“I am going into pharmacy. I’m going to become a pharmacist,” Victoria told WCU. “I enjoy the clinical side of drugs, and I want to be able to help my patients . . . manage their medications.”

Today, Victoria is an alumna of 国产主播’s Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. She works for a major retail pharmacy chain. In this article, we share how Victoria鈥檚 purpose and persistence as a working student鈥攁nd the support of the WCU community鈥攈elped put her PharmD within reach.

• Program Name: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Campus: WCU Center for Graduate Studies, Los Angeles
• Time to Complete: 33 months
• Format: Accelerated hybrid (online + hands-on labs and clinicals)
• Admission Requirements: Prerequisite courses in science, math, and English composition/communication
• Features: 10-day NAPLEX master class review course

Finding Purpose Behind the Pharmacy Counter

Pharmacists are often one of the most accessible members of a patient鈥檚 care team. The support pharmacists offer goes beyond dispensing prescriptions or working through insurance issues. Pharmacists also administer vaccines, counsel patients on medications, and offer lifestyle advice about managing chronic conditions.

While Victoria found the clinical side of pharmacy appealing, what really drew her to the field was the opportunity to make a personal impact. “I enjoy the interacting, getting to know [my patients],” she said. 鈥淓very time they come inside the pharmacy, I can see how their health is improving, and that just actually warms my heart.”

Why Community Makes the Difference for Pharmacy Students

Victoria could have pursued her degree anywhere. She chose 国产主播 for a reason many WCU students echo: the tight-knit community.

“I really enjoyed West Coast just because it was a smaller cohort,鈥� she said. “I felt more of a connection [with my instructors], and I felt like they were more willing to understand me as a student and willing to work with my schedule if ever I needed any help.”

Victoria鈥檚 schedule was demanding: she was balancing her PharmD program with a pharmacy technician job. While the hybrid format of WCU鈥檚 PharmD made being a working student more attainable鈥攁nd Victoria valued the opportunity to apply concepts from class in the real world鈥攖here were times when she found the going tough.

Plugging Into the Broader Pharmacy Community

Victoria emphasized that building community wasn’t limited to WCU’s classrooms. She recommended that current and prospective students get involved with national professional organizations and pharmacy affinity groups early. These groups can include:

• ACCP ()
• APhA ()
• ASHP ()
• PDC (, a professional pharmacy fraternity)

Professional communities connect students with their cohort, with peers a year or two ahead, and with alumni working across the country. Those relationships can open doors to mentorship, professional development, and career opportunities long after graduation day.

How Does WCU鈥檚 PharmD Program Work?

The PharmD degree program at WCU is a hybrid-format program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Students take coursework online, then complete both sterile and non-sterile compounding labs, patient counseling assessments, community outreach, and co-curricular activities on-campus at WCU鈥檚 Center for Graduate Studies in Los Angeles.

Closer to home, students gain hands-on clinical experience supervised by licensed pharmacy preceptors. These experiences, known as Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs and APPEs), offer real pharmacy practice hours alongside classroom learning. They take place in community pharmacies, hospitals, acute care facilities, and other settings. The goal is to help you understand all the ways you can serve as a pharmacist鈥攁nd help you build your confidence as you prepare to practice.

During the final year of their curriculum, students are enrolled in a North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination庐 (NAPLEX庐) preparatory course that culminates with a 10-day master class at the end of the year. This ensures WCU students are set-up to successfully pass NAPLEX upon graduation and qualify for their pharmacist license.

Unlike traditional PharmD programs, which last four years, the WCU PharmD is designed to be completed in as few as 33 months. Plus, students don鈥檛 need to have completed a bachelor鈥檚 degree to apply鈥攁nyone who has taken the right prerequisite coursework and met grade requirements may be eligible for the program.

Advice for Future PharmD Students

Pharmacy school is demanding, and Victoria doesn’t pretend otherwise. But her message to students just starting out is grounded in her own experience of sticking with it.

“It might seem rough in the beginning, but definitely just persevere,鈥� she said in an interview on her graduation day. She also pointed out that her part-time work as a pharmacy technician had led to her post-graduation job offer with a major retail chain. 鈥淚鈥檓 just waiting to take my boards,鈥� she said in 2025, 鈥渁nd then I鈥檓 going to be a licensed pharmacist.鈥�

For students who are willing to work hard and lean on the WCU community, the rigor of the PharmD program can become manageable. 鈥淵ou got this,鈥� Victoria said. 鈥淵ou’re going to make it. You’re going to be here in three years.”

Learn More About the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at WCU

Interested in pursuing skills to care for patients as a pharmacist? Whether you’re drawn to community pharmacy, clinical care, or another corner of the field, WCU is dedicated to helping you build the skills and confidence you’ll rely on as you prepare for the next chapter of your pharmacy career.

Learn more about the Doctor of Pharmacy program at

Frequently Asked Questions About the WCU PharmD Program

How long does it take to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at 国产主播?

WCU’s hybrid Doctor of Pharmacy program can be completed in as few as 33 months鈥攕horter than the traditional four-year pharmacy timeline. Program lengths vary by schedule and session.

Is WCU’s PharmD program accredited?

Yes. The Doctor of Pharmacy degree at 国产主播 is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the national agency that accredits professional pharmacy degree programs.

Where is the WCU School of Pharmacy located?

The School of Pharmacy is based at WCU’s Center for Graduate Studies in Los Angeles, California. Students complete digital coursework delivered online, and attend scheduled in-person lab sessions and in-person experiences at the campus.

What kind of hands-on experience does the PharmD program include?

The curriculum blends lectures and team-based learning coursework, along with laboratory sessions, and experiential learning. Students complete both Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) under licensed preceptors, giving them real-world pharmacy practice hours throughout the degree.

Who is the PharmD program a good fit for?

The program is designed for aspiring pharmacists who want a hybrid, accelerated path into the profession鈥攊ncluding career-changers, pharmacy technicians looking to move into a pharmacist role, and students who value a smaller-cohort learning environment with experienced faculty.

Do I need a bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degree to apply?

No. The PharmD program accepts students who have completed the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of C/2.0 on a 4.0 scale:

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国产主播 Center for Graduate Studies students Madelyn L. and Hayley G. attended the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) Conference in Denver, Colorado, one of the largest national gatherings for current and future Physician Assistants. As the only representatives from the WCU Center for Graduate Studies in Los Angeles, CA, the pair embraced the opportunity to connect with students, alumni, recruiters, and healthcare professionals from across the country.

Though many attendees were unfamiliar with WCU or the hybrid model of PA education, Madelyn and Hayley proudly shared their experiences, helping spread awareness of the rigorous and innovative program. 鈥淧eople we spoke to had no idea what our program was or even really about hybrid programs,鈥� Hayley said. 鈥淚 think we were able to share both the pros and cons of a hybrid modality, because it’s so new overall in PA education, and explain how we’re able to still meet excellent academic standards while being hybrid.鈥�

Beyond networking, the students immersed themselves in a variety of educational lectures and workshops tailored to PA students. 鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� Hayley said. 鈥淚t was so much fun. It was really nice to see people who are in the profession, who are excited to see other students excited about the PA profession.鈥�

Hayley also noted that the experience re-affirmed her motivation for attending WCU. 鈥淲hen you’re in PA school, everything is so intense,鈥� she noted. 鈥淵ou’re just kind of in this hole, and you forget what you’re actually working towards. So that was really cool. It was just a great representation of how important PAs are in so many aspects of healthcare.鈥�

While they didn鈥檛 compete in the Student Bowl, they attended as enthusiastic spectators and took note of what would be needed to organize a future CA-based WCU team. They also explored opportunities with organizations they encountered at the conference, building connections they hope will support future WCU students.

For both students, the experience was not only professionally enriching, it was personally energizing. 鈥淸Attendees] were doing all sorts of amazing things out there and really representing our careers and our importance and what we can do in healthcare,鈥� Hayley said. 鈥淚t really got me excited for my future.鈥�

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The 国产主播 School of Pharmacy held its second annual open house this January to give prospective students a tour of the campus and hands-on demonstrations of some of the skills they would master as doctors of pharmacy.

鈥淚 hope that students can appreciate what we have to offer here at 国产主播, being the only accelerated hybrid program here in this part of the country,鈥� WCU Pharmacy Dean Kurt Wargo said. 鈥淚t’s a fantastic opportunity for them to see the campus, see what we have to offer, and then decide that this is the school they want to attend.鈥�

After a brief introduction, attendees were broken into groups to tour the campus, including stops to see classrooms, the campus library, the retail pharmacy lab, and the newly opened physician assistant suite, where pharmacy students undergo simulation activities to practice scenarios in a hospital setting. The tour’s highlight was the group鈥檚 visit to the compounding lab, where students combined ingredients like bee鈥檚 wax, sweet almond oil and lavender extract to produce homemade lip balm.

鈥淏eing an accelerated hybrid program, students can graduate in approximately 33 months,鈥� Wargo said.

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