicants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preprofessional curriculum continues to evolve, with many programs increasing the number of course prerequisites. The implications of increasing prerequisites were variable and included a perceived increase in maturity and quality of applicants and, for some schools, a temporary decrease in the number of applicants.
authors.affiliation: St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. bgleason@stlcop.edu
authors.forename: Brenda L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.forename: Mark V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Siracuse
authors.forename: Nader H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Moniri
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Birnie
authors.forename: Curtis T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crouch
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000639:trends; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D003625:Data Collection; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000639:trends*; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D012957:Societies, Pharmaceutical / Q000639:trends; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: admissions; prepharmacy curriculum; prerequisites