Planning Your Studies
As a student, you will begin earning your Pharm.D. at the start of the academic year in September. Students will complete a total of 11 terms. Fisher Pharm.D. Online is a full-time doctoral program, and students should plan to commit approximately three hours per week per credit enrolled. Summers one and two will require approximately 30–35 hours of didactic work per week, followed by up to four weeks of full-time clinical rotations. Year four (including the summer term) will consist of full-time clinical rotations each term.
Year One
P1 Fall
Approximately 48 hours per week.
- 42 hours of coursework, studying, and live classes
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
P1 Spring
Approximately 42 hours per week.
- 36 hours of coursework, studying, and live classes
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
Year Two
P2 Summer
Weeks 1–8
- 43 hours of coursework, studying, and live sessions
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
IPPE I: 40 hours per week for 3 weeks beginning in week 9
P2 Fall
Approximately 48 hours per week.
- 42 hours of coursework, studying, and live classes
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
P2 Spring
Approximately 48 hours per week.
- 42 hours of coursework, studying, and live classes
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
Year Three
P3 Summer
Weeks 1–8
- 24 hours of coursework, studying, and live sessions
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
IPPE II: 40 hours per week for 4 weeks beginning in week 9
P3 Fall
55–57 hours per week.
- 48 hours of coursework, studying, and live classes
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
IPPE III: 2 hours per week for 5 weeks across the fall term
P3 Spring
Approximately 56 hours per week.
- 48 hours of coursework, studying, and live classes
- 6 hours for exams and professional time blocks
IPPE IV: 30 hours total across the spring term
Year Four
Your last three semesters in the program will consist exclusively of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) rotations. Each rotation will require at least 40 hours of weekly, in-person work, with the possibility of an additional time commitment depending on your preceptor’s requirements.
P4 Summer
APPE I: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
APPE II: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
P4 Fall
APPE III: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
APPE IV: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
APPE V: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
P4 Spring
APPE VI: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
APPE VII: 40–63 hours per week for 6 weeks total.
For more information about what a typical semester may look like, you can review the course schedule.