Earning one of the 4 Top Online Ph.D. Degree’s in Pharmacology positions you for many new career options. Currently, pharmacists work in many locations, including in community pharmacies, government agencies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice care, in medical and scientific publishing, and much, much more.
A Pharmacology Ph.D. makes you more competitive, qualifies you for these upper-level positions, and can even help you to earn a higher salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacologists earned a median salary of $126,120 in 2018, and the need for pharmacists is expected to grow by about 6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following 4 Top Online Ph.D. Degrees’ in Pharmacology programs can help you to earn your degree remotely, positioning you for these valuable career opportunities.
FINDING AN ONLINE PH.D. IN PHARMACOLOGY
Working full-time and balancing an education isn’t easy, especially if you also have family and other scheduling commitments. You may not be able to make a traditional class schedule fit around your existing schedule, and that’s why online Ph.D.s’ in Pharmacology are so helpful. These degree programs allow you to study mostly in the comfort of your own home. You can often log in at whatever times are convenient for you, making it much easier to balance your schoolwork with your schedule. Because pharmacology degrees are offered only by some universities and colleges, the ability to study online can make your Ph.D. much more accessible than it would be otherwise.
The 4 Best Online Ph.D.s’ in Pharmacology primarily consists of online coursework. However, because most of these programs require experiential training and labwork components, some travel to campus may be required. Travel is minimal and condensed to intensive sessions which often take place during the summer, but be sure to consider the cost and commitment of these on-campus sessions when deciding whether a program is right for your needs. You should also familiarize yourself with how the coursework is provided online, including whether sessions are synchronous, asynchronous, or both. These programs are all created for students who are working professionals, so they offer the flexibility that most adult learners require.
RANKING THE 4 TOP ONLINE PH.D.S’ IN PHARMACOLOGY
While you’re on your way to earning your Ph.D. or Doctorate within your field, the editors at Online PhD Programs are already practicing doctors of their craft: ranking the best online Ph.D. programs. To be featured on our annual rankings online doctorates must satisfy four coinciding requirements: accreditation, research and scholarship doctorate certification, NSF recognition, and institutional association with peer-reviewed academia.
Each degree is then ranked using the information provided – primarily – through the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. The data collected is scored through a series of weighted categories to represent seven crucial aspects of what makes an online doctorate valuable to future students. Online program quality and presence are joined by industry salaries, student reviews, degree exclusivity, costs, and completion rates to determine the best online doctorates available. For a comprehensive breakdown of how we categorize and source data, please visit our methodology page.
#1. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
Creighton University is home to one of the top pharmacy programs in the country and offers two pathways that lead to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Students may pursue an on-campus entry-level pathway, but the university also offers an accredited Distance Pathway that allows students to study online. This Distance Pathway was first introduced in 2001, and its innovative design means that distance students cover the same material that on-campus students study. Through the Distance Pathway, students interact with faculty through web conferencing, discussion boards, email, phone, and more. Some of the didactic portions of the degree take place via synchronous/live sessions, and students attend two- to four-week on-campus sessions during the summer to complete laboratory courses. Additionally, students complete eight five-week clinical rotations, and clinical rotation sites are offered in several locations throughout the country and internationally to accommodate distance learning students.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Creighton as the #3 private pharmacy school in the United States. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the School of Pharmacy was founded in 1905 and has since then become an innovator in education and distance learning opportunities. Creighton offers a quality education rooted in the Jesuit tradition, and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio means that faculty can support and interact with students. Even better, Creighton’s 3:1 student-to-faculty clinical ratio means that students receive plenty of individualized attention in clinical settings.
Format: Online
#2. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
The University of Colorado Denver offers an online Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program with two pathways – one for North American Trained students, and one for international students. The North American-Trained PharmD Program is designed for working pharmacists licensed within the United States or Canada. Students participate in didactic courses offered online. The program also requires experiential training, and students often meet this requirement with a combination of live rotations and with credit that they may receive from previous work. This program does not require students to visit the campus, making it ideal for students living throughout the United States. Alternatively, the International-Trained PharmD Program is intended for pharmacists licensed outside of the United States. While the program is mostly distance-based, it does require students to travel to campus periodically. Students must complete their experiential training through rotations within the United States.
CU Denver offers over 100 academic degrees including 52 master’s and 13 doctoral degrees, as well as many certificate programs. Students at CU Denver participate in more than 700 internships every year, and of the more than 94,000 alumni, two-thirds of them remain in Colorado. The CU Anschutz Medical Campus is located in Aurora and offers over 40 different degree programs through its six schools and colleges including the School of Medicine and College of Nursing. Today, the Medical Campus serves 4,500 students each year. In the fiscal year of 2018, the Medical Campus received $500 million in research awards, resulting in a $5.8 billion economic impact on the state of Colorado.
Format: Online
#3. HOWARD UNIVERSITY
At Howard University, practicing pharmacists can enroll in a Non-Traditional Doctor of Pharmacy (NTDP) program. This unique and innovative program allows students to take courses online at a pace that works for them. Thanks to a fast track option, students may complete the program in just two years, compared to the four or five years that traditional programs often require. Only two campus visits are required during the program, and the cost of this degree is competitive when compared to other non-traditional pharmacy programs. Faculty and students interact through the internet, and students are admitted once each fall in cohorts, allowing them to progress through the program in a supportive cohort.
Located in Washington, DC, Howard University was founded in 1876. Today, this research university consists of 13 schools and colleges offering over 120 fields of study. The university is home to over 9,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students hailing from all 50 states and 66 countries. The Howard University Hospital, College of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences make up the Howard University Health Sciences division and give students valuable hands-on experience. The university also leads in STEM education, since the National Science Foundation recognized Howard University as being the top producer of African-American undergraduates who then pursue and attain doctoral degrees in science and engineering.
Format: Online
#4. LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a four-year online Doctor of Pharmacy degree program with a Distance Education Pathway. Students begin the program with an introduction to the pharmacy profession. During the first year, they’ll learn basic sciences, and in years two and three they’ll move into clinical sciences training. In year four, students complete six rotations in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences that bring them into both community and clinical settings. Most of the coursework is offered online using both asynchronous and synchronous technology. Students must attend one- to three-week intensives at the Bradenton, Florida campus each summer. During these intensives, they’ll complete laboratory, casework, and presentations.
LECOM has campuses in both Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, along with a Bradenton, Florida location. Founded in 1922, today LECOM is the largest medical college and the only Academic Health Center in osteopathy in the United States. It is also one of the most affordable medical education options, offering one of the lowest private medical college tuitions in the country. LECOM provides its students with valuable opportunities for real-world experience through is membership with LECOM Health. LECOM Health is an academic center that includes a variety of practices, such as the LECOM Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Students have the opportunity to both learn and work in these facilities.
Format: Online