Status of PharmD/PhD programs in colleges of pharmacy: the University of Tennessee dual PharmD/PhD program.

OBJECTIVES To describe the University of Tennessee PharmD/PhD program and assess the prevalence and characteristics of PharmD/PhD programs in the United States. METHODS Survey instruments were mailed in May 2004 to UT dual-degree program participants and deans of US colleges and schools of pharmacy. RESULTS University of Tennessee PharmD/PhD students completed more than 30 hours of graduate credit before obtaining their PharmD and 72.2% agreed or strongly agreed that the program met their professional goals. More than 40% of US pharmacy colleges and schools have or plan to have PharmD/PhD programs. A wide variation exists in the level of integration, PhD concentrations offered, entrance requirements, and student benefits. Most schools with PharmD/PhD programs had few students enrolled in the program, but attrition rates were low (<20%) for 69% of the schools. CONCLUSIONS Dual-degree programs attract and retain pharmacy students in research programs and 47.6% of graduates entered academia and industry.