Curriculum

Block System

WesternU was one of the first to develop the highly effective block system of learning. In your second year and half of your third year, you will study one subject intensively during a period that we call a “block.” During each block you will learn through: Lecture, group work/discussion, student presentations, peer learning, and teaching activities. There are a total of 16 blocks, with a two- to four-day break at the conclusion of each one. Total immersion allows you to achieve mastery in one subject before moving to the next.

Early Introduction to Clinical Work

Early clinical experiences give students a real-world understanding of what they’re learning in the classroom. In the first and second years, students participate in the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience program, where they are assigned their first “rotation” in either a community or hospital pharmacy.

In addition to science courses, your first year also includes a Foundations in Clinical Practice course that focuses on: Learning individual and group skills that carry through the curriculum, small-group discussions on issues in pharmacy, lectures and workshops on over-the-counter medications, and team projects.

For more information on clinical experiences and third and fourth year rotations,
please visit the clinical experiences page.

Rotation Sites

With 350 rotations sites and 750 preceptors, we provide a wide range of rotation options to our students. Sites include: private hospitals, county hospitals, Veterans Administration hospitals, military hospitals, long-term-care facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, compounding pharmacies, managed care facilities, psychiatric facilities, children’s hospitals, chain drug stores, and independently-owned pharmacies.

Although most students rotate through Southern California sites, some have had clinical experiences In Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Arizona, Utah and even Thailand.

Learning Along Side Students in Other Health Professions

WesternU’s interprofessional curriculum provides a forum for you to collaborate and learn from students in eight other health-care programs. This curriculum provides an opportunity for early networking with other health professionals and ultimately prepares you to better serve your patients through interprofessional collaboration and referrals.

Faculty

Our faculty are diverse – in ethnic representation, experience and areas of expertise. Faculty members are trained in a broad spectrum of specialties.

Our faculty are experienced in practice – most practice at institutional, ambulatory or community sites and bring the richness of their experiences into the classroom.

Our faculty are engaged in scholarly activities – Faculty members:

• Write and procure grants
• Present abstracts at national and international meetings
• Speak at local, regional and national forums
• Publish the results of their research in peer-reviewed pharmacy and medical journals
• Involve students in their research.

Our faculty are committed to students – Our faculty genuinely care about your success. They will treat you as a colleague and give you the tools you need to succeed. Faculty often participate in student organizations and service projects.

Major Research Initiatives

Members of WesternU’s pharmacy faculty are currently pursuing research in the areas of cardiovascular and neurological pharmacology and physiology, pharmaceutical formulation development, pharmacokinetics and immunology.