Dual Degree Programs

PharmD / MBA Program

In today's challenging health care environment, acquiring a sound combination of patient care and management skills is a must to effectively provide health care to customers. Health care professionals require organizational oversight skills to plan, manage, and control within the dynamic health care industry. They need to know how to motivate, lead, and work with others to achieve organizational objectives.

To this end, the program is directed toward providing the education students need to develop an understanding of the major functional areas in health care organizations and to design strategic plans and policies to cope with the changing pharmaceutical and health care environments.

Students enrolled in the PharmD/MBA program can earn both degrees in five academic years. If earned independently, these degrees would require six years of study.

Admissions

Applicants to the PharmD/MBA Program must complete the application requirements of both Fisher College of Business and College of Pharmacy separately, applying independently to each school. Students will enter the PharmD program initially, and in order to enter the combined PharmD/MBA program, students will be asked to apply during their third year of the PharmD program with the intention to start the MBA portion the following Autumn term.

Both colleges have small classes, approximately 120 in the PharmD program and 150 in the MBA program, and start in the fall of each calendar year. While the business school follows rounds admissions process, for the PharmD degree you are expected to send in your application by January 1. For both programs, it is best to submit application materials early.

PharmD admissions requirements:

  • Prerequisite course work for Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy College Admission
  • Personal statements, extracurricular leadership and prior work experience (if any)
  • Undergraduate grades (overall and math/science grade-point averages)
  • Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
  • Resume with extracurricular leadership and any prior work experience
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency (TOEFL)
  • Personal Interviews

MBA admissions requirements:

  • A completed online application
  • Application fee
  • Admissions essay
  • Updated resume
  • Official university transcripts
  • Optional letters of recommendation
  • GMAT or GRE test (PCAT not accepted)
  • English language proficiency (TOEFL)​​​​​​ (not a requirement if currently enrolled at OSU)
  • Video Interview
  • Live Interview (by invitation only)

Curriculum

Students admitted to the dual degree program may pursue the PhamaD/ MBA according to this schedule:

YearPharmD ProgramMBA Program
First Year100 percent0 percent
Second Year100 percent0 percent
Third Year100 percent0 percent
Fourth YearPharmacy Rotation (Summer)MBA Core & Electives (Autumn/Spring)
Fifth YearPharmacy RotationMBA Electives

To complete a PharmD degree, you need to take 126.5-128 semester credit hours depending on graduating class. For the MBA degree, you are expected to earn 60 semester credit hours. In a dual degree scenario, you will be able to leverage part of your PharmD electives toward your MBA degree.

A student participating in the PharmD/MBA program can potentially receive credit for 12 semester credit hours of work accomplished as part of the College of Pharmacy requirements. These PharmD Electives fall into the category of Pharmacy Practice Management.

Likewise, 10 credit hours of MBA courses, in consultation with your academic advisor at the College of Pharmacy, will be accepted toward the PharmD degree.

Career Placement

The career management offices of both Fisher College of Business and the College of Pharmacy are available to our PharmD/MBA graduates.

In addition to the more than 300 companies that recruit from the Fisher's Office of Career Management, you will have every opportunity to use the Ohio State career fairs and alumni network to find that ideal professional opportunity.

The majority of graduates with the dual degree initially take positions in the pharmaceutical industry that include sales and marketing, clinical research, academic detailing, and drug development. The average starting salary is typically between $80,000 - $100,000. Companies that have hired PharmD/MBA graduates include:

  • Cigna Healthcare
  • CVS
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Kroger Pharmacy
  • Medco Health Solutions
  • Mt. Carmel Health Pharmacy Systems Inc.
  • Target Pharmacy
  • The Pharmacy Management Group
  • Vanderbilt
  • Walgreens

Contact Information

For more information and an application for the MBA program contact:
The Ohio State University
Fisher College of Business
MBA Admissions
100 Gerlach Hall
2108 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
+1 (614).292.8511
mba@fisher.osu.edu

For more information and an application for the PharmD program contact:
The Ohio State University
College of Pharmacy
Office of Admissions
150 Parks Hall
500 West 12th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
+1 (614).292.7255
admissions@pharmacy.ohio-state.edupharmacy.ohio-state.edu