Flexible, extended pathway offers work, family balance for aspiring pharmacists
(DES MOINES, Iowa—June 12, 2025) Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is pleased to announce the launch of a new, flexible extended Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) pathway. This innovative six-year program is designed for individuals who aspire to earn their PharmD degree while balancing part-time work, family responsibilities, or other personal commitments.
The extended PharmD pathway offers a more flexible schedule compared to the traditional four-year PharmD program. The extended pathway is an excellent option for pharmacy technicians or others working in the health field who may hold an associate’s degree or who have completed some college coursework.
“We are excited to offer this extended pathway as a means to make a pharmacy career accessible to a wider range of students,” said Craige Wrenn, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences at Drake. “This program reflects our commitment to providing flexible, student-centered education and our belief that diverse experiences enrich the pharmacy profession. We hope this pathway will empower individuals who are passionate about pharmacy to pursue their educational and career goals while minimizing the impact on their existing work and family responsibilities.”
Program Details
Students in the extended PharmD pathway will benefit from a curriculum structured to be more manageable, typically requiring only three to four half days of classes per week. This design keeps the course load below 12 credit hours per semester. The first five years of the program will consist of part-time enrollment in didactic coursework, which includes early experiential components. The final year will be dedicated to full-time advanced clinical experiences.
Qualified candidates include those with an Associate of Arts degree from a community college in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, or Missouri; an Associate of Science degree from a community college in Iowa; or a Bachelor’s degree from any regionally accredited university—while meeting all of the Drake pre-pharmacy course requirements. Additionally, candidates with no degree but at least two years of college coursework (64 credits or more) may qualify once Drake pre-pharmacy and curriculum AOI requirements are fulfilled.
Interested candidates can apply through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS).