MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Boston, Massachusetts
The College
Founded in 1823, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is well into its second century as one of the nation's oldest schools of pharmacy. One of only a few that remain private and independent, the College has the distinct advantage of quickly responding to change. That flexibility has allowed the College to expand its mission and programs over time to include a number of science and health-care programs.
With its distinguished history and an international reputation, the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is helping to redefine the roles of pharmacists, nurses, and health professionals in health-care delivery. The College's unique programs integrate theoretical and applied knowledge in the health professions with general education in the arts and sciences, so that graduates may become enlightened citizens as well as competent practitioners.
The curriculum at MCPHS is designed to develop active thinkers and learners who are prepared for fast-changing professions and a complex world. A core of liberal arts and sciences courses, or science building blocks, is built into all bachelor's degree programs. Developed by scholars and working professionals, these courses are often custom-tailored to give students practical information and valuable insights into today's health-care concerns.
The Department of Sports, Recreation and Wellness offers opportunities for all students to participate in club sports, intramurals, wellness classes, and the Wellness Center. Baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball operate as Student Government Association (SGA) clubs on campus and must comply with all SGA bylaws and regulations. The intramural program is open to all MCPHS students and faculty and staff members and is an ideal way for students to be involved with the College community. Other student activities include the Academy of Students of Pharmacy, the Black Student Union, the Indian Student Organization, the International Student Association, the Republic of China Student Association, the Vietnamese Student Association, the College yearbook, and the Dispenser (student newspaper). There are also five professional fraternitiestwo for men, two for women, and one coed.
In addition to its undergraduate programs, MCPHS offers a six-year program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.
Location
Dedicated solely to health education, the College is a highly respected institution in Boston's world-renowned Longwood Medical and Academic Area (LMA). Its location alone gives MCPHS students resources unmatched by any other program. The LMA is home to the nation's premier medical centers and educational and research institutionsa highly stimulating and inspiring environment in which to learn.
Boston is a college town in the best sense of the wordcultural, accessible, and pulsing with activity. Students can experience Boston's history along the Freedom Trail, enjoy its seafood on the waterfront, or explore its ethnic neighborhoods such as the Italian North End. Favorite spots include Faneuil Hall Marketplace; the Esplanade along the Charles River for outdoor concerts and movies, biking, jogging, and in-line skating; and the Public Gardens and Boston Common for walks, picnics, and just relaxing. The city's elaborate public transportation network (the T) connects students to all these places and many more, such as Cambridge and Harvard Square, where students might browse in bookstores and enjoy a sidewalk performance; Newbury Street for shopping and distinctive galleries; the Fleet Center, where the Celtics and Bruins play; Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox; Symphony Hall, home of the Boston Pops; and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
In September2000, MCPHS opened a new school in Worcester, Massachusetts, the third-largest city in New England. Housed in a 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility, this campus offers the three-year accelerated Pharm.D. program, which is open to transfer students who have already completed two years of preprofessional requirements at MCPHS-Boston or at another undergraduate institution. The school is located adjacent to the Worcester Medical Center and is close to the Fallon Clinic, St. Vincent's Hospital, and the medical school at the University of Massachusetts.
In 2003, MCPHS opened a third campus in Manchester, New Hampshire, offering a two-year, six-trimester postbaccalaureate program that leads to a masters degree in physician assistant studies. It is a full-time day program that includes twelve months of didactic education and twelve months of clinical education. As of September 2004, in conjunction with the School of PharmacyWorcester, the accelerated Pharm.D. program is now offered at the Manchester campus as a satellite program.
Majors and Degrees
MCPHS offers Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry, environmental sciences, health psychology, pharmaceutical marketing and management, pharmaceutical sciences, and premedical and health studies. The College also offers other innovative health-care programs, including the six-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies and a number of accelerated three-year Bachelor of Science programs, including nursing, radiologic sciences, and the Forsyth Dental Hygiene Program.
Academic Programs
Students in each of the undergraduate programs begin their studies in the basic sciences, humanities, and social sciences. First-year classes include two semesters of English, math, biology, and chemistry. After completing basic science courses, Bachelor of Science degree candidates progress to advanced courses in chemistry, psychology, pharmaceutics, and pharmacology. Students are also required to complete professional development courses such as interpersonal communications, ethics, and law courses. In addition, students must complete 12 semester hours of elective courses in the humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences, as well as 12 semester hours of general elective course work.
A significant aspect of every student's education at MCPHS is the application of theoretical knowledge in a clinical setting. For example, the sixth year of the Pharm.D. program is devoted to clinical clerkships consisting of required rotations in general medicine and ambulatory care and several elective rotations.
Off-Campus Programs
The externship/clinical experience is a very important part of an MCPHS education and is built into most programs. The programs place students in professional settings for firsthand learning and guidance as they work with a mentor from the sponsoring institution's staff. Students may choose from among more than fifty-five hospitals and 100 community practice sites in and around Boston. The College's affiliations with Boston's high-caliber medical centers, top teaching hospitals, and pharmacies ensure students the highest quality experience.
As part of its pharmacy curriculum, the College offers an optional radiopharmacy externship program in conjunction with the Massachusetts General Hospital. The program consists of an academic phase based at the College and an experiential component performed at the hospital.
In 1996, the College officially entered into a consortium called the Colleges of the Fenway. In addition to MCPHS, the Colleges of the Fenway include Emmanuel, Simmons, and Wheelock Colleges; the Wentworth Institute of Technology; and Massachusetts College of Art. Students of each of the participating institutions may take courses at any of the others, as well as use the facilities of each. In effect, the collaboration has created a mega-campus for MCPHS students.
Academic Facilities
The new $30-million MCPHS Academic Student Center opened in September 2004. The 93,000-square-foot building, the new face of MCPHS on Longwood Avenue, encases and preserves the classic columns and faade of the College in a dramatic enclosed atrium. The first floor houses a professional pharmacy lab and a multipurpose chemistry lab. An expanded and modernized library and technology center is located on the second floor, while the top four floors are apartment-style residences for 230 students.
Costs
Tuition for the preprofessional curriculum is $19,600 per academic year. Tuition for the professional curriculum is $23,000. Room and board costs are $10,570. Additional fees and the cost of books are estimated at $2580.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is both merit- and need-based. A combination of various forms of aid is usually offered to meet the established needs of each qualified student. The College administers Federal Work-Study Program awards, Health Professions Student Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and Federal Perkins Loans as well as in-house scholarships. The priority deadline for application is March1, and notification is made on a rolling basis. Approximately 90 percent of the students at the College receive financial aid.
Faculty
There are 141 full-time faculty members, with an additional 500 adjunct and clinical faculty members who support the programs. Ninety percent of the faculty hold the highest degree possible in their field. Classes are taught by regular and adjunct faculty members, not by team-teaching assistants.
Student Government
The Student Government Association is an elective body charged with appropriating funds for and monitoring student activities, overseeing class elections, and functioning as the voice of the students and their interests. Its membership includes the dean of students, 18 st
udent representatives, and 2 faculty representatives.
Admission Requirements
No single standard is used in the admission decision-making process. All applicants are considered without regard to race, sex, color, or creed. Each applicant's high school record, curriculum, and class standing are evaluated along with official test scores. The required secondary school background is 4 years of English, 3 years of college-preparatory math, 2 years of a laboratory science (biology and chemistry), and 1 year of history. Applicants must also submit scores on the SAT or the ACT. The TOEFL is required if English is not the applicant's first language. An interview is highly recommended.
Advanced standing of up to one year may be given on the basis of results on the College Board's Advanced Placement examinations. The College subscribes to the early decision plan.
Transfer students are accepted into all of the undergraduate majors, provided they have completed high school biology, chemistry, and algebra II (or its equivalent at the college level). Students must submit official transcripts from all colleges attended. Recommendations and personal statements are required. A student with less than 30 semester hours of college course work must submit a high school transcript. The application deadline is January 15 for freshmen and Worcester students. February 1 is the application deadline for Boston transfers.
Application and Information
For application forms or information, students should contact:
