University of New England and Saint Joseph’s College pave pathway to pharmacy school

University of New England and Saint Joseph’s College pave pathway to pharmacy school
Photo credit: Evan Loignon/Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Students at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine who are interested in becoming pharmacists have a new pathway to their career, thanks to an agreement with the University of New England.

Today’s pharmacists are doing far more than working behind pharmacy counters. They serve as wellness and medication experts and invaluable members of integrated health care teams. As the field of pharmacy continues to expand, UNE and SJC are partnering to train qualified health professionals to care for the state.

The partnership between Saint Joseph’s College (SJC) and the University of New England College of Pharmacy (UNE COP) will allow qualified students who successfully complete a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in medical biology at SJC to matriculate into the UNE COP. The agreement between the two institutions was made official at a signing ceremony held on February 8 at Saint Joseph’s College in the MacBride Laboratory, where UNE Provost Joshua Hamilton, Ph.D., and SJC President James Dlugos, Ph.D., finalized the agreement.

This 4+4 Program provides a smooth transition into UNE’s four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program to SJC students who have completed 16 specific pre-pharmacy courses as part of their medical biology degree and who have met all other program requirements. Candidates must declare their intention of enrolling in the program by February 1 of their third year of college.

UNE Provost Hamilton, stated, “UNE is so pleased to be entering into this partnership with Saint Joseph’s College. We are excited to provide high caliber students at Saint Joe’s with a seamless transition to UNE, where they will learn the skills to prepare them for an array of career paths in the pharmacy profession.”

"Given our commitment to wellness and sustainability at Saint Joseph's College, we welcome partnerships that provide a path for our students to pursue careers that meet the workforce development needs in Maine and beyond,” said SJC Vice President & Chief Learning Officer Michael J. Pardales, Ph. D. “This agreement with the University of New England's Doctor of Pharmacy program is an excellent opportunity for our students."

Read more in Mainebiz and Keep Me Current.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.