Undergraduate
There are two Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy curricula that are currently implemented in the UP College of Pharmacy.
The older BS Pharmacy that was first offered in 2005 is a 5-year competency based program. This program resulted from the paradigm shift in pharmacy practice from being product-centered to patient-centered, which emphasizes the specific health care roles of the pharmacist, increasing evidences of drug therapy problems and the development of international, regional and local standards of competency for the pharmacy profession. The additional requirement of one (1) year is necessary to prepare the students for new competencies needed, including internship, and to comply with the agreement among ASEAN and Western Pacific countries to adopt a minimum of four (4) years for professional courses to ensure acquisition of minimum entry level competencies for pharmacists.
As of 2018, incoming first year students are admitted to the new BS Pharmacy program instead of the 2005 curriculum. The revised Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program is directed towards a patient-centered pharmacy education with emphasis on more Clinical Pharmacy subjects, Pharmacotherapeutics, Introductory and Advanced Practice Experiences in different pharmacy settings, and Clerkships. The program is designed to prepare students for a one-year clerkship for the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program which will be bridged later on to the BSP Program and would be presented as six years BSP – PharmD program.
The revised 2018 BSP program seeks to:
Address the gaps between the current pharmacy education system and the expectations from the pharmacists in the actual practice;
Raise the standards for the profession in ensuring the best use of medicines and optimizing the health outcomes of patients and populations; and
Make the necessary changes for the enhancement of the practice in the country.