Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of a dual degree?
Combining the Pharm.D. and an MBA through Indiana Tech has the purpose of creating a unique and specially trained set of practitioners. This will be the second dual-degree opportunity for MU Pharm.D. students (MS in PGx), but the first offered in partnership with another institution. 

What is the timeline for the dual degree?
This program will allow students to complete the Pharm.D. degree as well as their MBA degree within the same four-year timeframe as traditional Pharm.D. students. 
    

How will students be able to complete both degrees within four years?
Ideally, dual-degree students will take online MBA courses through Indiana Tech in the summers between their P1 and P2 years and between their P2 and P3 years.  In their P2 spring, P3 fall and spring, and P4 year, dual-degree students will take one MBA course per semester.  A preferred plan of study is outlined below:

Session 8: Early June through mid July annually
Session 1: Late July through early September annually

Year	Session	Course /Credit Hours
1	8	MBA 5050 Executive Leadership (3 credit hours)
1	1	MBA 5125 Economic Decision Making for Managers (3 credit hours)
2	8	MBA 5140 Accounting and Finance Decision Making for Managers (3 credit hours)
2	1	MBA 5225 Marketing and Innovation (3 credit hours)
3	8	MBA 5400 Statistical Learning and Analytics (3 credit hours)
3	1	MBA 5410 Operations and Technology Management (3 credit hours)
4	8	MBA 7000 Business Policy and Strategy (3 credit hours)
4	1	21 credit hours from core

Any courses from the list below can be transferred in as the M.B.A concentration of Professional Studies.  These concentration courses must meet a minimum of 9 credit hours.  A letter grade of C or higher is required for transfer into the Indiana Tech MBA program.

Credit Hours	Course
2	PHRM 440 Patient Safety and Informatics
3	PHRM 540 Practice and Personnel Management
2	PHRM 541 Pharmacy Law
4	APPE
2	PHRM 596 Leadership for Pharmacists
2	PHRM 597 Leadership: People and Change

How much will the dual degree cost?
The dual-degree cost will equate to the total of the Pharm.D. and MBA degree program costs combined.  However, nine of the 30 required credit hours can be transferred from the Pharm.D. program into the MBA, providing a cost savings to students completing both degrees concurrently. 

It is possible for a student who is concurrently enrolled and eligible at more than one school to receive Federal Direct Loans at each school. In addition to Federal Direct Loans, students may borrow loans through other federal programs (i.e. GradPLUS or private loans) up to the cost of attendance for a single academic program.  Manchester University and Indiana Tech have determined a cost of attendance that includes tuition and fees for both programs, plus living and personal expenses.  This cost of attendance is calculated as the maximum amount of loan eligibility a student has while dually enrolled at both institutions.

What will the application process look like?
First-year pharmacy students in the spring semester who are in good academic standing and have not remediated a course will be encouraged to apply. The application process is outlined here. There is no limit to the number of students that may be accepted into the dual-degree program. Part of the application process will be a review of applicants’ undergraduate and pharmacy GPA. The minimum cumulative GPA for consideration in the MBA program is 2.5.  Applicants below this GPA can apply but must gain approval by the  dean of pharmacy and graduate life sciences to be considered.

Learn more about Indiana Tech's MBA in Professional Studies here.