Located in the heart of a renowned biomedical community, St. Louis College of Pharmacy provides a challenging learning environment where students can explore career options, develop practical expertise, and become leaders in the profession and their communities. Our graduates are equipped to think critically, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively to provide high-level care as an expert member of an interprofessional health care team.
Our Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) curriculum allows students to become pharmacists who are “team ready” and “practice ready.” The curriculum focuses on preparing students to provide interprofessional, evidence-based, patient-centered care in any practice setting, taking responsibility for achieving positive drug therapy outcomes for patients.
The Pharm.D. curriculum is delivered in our brand new, state-of-the-art Academic and Research Building and library. The 213,000-square-foot facility includes a large auditorium, technologically advanced classrooms, study areas, 30,000 square feet of dedicated research space, and a library. The technology supports learning as students study pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics in an integrated method around organ systems of the body and disease states. Liberal arts and humanities components are also integrated to provide both a humanistic and pharmacy education.
Throughout the professional curriculum, students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with patients and interact with other health professionals to enhance their ability to collaborate on an interprofessional health care team. Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) introduce students to basic principles in various areas of the pharmacy profession and help them put their knowledge into practice. During the final year of the program, students complete eight five-week Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs), collaborating with other health professionals in a variety of settings. Interprofessional education initiatives are also incorporated throughout the curriculum.
The College also provides students with the opportunity to customize their coursework through elective focus areas, deepening their understanding of a particular aspect of the profession. Students may choose a focus area and tailor their elective course selections to their own interests and career goals. International learning experiences in 15 countries around the world give students a chance to make an impact globally. Opportunities such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) offered through a partnership with University of Missouri – St. Louis are also available.
What makes St. Louis College of Pharmacy special?
Established in 1864, St. Louis College of Pharmacy is one of the oldest and largest colleges of pharmacy in the U.S. In fact, the College was the first college of pharmacy west of the Mississippi River.
The College is located in one of the nation’s preeminent biomedical complexes. Students benefit from interprofessional relationships with members of our neighboring institutions including Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Goldfarb School of Nursing, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
We were ranked one of the top four private colleges of pharmacy in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its most recent ranking of pharmacy schools (2016).
At St. Louis College of Pharmacy, a premier education is within reach. The College has the third-lowest professional program tuition out of 65 private colleges of pharmacy in the U.S., and our average student loan debt for the four professional years of the program is 38% (or $55,204) lower than the national average (American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, 2014).
Our alumni network is growing, and we have an active and engaged Alumni Association. More than 7,000 alumni represent 48 states and 14 countries. Approximately 75 percent of St. Louis-area pharmacists are STLCOP graduates.
Our successful alumni practice in a variety of settings. Alumni have founded pharmaceutical companies around the world, directed national pharmacy compliance programs and pharmacy associations, practiced as infectious disease pharmacists and oncology pharmacists at world-renowned medical centers, served in various roles with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, and invented new drugs to improve patient outcomes.
The College has proactively taken steps to ensure that our graduates are practice and team ready, and more than 80 percent of students accepted positions with their first-choice employer after graduation (2015 Graduate Employment Survey).
With a student to faculty ratio of 10:1, students in the Pharm.D. program are able to work closely with our distinguished faculty.
What else does St. Louis College of Pharmacy offer?
More than 60 organizations, fraternities, intramurals, and club sports allow students to explore their interests and passions outside the classroom.
Student-athletes participate in cross country, tennis, track and field, basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball—all at the NAIA Division I level.
Through many different community engagement opportunities, our students make a difference in the St. Louis community, nationally, and internationally.
St. Louis is a world-class city that offers many cultural opportunities, great entertainment venues, and three professional sports teams: St. Louis Rams football, St. Louis Cardinals baseball and St. Louis Blues hockey. The College is located in the Central West End neighborhood, which was named one of “Top 10 Great Neighborhoods in America” (American Planning Association, 2014)
Our campus is only two blocks from Forest Park, which includes 1,300 acres of green space, tennis courts, an outdoor ice rink, golf course, art museum, history museum, zoo, science center, and outdoor opera.