Traditional vs. Distance Education Doctor of Pharmacy Pathways

[JavariPharmD23]

So I'm currently a pre-pharmacy student researching PharmD programs. I came across some online Doctor of Pharmacy programs and I was wondering are there any former or current distance education pharmacy students out there that could tell me what it's like? Is it more difficult? Does you feel like the program prepared you for the NAPLEX and MJPE exams? Any information helps. I'm also curious about Duquesne University's Doctor of Pharmacy weekend program...if anybody has a clue what that is like let me know as well.

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[pencilandpen]

wow theres online pharmacy programs now? holy **** this profession is even more of a joke than i thought it already is....

anyway NAPLEX publishes the annual pass rates for schools, i would avoid any school that has sub 75% pass rate.

 

[PA_dud3]

It's not really "online" per se. At least for my school it is a real time "live stream" of lectures being given at the home campus to a campus further away. Everyone still sits in a classroom with other students while the "actual class" is displayed on a monitor.

Personally I feel like one would be at a disadvantage if you went the distance learning route. Less access to faculty and of course almost no access to the professor. I feel like the reason for my school's distance learning program is to accommodate people who don't live closer to the main campus.

 

[radio frequency]

wow theres online pharmacy programs now? holy **** this profession is even more of a joke than i thought it already is....

These have existed since before you entered pharmacy school...

 

[FinallyOnTrack]

It's not really "online" per se. At least for my school it is a real time "live stream" of lectures being given at the home campus to a campus further away. Everyone still sits in a classroom with other students while the "actual class" is displayed on a monitor.

Personally I feel like one would be at a disadvantage if you went the distance learning route. Less access to faculty and of course almost no access to the professor. I feel like the reason for my school's distance learning program is to accommodate people who don't live closer to the main campus.

Creighton requires students to go to the campus every summer for their labs.. but everything else is done online and the students can watch the lectures anywhere / anytime..

I’m almost positive LECOM is the same way as well.


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[Saisri_PharmStdnt]

I will be applying to Creighton's distance program this cycle. They had the 1st distance pathway for Pharmacy beginning in 2001.

For me, with a job and family, going to school online makes the most sense. It'll still be difficult. They still monitor all of your test taking and such via software and someone proctoring via your webcam.. Personally, I'm ok with reaching out to professors through email as opposed to face to face because then I have their answers in writing 🙂

 

[JavariPharmD23]

wow theres online pharmacy programs now? holy **** this profession is even more of a joke than i thought it already is....

anyway NAPLEX publishes the annual pass rates for schools, i would avoid any school that has sub 75% pass rate.

Med schools have distance education programs as well...I hate when people say this profession is a joke

 

[beautifulrobot]

Med schools have distance education programs as well...I hate when people say this profession is a joke

Interesting. What are these medical schools?

 

[asian pharm]

So I'm currently a pre-pharmacy student researching PharmD programs. I came across some online Doctor of Pharmacy programs and I was wondering are there any former or current distance education pharmacy students out there that could tell me what it's like? Is it more difficult? Does you feel like the program prepared you for the NAPLEX and MJPE exams? Any information helps. I'm also curious about Duquesne University's Doctor of Pharmacy weekend program...if anybody has a clue what that is like let me know as well.

I can understand distance learning, as it has been there for long time now; but what is a "weekend program"?

 

[Saisri_PharmStdnt]

Interesting. What are these medical schools?

I found it interesting, too, so I did a search.. I found a previous discussion here on these boards from a few years ago:

Online MD degree!?

 

[JavariPharmD23]

I can understand distance learning, as it has been there for long time now; but what is a "weekend program"?

A PharmD program at Duquesne University basically all of your classes are on the weekends for 4 years

 

[Kelp103]

I loved the distance program. I was able to have 2 jobs (1 retail, 1 hospital) in pharmacy school (obviously, not full time 😛). Most of my classmates were parents. The difficulty is that you really have to be able to manage your own time. So that just depends on how you are. Like I said, I loved it. The only real downside (for me at least) is that it is harder to get leadership positions and you obviously miss the cool stuff on campus. The campus class does try really hard to include distance students, but obviously some things just don’t work logistically. I was never a big “go speak to the professor in person” person, so that never bugged me. I was prepared for the NAPLEX (but really believe that has a lot to do with the individual).

 

[beautifulrobot]

I found it interesting, too, so I did a search.. I found a previous discussion here on these boards from a few years ago:

Online MD degree!?

It's not an LCME accredited MD program.

"Notice: The MD degree issued by Blue Marble University can never be used for physician licensing purposes, to satisfy any education requirements for licensing as a physician or other licensed health care provider, or for any work involving direct patient care."

I did a search as well, and was unable to find any distance learning MD programs (that are actually accredited and serve as a pathway to becoming a licensed physician).

 

[pencilandpen]

It's not an LCME accredited MD program.

"Notice: The MD degree issued by Blue Marble University can never be used for physician licensing purposes, to satisfy any education requirements for licensing as a physician or other licensed health care provider, or for any work involving direct patient care."

I did a search as well, and was unable to find any distance learning MD programs (that are actually accredited and serve as a pathway to becoming a licensed physician).

so exactly what is the point of this degree then? just to have a fancy .MD title after their name?

 

[SpartanWolverine]

so exactly what is the point of this degree then? just to have a fancy .MD title after their name?

From their website:
"We are not intending to train any physicians, but rather our MD degree is in the nature of an Executive MD degree useful in a surprising variety of non-clinical pursuits including ObamaCare Administration, medical research, pharmaceutical and medical device development, and hospital management, to name a few. In order to operate successfully in medically related fields, it is useful to know the language of medicine,and you will only get that if you train in the medical arts.”

Let's let "Julia" explain it.

 

[beautifulrobot]

so exactly what is the point of this degree then? just to have a fancy .MD title after their name?

Beats me. If someone wants to learn about medicine but not be a clinician they could get a PhD in medical science and at least have the training to do research. There's lots of nonclinical work that MDs do, but it's because their clinical training during school and residency is applicable to those nonclinical settings, not just because they have an MD. Getting this Blue Marble degree seems to put you in an even worse position than someone that completes a traditional MD and isn't able to match and complete residency. I'm not sure who enrolls in this kind of degree program and what benefit they are able to get out of it.

 

[Lnsean]

I found it interesting, too, so I did a search.. I found a previous discussion here on these boards from a few years ago:

Online MD degree!?

You can't sit for the boards.

 

[Zelda840]

I am in Creighton's distance program. Feel free to ask any questions you have either here or through pm. All lectures are recorded. It is extremely helpful to have that 2x speed option. You take the exams on the same day as campus students, but you have someone proctoring online while you take them from home. You need to come to Omaha for 2-3 weeks each summer for hands on labs.

Because I have a pretty decent-paying job outside pharmacy, it's actually cheaper for me to go here even though it's an expensive school because I still work nearly full-time, so I don't have to take out as many loans. I would really evaluate yourself and your situation critically before making the leap. You have to have a lot of discipline and time management skills and a realistic picture of the financial situation. It's not for everyone, but for me it works.

 

[njac]

These have existed since before you entered pharmacy school...

I know the Creighton program is well respected, and I was impressed with the one student I had from them.

Hopefully the other programs continue a similar standard.


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[Saisri_PharmStdnt]

I am in Creighton's distance program. Feel free to ask any questions you have either here or through pm. All lectures are recorded. It is extremely helpful to have that 2x speed option. You take the exams on the same day as campus students, but you have someone proctoring online while you take them from home. You need to come to Omaha for 2-3 weeks each summer for hands on labs.

What surprised you the most about the distance program (good or bad)?