Instructional Programs

Conferral of Degrees

The University of Hawaiʻi has been granted authority by the Board of Regents to confer the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, the Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies, and the PhD in Pharmaceutical Science.

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Degree

At DKICP, students pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. The DKICP Pharm.D. program prepares the student for entry into the profession of pharmacy. The entire program requires a minimum of six years of coursework; prerequisites may be completed in two years at UH Hilo or another regionally-accredited college or university, and the final four years at DKICP. During their four years at DKICP, students complete a minimum total of 144 semester hours of credit: 96 hours in required courses, which includes a minimum of 8 credit hours in elective professional courses, and 48 credit hours in clinical/experiential education. For more information please visit the Contemporary Curriculum webpage.

Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies Degree

Students earning the Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy Studies (BAPS) degree attain broad and thorough knowledge in the liberal arts and basic sciences, as well as specialized education in the field of pharmacy, both academic and experiential in nature. The BAPS degree also acknowledges the achievement of students who complete a minimum of four years of college education, including rigorous course work in the basic and pharmacy sciences, on their path to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Students with a BAPS degree are well positioned to take advantage of numerous educational and career opportunities in diverse areas, including positions in pharmacy, health care, or medicine, or may continue on in research, business, and academia. This degree is not designed to lead to licensure as a professional pharmacist and is available only to students currently enrolled in the Pharm.D. program at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. To request a degree audit please send a request via email to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Please make sure you obtain prior approval from the DKICP Academic Affairs office before registering for any additional undergraduate coursework. For more information please visit the UH Hilo Catalog.

Certificate in Health Science Research

This certificate is designed to give the DKICP Doctor of Pharmacy students an introduction to basic research methods as well as experience completing a research project. Students will receive an introduction to research methodology in pharmacy; this includes clinical studies, analyzing data, program evaluation and big data designs. Students will receive training in human subject research and scientific writing (e.g. research abstracts, biosketches, publishable papers, survey questions, etc.). Topics for research projects will vary based on student interest, mentors, and available data. The mission of this certificate program is to produce PharmD graduates who are more competitive for postgraduate residency programs, which are increasingly required for jobs in clinical and academic settings. For more information please visit the UH Hilo Catalog.

Certificate in Healthcare Leadership

This certificate program is designed to give PharmD students a basic foundation in business administration, with a concentration in healthcare leadership. Students who complete this program will have a better understanding of the business aspect of the healthcare industry, particularly in pharmacy practice and the pharmaceutical industry. This mission of this certificate program is to produce PharmD graduates who are more competitive for a variety of positions in the job market, particularly those involving pharmacy management, leadership, and innovation. For more information please visit the UH Hilo Catalog.

Certificate in Rural Health

This certificate program is designed to give PharmD students a concentration in both rural health science and the practice of rural healthcare. Students who complete this program will have a better understanding of the health challenges and opportunities in rural communities as well as a better ability to improve health of patients and populations within these communities. Very generally, “rural” can be defined as less densely populated geographic areas; this program introduces students to the more specific definitions of rural that are used by the US federal government and other organizations. This mission of this certificate program is to produce PharmD graduates who are equipped with the knowledge and experience needed to thrive as a pharmacist working in rural settings. For more information please visit the UH Hilo Catalog.

Veterinary Pharmacy Sciences Certificate

The Veterinary Pharmacy Sciences Certificate is designed to offer DKICP PharmD students a concentrated introduction to veterinary medicine, veterinary pharmacy sciences, veterinary prescribing and compounding focusing on jurisprudence, ethics and regulations, and veterinary communication and collaboration. Students will possess knowledge and skill base related to veterinary drug calculations, preparation, common animal diseases, pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy, as well as veterinary toxicology, veterinary endocrinology, veterinary anesthesiology and controlled substances, and gain pharmacy practice experiences through animal health-related tasks. A specialized focus on One Health and the connections among animal, human and environmental health will be emphasized. For example, the concept that humans, animals and the world we live in are inextricably linked as well as the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment. The concept behind One Health has existed for centuries. But even today studies in the areas of human, animal and environmental science are largely conducted independently, and obvious connections may be missed. As the human population continues to grow and our relationships with animals continue to evolve, understanding the interdependencies of people, animals and the environment becomes even more critical to our collective health and safety (AVMA.org). Students who complete these curricula will have a better ability to serve veterinary pharmacies, veterinarians, their patients and their clients.

Pharmaceutical Science Innovation Certificate

The Pharmaceutical Science Innovation Certificate program is designed to give DKICP PharmD students a basic foundation in pharmaceutical sciences research methods, with a focus on Hawaii’s unique ecosystem, including locally grown natural products, natural products, and other infectious diseases. Students who complete this program will understand the principle of drug discovery and development techniques and challenges, including pre-clinical research to support FDA- approval drugs. This proposed program is offered by faculty in the Pharmaceutical Sciences (educator experts in drug discovery of natural products, medicinal chemists, pharmaceutics, and pharmacologists).