Experiential Education

The Experiential Education Program is the practice-based component of the curriculum designed to focus on the key aspects of pharmacy practice throughout a four-year timespan, from Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) to Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs). Students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-life situations in a variety of settings while working under the facilitation of a preceptor, students gain the hands-on training they need to succeed as practicing pharmacists.

Program Opportunities

First Year (P1) Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE)

The primary goal of the P1 IPPE  is for the student to gain exposure to a variety of practice settings and to begin the process of orientation to the attitudes, values and behaviors expected in pharmacy practice. The objectives for these experiences focus on the theme of “Dosage Forms.”

Students will learn the scope of pharmacy services provided by the site, identify common pharmaceuticals and dosage forms dispensed, preparing products for dispensing, and describe the medication inventory management of the site. The P1 IPPE’s take place during the winter and spring of the first year in the professional curriculum. Students will visit a total of five sites in practice settings to include: community chain, community independent, institutional, and two “elective” settings. Students visit each site once a week (four hours in the afternoon) for three weeks.

Download First Year (P1) IPPE Goals and Objectives *

Second Year (P2) Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE)

The goal of the P2 IPPE is for the student to be exposed and gain experience in the process of filling and dispensing prescriptions. The objectives for these visits focus on the theme of “Medication Use Systems.” Students will actively participate in the prescription dispensing process, develop their skill in counseling patients on OTC products, and understand the challenges of providing medications to an underserved patient. The P2 IPPE’s begin in the fall and extend throughout the entire second year of the professional curriculum. Students will visit three practice settings to include: community, institutional and an elective. Students visit each site four hours in the morning twice a week for eight weeks.

Download Second Year (P2) IPPE Goals and Objectives *

Third Year (P3) Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE)

The goal of the P3 IPPE is for the student to understand the processes and systems utilized to achieve appropriate medication outcomes in the patient. The objectives for these visits focus on the theme of “Patient Safety.” Students will participate in the procedures for monitoring medication safety, identify quality improvements of the medication use system, identify appropriate monitoring parameters for drug therapy, recognize the legal and regulatory requirements of the site and counsel patients on medications. Similar to the P2 IPPE’s, P3 students visit each site four hours in the afternoon twice a week for eight weeks. They will visit three practice settings to include: community, institutional and an elective.

Download Third Year (P3) IPPE Goals and Objectives *

Fourth Year (P4) Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE)

Beginning in June of the fourth year, students complete 10 months of advanced pharmacy practice experiences. The theme of these rotations is “Patient Centered Care.” Students build upon the information and training acquired in his/her didactic and experiential education and apply these skills in direct patient care activities. The monthly rotations include:

• Ambulatory care (two months)
• Inpatient / Acute Care General Medicine (two months)
• Community Pharmacy*
• Hospital / Health-System Pharmacy*
• Selective Leadership (with either of the above*)
• Clinical Selective
• Underserved
• Elective

Download Fourth Year (P4) APPE Goals and Objectives *