In response to the growing demand for pharmacists who are knowledgeable in both pharmacy and business administration, the UMKC School of Pharmacy and the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management have teamed up to offer the opportunity for Doctor of Pharmacy students to also complete their Master of Business Administration.

As the field of health care becomes more complex and more focused on cost-effectiveness, an understanding of business analytics, accounting, innovation, finance, decision-making, personnel management, strategic planning and related areas is crucial for today’s practicing pharmacist, no matter what career option you choose.

UMKC’s Pharm.D. and Professional MBA degrees are offered cooperatively by the School of Pharmacy and the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. The program permits completion of all pharmacy and business school requirements concurrently.

Graduates of the Pharm.D. and Professional MBA programs are in great demand by hospitals, community pharmacies, research, managed care and pharmacy residency programs.  A snapshot of some of the job titles include, but are not limited to:

• Director of hospital pharmacy operations
• Departmental director in state and federal health care agencies
• Department head in pharmaceutical manufacturing corporations
• Administrator in research and managed care departments
• Leadership positions in pharmaceutical distribution organizations

Cross-Acceptance of Degree Hours

Students in both programs are able to pursue two separate degrees with the benefit of cross-acceptance of a certain number of credit hours.  A major benefit of the program is that it results in a reduction in the number of credit hours.

The School of Pharmacy will accept up to eight (8) credit hours of MBA courses toward the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. In addition, students may apply six (6) credit hours of pharmacy administration courses towards the MBA degree.

The MBA Program will count the following two Pharmacy courses in the Professional MBA Program:

• Pharm 7465 – Health Economics and Medicine
• Pharm 7466 – Pharmacy Practice Leadership, Management & Innovation

Application Procedure, Admission and Program Approval

Students interested in the coordinated Pharm.D./MBA program must be admitted to the UMKC Doctor of Pharmacy program.  Admission to the MBA program is a separate process. Because the UMKC MBA program is delivered via super flex, on-line format, Pharm.D. students at any one of the three campus locations (Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield) may apply to the UMKC MBA program.

Eligibility

To be considered for admission into the UMKC MBA program, Pharm.D. students must have either

• Completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to entry in the Pharm.D. program;

Or

• Successfully completed the first four semesters of the Pharm.D. program if having entered without a baccalaureate degree.

Pharm.D. students must also fulfill all requirements for admission to the regular MBA program to be considered for admission into the Henry W. Bloch School of Management.

Students are eligible to begin the application process for the PharmD/MBA program as follows:

• Summer before entry into the Pharm.D. program – students with a previous baccalaureate
• Spring of the P2 year – students without a previous baccalaureate

Application Process

The regular application process for admission to each School must be followed.

• MBA program Admission Instructions
• Pharm.D. Program Application Instructions

How to Apply

Admission to the MBA program is selective. A completed application includes all of the following:

• UMKC Graduate application
• Official transcripts. We will use the official transcripts presented at the time of admission to the Pharm.D. program.
• A current resume. This can be submitted via e-mail to Blochgrad@umkc.edu or uploaded to the UMKC MBA Application.
• A one-page goal statement that describes your career plans, why you desire to attend UMKC, and why you want to obtain the MBA. This can be submitted via e-mail to Blochgrad@umkc.edu or uploaded to the UMKC MBA Application.
• International applicants who do not have a university degree from a U.S. university are required to submit results from the TOEFL or IELTS. A minimum of 100 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS is required to be considered for admission.

Enrollment

Pharm.D. students may enroll in three (3) to six (6) credit hours of MBA coursework before matriculation into the MBA Program. This requires approval from the following:

• The School of Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs
• The Bloch School Graduate Student Advising Office
• MBA instructor approval

Acceptance and Progression 

Pharm.D. students admitted to the MBA program must maintain good academic standing in both programs.  Minimum academic standing for the Pharm.D. program is current enrollment in the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Minimum academic standing for the MBA program requires attainment of a cumulative Bloch School graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, including grades of B (3.0) or better in 80% of the Bloch School courses completed.  Due to different grading standards, the Pharm.D. credit hours are not included in the graduate GPA calculation.

The Henry W. Bloch School of Management will not award the MBA degree to a student who has not either previously completed a baccalaureate/professional degree, or who is not being simultaneously awarded the Pharm.D. degree.

Contact Information

The MBA application is handled through the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. For more information about the program’s curriculum or on how to apply, contact the Managing Director of Graduate Programs, Gene Pegler – (816) 235-5254.

Pharm.D. students are also encouraged to contact Shelly Janasz, Director of Pharmacy Student Affairs (816-234-2400), with questions about the feasibility of the program within their Pharm.D. degree requirements.