PharmD/MBA

Current Western New England University PharmD candidates can apply for admission to the PharmD/MBA Dual Degree Program upon completing at least one semester in the PharmD program. Applicants will be evaluated based on their performance to date in the PharmD program, including their undergraduate academic record, and their exam results for the GMAT or GRE. The MBA has three prerequisites that are required for admission: accounting, finance, and statistics. Applicants who have not completed these courses previously may be able to begin the program on a provisional basis while fulfilling any prerequisite requirements.

Master's Application Requirements

Dual degree candidates will be billed in four installments once they register for their first graduate business course. A charge will be posted for a total of four semesters. The installments will be based on current graduate tuition rates and will be adjusted annually. As a result of the cross-credits shared by both degree programs, dual degree candidates will save over 50% in tuition. Candidates completing graduate business courses after the four installments are paid will not be charged for any remaining graduate business courses.

Graduate Tuition

The PharmD/MBA Dual Degree Program offers a unique opportunity for learners interested in the practice of pharmacy in a business or managerial environment. In a highly coordinated structure, you can complete the coursework requirements for the MBA degree in the same time it takes to earn the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Learners enrolled in the PharmD at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences can apply to the College of Business for enrollment in the MBA following one semester in the PharmD. MBA coursework can be completed online concurrently with PharmD coursework and during semester breaks. You must be in good standing with both programs to remain enrolled in the PharmD/MBA Dual Degree Program. Below is one possible configuration* for the course of study in the program.

*MBA course schedule is based on the tentative projected course offerings.

First Professional Year (PY1)

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Fall and Spring Semesters

College of Business
Spring Semester: Complete the following online, self-study modules if needed: Statistics and Financial Analysis (Accounting and Finance) through responsive.net. Contact Graduate Admissions for additional details.
Summer Semester (May–August): BUS-610 Business and Its Environment, 3 cr.

Second Professional Year (PY2)

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Fall and Spring Semesters

College of Business
Fall Semester: MAN-605 Leadership, Problem Solving, and Decision Making, 3 cr.
Spring Semester: BAIM 620 Decision Modeling for Analytics, 3 cr.
Summer Term (May–August): AC-630 Accounting for Decision Makers, 3 cr.

Third Professional Year (PY3)

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Fall and Spring Semesters

College of Business
Fall Semester: MAN-610 Organizational Behavior and Theory, 3 cr.
Spring Semester: BAIM-610 Information Technology Management and Applications, 3 cr.
Summer Term (May–August): FIN 630 Managerial Finance, 3 cr.

Fourth Year (PY4)

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Summer, Fall, and Spring Semesters

College of Business
Fall Semester: MK-640 Marketing Management, 3 cr.
Spring Semester: BUS-680 Strategic Management, 3 cr.

**The MBA will not be awarded without a completed undergraduate degree or PharmD.**

Pharmacy Cross Credits Applied to MBA (Minimum Grade "B-" or higher)

• PHAR517 – Healthcare Policy and Delivery (2 credits)
• PHAR520 – Healthcare Communications (3 credits)
• PHAR616 – Practice Management I (2 credits)
• PHAR626 – Practice Management II (2 credits)
• PHAR716 – Pharmacy Law I (2 credits)
• PHAR726 – Pharmacy Law II (2 credits)

Why should I get both degrees?
The PharmD provides you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a practicing pharmacist clinician. By adding an MBA, you will gain the expertise to be a competent manager of pharmacy personnel, resources, and technology, whether the business is a community pharmacy or a global pharmaceutical corporation. In the profession of pharmacy today, often a pharmacist’s professional advancement is based on both one’s professional competency as well as one’s business acumen.

Why don’t I just wait and get my MBA later?
Completing the PharmD/MBA Dual Degree Program at Western New England saves you time and money. By following the structured plan of study, you will earn both of your degrees at the same time. The program design allows for 15 credits of business and pharmacy coursework to count towards requirements in both programs (6 in the pharmacy program and 9 in the business program). This reduces the cost of the MBA by 50 percent.

Are the MBA courses and PharmD courses on the same schedule?
Yes, both the PharmD courses and MBA courses are offered in a traditional, 15-week Fall and Spring semester format. The College of Business will also offer graduate courses during the 12-week Summer semester. The Summer semester allows for MBA coursework to be completed during breaks in the pharmacy curriculum.

Great! When can I start taking courses?
Toward the end of your first year, you may begin completing the pre-requisite knowledge requirements for the MBA program. You can start your first MBA course in July after the completion of your first professional year of the PharmD.

What if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions, please contact Matt Fox in Graduate Admissions at 413-782-1410 or mfox@wne.edu.

MBA courses are offered online asynchronously with ‘at-your-pace’ learning via Kodiak, WNE University’s Desire2Learn (D2L) Learning Management System. In this dynamic online delivery classroom, you will be able to learn course content while interacting with faculty, fellow students, guest professionals, alumni, and clients from the comfort of your home, business, or mobile device.

The best business schools in the world are accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Western New England University is the only private institution in western Massachusetts accredited by AACSB International and among fewer than 5% of business schools in the world to hold this accreditation.

Accreditation