Dual Degree & Certificate Programs

Set Yourself Apart with a Dual Degree or Certificate

Current pharmacy students who have earned their bachelor's degree can choose to specialize as a part of their PharmD experience and expand their career opportunities with a dual master's degree or certificate. The College of Pharmacy collaborates with schools across our Duluth and Twin Cities campuses to offer admitted pharmacy students the ability to earn a Masters in Business Administration, Health Informatics, or Public Health, or a certificate in Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices. This is done while simultaneously completing the PharmD Program.

For PharmD students that did not take the PCAT exam: Be sure to check with each degree program to ensure you have the most accurate information prior to applying; you may still need to submit scores for the GMAT/GRE.

  •  Carlson MBA: Students may apply for a GMAT/GRE waiver.
  •  Labovitz MBA: GMAT required (PCAT, GRE, or CPA exams may be substituted).
  •  MHI: GRE is required (PCAT may be substituted).
  •  MPH: GRE or PCAT no longer required.

Questions about Applying, Timing, or Program Logistics?

Katie Vukelich
Dual Degree Coordinator, Student Advisor & Engagement Coordinator
218-726-6038
vukelich@d.umn.edu
 
Review the Dual Degree Student Guide for details and feel free to reach out to additional contacts listed under each degree program below for support with application requirements, coursework organization, where past PharmD/dual graduates are currently working, and more.

Questions about Career Opportunities?

Caity Frail, PharmD, MS, BCACP

caity.appointments.umn.edu
ckfrail@umn.edu

PharmD / Masters of Business Administration

Pharmacists with an MBA can enter into management or leadership positions within a wide variety of pharmacy settings, creating efficient, effective care delivery systems. We offer 4-year and 5-year PharmD/MBA dual degree options, both of which are AACSB accredited and ranked #1 and #2 in Minnesota.

Carlson School of Management

Carlson School of Management

The 5-year Carlson program is structured full-time and in-person in Minneapolis for 1.5 years. Students complete 3 years of PharmD courses on their home campus, complete pharmacy rotations for one summer, then attend the MBA program full-time during fall and spring semesters of their 4th year. Students then finish pharmacy rotations during the summer and fall semesters of their 5th year (earning their PharmD), and then complete a final semester of business courses to earn their MBA in the spring of year five.

Program Information

Carlson School of Management Contact

Larissa Lavrov
Associate Director Admissions & Recruiting
612-625-5555
llavrov@umn.edu  
ftmba@umn.edu

Labovitz School of Business and Economics

Labovitz School of Business and Economics

This program is only available to PharmD students on the Duluth campus.

The 4-year Labovitz program offers evening and weekend classes during fall and spring semesters of the PD1-4 years. This program requires fewer credits of MBA-level coursework, but also requires some undergraduate-level prerequisite courses (which may be waived if students have prior business coursework or experience). Students also have the option to take courses from the Rochester campus, which meet for a couple weekends each month in a shortened format. Students typically complete the majority of MBA coursework during their PD1-3 years, finish remaining courses during their PD4 year, and then graduate with both degrees at the end of year four.

Program Information

Labovitz School of Business and Economics Contact

Dr. Ariuna Taivan, PhD
Director of MBA Programs and
Associate Professor of Economics
Labovitz School of Business and Economics

PharmD / Masters of Health Informatics

Health informatics is an interdisciplinary field that applies computer, information, and cognitive sciences to promote the effective and efficient use and analysis of information to improve the health, well being, and economic functioning of society. There is a critical need to develop information systems that lead to more effective decisions and greater efficiency within the healthcare industry, which coincides directly with the work of pharmacists facilitating medication management, patient safety, and addressing the rising costs of care.

Institute for Health Informatics

Institute for Health Informatics

The MHI program is structured as a part-time program with courses offered online. Students can start taking MHI courses their first semester to get a feel for the content, then apply in the spring to be admitted to the dual degree in fall of their PD2 year. The remainder of the health informatics coursework is spread over the PD2-4 years, so students graduate with both degrees at the end of year four.

Program Information

Institute for Health Informatics Contact 

Dr. David Pieczkiewicz
Director of Graduate Studies
Clinical Associate Professor
piecz@umn.edu 

PharmD / Masters of Public Health

The role of today’s pharmacist is evolving into an active participant in managing chronic disease and expanding team-based care to protect the health of our population. The role of public health coincides with the work of a pharmacist by providing education on policy, patient education, and population management. Public health pharmacists are involved in advanced pharmacy practice, health policy development, emergency and humanitarian response, global health, and many other areas. This dual degree path offers training in health education, health promotion, and disease prevention interventions.

School of Public Health

School of Public Health

The MPH program is structured as part-time, with most courses offered online in fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students typically apply spring of PD1 year, take MPH courses over the summer after their PD1-2 years, complete remaining courses during fall/spring semesters as a PD2-3, and graduate with both degrees at the end of year four.

Program Information

School of Public Health Contacts

Public Health Practice Director
Jeff Bender, DVM, MS

Program Coordinators
Ned McCully - prospective student contact
Katie Keyser - admitted student contact
php@umn.edu

Faculty Contacts

These faculty work with students to select projects and rotation experiences for the MPH dual degree:

Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices Certificate

With increasing student and practitioner interest in exploring culture, spirituality and healing options, including the use of integrative therapies, the Center for Spirituality and Healing offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Integrative Therapies & Healing Practices. This innovative, interdisciplinary graduate program enables healthcare students and healthcare professionals to acquire advanced knowledge and skills to enhance their professional careers and their own lives, as well as the lives of their patients.

*Update as of May 2021:

  • Students can only register for 5 credits under their PharmD career, which are included in the PharmD tuition band.

  • The remaining 7 credits must be registered under the Graduate career directly, and additional tuition will be charged.

  • Regardless of which career you register under, the College of Pharmacy will still count all CSPH courses toward the 15 credits of electives required.

Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing

Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing

Students will take CSPH courses for their pharmacy electives during fall/spring semesters as a PD1-3 student, then apply for the certificate when they are within two semesters of finishing CSPH coursework.

Program Information

Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing Contact

Student Services and Academic Programs Coordinator
Erin Fider
fider002@umn.edu
(612) 624-5166

Doctor of Pharmacy