In this article, put together by The World Scholarship Forum, we’ll be listing the best pharmacy schools in Illinois. Do well to read through and make the best out of it. According to Salary.com, the average Pharmacist salary in Illinois is $140,279, but the range typically falls between $132,177 and $149,407. However, salary varies widely depending on the city, and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. As a pharmacist, your duty is to compound and dispense prescribed drugs per physician’s instructions in a hospital or healthcare facility setting. They also consult with medical staff about potential drug interactions, patient medical history, and the use of particular medications. Before we go on to list the best Pharmacy schools in Illinois, let’s briefly go through why Illinois is a perfect study destination for Pharmacy students and the necessary requirements needed to study in Illinois. See the table of contents below for a quick overview of this article.
Why Study Pharmacy In Illinois?
What differentiates Pharmacy schools in Illinois from others is the dedication to tutoring students who enhance the professional competency of pharmacy as a practice. This is normally done through instilling the standards of pharmacy practice in students; thus, improving pharmacists’ effectiveness in assuring rational drug use in society. According to IPHA, Pharmacists in Illinois ensure the effectiveness in assuring rational drug use in society and leading in the resolution of public policy issues affecting pharmacists. Furthermore, Pharmacy schools in Illinois provide students with a wide range of experiences so that each student develops and thrives in the healthcare world to become the best person he or she can be in the pharmacy industry. With the are six universities found in the state of Illinois that offer different programs pharmacy, potential students have quite a choice when it comes to finding a school that offers a degree in Pharmacy. As we go further in this post, we’ll see the list of the best Pharmacy schools in Illinois.
How Long Does It Take To Study Pharmacy In Illinois?
The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program demands at least two years of undergraduate college study followed by three-four academic years of professional pharmacy study depending on the institution. To become a pharmacist in Illinois and beyond, you must obtain the necessary degree in Pharmacy. That is to say, you must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from an authorized pharmacy institution in Illinois and pass a state pharmacy licensure exam. U.S. pharmacy institutions are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). It is also important to note that pharmacists in Illinois enjoy the liberty of work breaks in between. According to a task force in charge of the welfare of Pharmacists in Illinois, a 30-minute meal break and an additional 15-minute break is allotted to any pharmacist who worked six continuous hours. In the same vein, pharmacists who work a 12-hour shift would get an additional 15-minute break.
What Are The Requirements To Study Pharmacy In Illinois?
Students who wish to study Pharmacy in Illinois must satisfy a variety of requirements to be admitted. While some schools mandate that students complete a full undergraduate program, others only want to see that all pre-requisite classes have been completed satisfactorily. So, you are advised to go through the school’s website and look up their peculiar entry requirements. Generally, schools require at least a 3.0 overall GPA but may have higher expectations for chemistry and biology classes. Additionally, the Pharmacy College Admission Test is required along with letters of recommendation and an interview session. Here’s a list of the general entry requirements to study Pharmacy in Illinois.
How Much Does Pharmacists in Illinois Earn? Salary and Job Outlook
According to Salary.com, the average Pharmacist salary in Illinois is $140,279 as of July 27, 2020, but the range typically falls between $132,177 and $149,407. However, salary varies widely depending on the city, and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. As a pharmacist, your duty is to compound and dispense drugs per physician’s instructions in a healthcare facility setting. They also consult with medical staff about potential drug interactions, patient medical history, and the use of particular medications. It is also the duty of a pharmacist to respond to questions from patients about medications and dosage instructions. Additionally, Pharmacists may oversee pharmacy technicians.
Best Pharmacy Schools in Illinois
In the state of Illinois, prospective pharmacy students have about six universities to choose from. These six universities offer different programs in Pharmacy. The six schools that offer programs are Chicago State University, Midwestern University, Roosevelt University, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. For the purpose of this article, we’ll be listing the best pharmacy schools in Illinois according to our ranking factors: Reputation – The schools on our list are top ranking schools with good reputation. Number of Programs – Every school has a standard number of pharmacy programs they offer interested students. Therefore, the schools on our list are selected based on the number of programs offered. Accreditation – All the schools on our list are duly accredited by the authorized body.
#6. Chicago State University
With a 9:1 student to teacher ratio, the University of Illinois at Chicago empowers students with the foundation of knowledge vital to the professional pharmacy curriculum. While providing the highest quality instruction in pharmaceutical sciences, the faculty offers and improves skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, and life-long learning in future pharmacists. Program overview The Pharm.D. program at this school in Chicago can be achieved in four years. Individuals applying to the program must complete two years of undergraduate study, including courses in anatomy, speech, physics, biology, statistics, chemistry, and psychology. Students must also submit their scores from the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) as part of the admissions process. Students are required to participate in at least 41 units of professional practice hours at various pharmaceutical facilities; this is mostly accomplished during the fourth year of the program. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences encompasses several specialty areas: pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, natural products/pharmacognosy, and physiology/pharmacology. Chicago State University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
#5. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The accredited Pharmacy college offers a four-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) 2+4 program. This means that students must first complete the pre-pharmacy curriculum and then if admitted, complete the four-year PharmD program. The faculty equips students to be pharmacy professionals who will improve the health and well-being of the region and beyond. Program overview In this program, the faculty and students engage in a variety of research projects to improve drug design and development, drug delivery, and disease therapy. They also conduct clinical research designed to directly improve patient care. Edwardsville offers degree in the following programs;
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)PharmD and Master of Business Administration (MBA) concurrent degreesPharmD and Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics (MSHI) concurrent degrees
Prior to being accepted to either program, students must meet pre-pharmacy prerequisites and have completed undergraduate studies that included courses in anatomy and physiology, physics, chemistry, and biology. Students spend three years at the campus in Edwardsville and one year at a clinical location.
#4. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Studying for your PharmD at Rosalind Franklin University will engage you in interprofessional education. You’ll learn alongside your counterparts from other programs in a patient-centered pedagogical approach that encourages an understanding and appreciation of the roles everyone on a healthcare team plays in the healthcare of communities. Program overview With full-time daytime classes, the doctor of pharmacy program offered at the college of pharmacy has a comprehensive educational model that lets you complete the program in just three years. Including 9-credit hour elective courses, the entire coursework is 188.5 credits. Admission to this program requires tendering of PharmCAS application, completion of a 57-semester hour pre-pharmacy course, and other formalities.
#3. Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University allows a patient-centered and innovative learning experience to about 68 students in each class, with state-of-the-art medical equipment and highly qualified faculty and staff. The school is located at Schaumburg in Illinois. Program overview Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy equips students to be competent, compassionate pharmacists through our unique 3-year curriculum. The first two years highlight small group learning, hands-on courses, and early rotations that aims to integrate classroom learning with practical experience. Students earn their Immunization Certificate in the first term, enabling them to administer flu vaccines to patients as early as the second term. In addition to a meticulous, integrated foundational and clinical curriculum, students receive group coaching and individual support in study skills, managing time, and working in groups. Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
#2. Midwestern University – Downers Grove
At the Midwestern University Colleges of Pharmacy, you will be taught all you need to know about drug preparation and information. The expert faculty will provide you with the knowledge to prepare thousands of drugs and drug types, along with the skills to help patients understand when, how, and why to take those medications. Program overview The Downers Grove campus of this university offers a Pharm.D. degree program. Admission requirements for this program include submission of PCAT scores and completion of undergraduate prerequisite coursework (e.g., physics, human anatomy, calculus, chemistry, statistics, biology, and communications). Prospective students enroll in the program as full-time students. In your first year in the program, you will engage in interactive lectures, labs, workshops, clinical simulations, and introductory pharmacy practice experiences. With more than 20 pharmacy-related student organizations, you will have various opportunities to develop your leadership skills, serve the community, and work with professional pharmacy organizations. The program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
#1. University of Illinois
UIC College of Pharmacy offers the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. It holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Program overview The PharmD curriculum at UIC highlights a patient-centered study and provides a structure that enables students to grow into reflective healthcare practitioners. The curriculum also provides a fundamental core of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, which aims to promote the fulfillment of the adopted professional competencies for a generalist practitioner who delivers pharmaceutical care. The university has two campuses at Chicago and Rockford. Furthermore, UIC features seven college-run pharmacies, more than any other college of pharmacy in the Nation. What distinguishes Pharmacy schools in Illinois from others elsewhere is the dedication to tutoring students who enhance the professional competency of pharmacy as a practice. The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program demands at least two years of undergraduate college study followed by three-four academic years of professional pharmacy study depending on the institution. According to Salary.com, the average Pharmacist salary in Illinois is $140,279 as of July 27, 2020, but the range typically falls between $132,177 and $149,407.
Conclusion
Studying Pharmacy in Illinois opens students to a wide array of academic experience and opportunities. Therefore, it will be in your best interest if you make the best out of this article.
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