PharmD/MBA
Ishita Mehta, PharmD/MBA ’17
Drive the business of the pharmaceutical industry forward with the analytical tools and managerial skills necessary to become a leader.
Prepare for a career in retail pharmacy, hospital and health care systems, or pharmaceutical manufacturing. The School of Management and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences offer a collaborative program leading to both the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and the MBA degrees.
Are you a woman interested in health equity?
You may qualify for the Dawn Gideon Foundation Dawn Gideon-Huron Scholarship, awarded to women who self-identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic or Native American or have demonstrated a commitment to health equity and who are pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration and/or business administration.
Be Career Ready
- Apply analytical skills to understand the delicate balance between patient outcomes and efficiency
- Develop effective leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and communication skills
- Develop practical financial management skills
- Understand the inter-related role of health care policy development, facility management and strategic planning
- Immerse yourself in the diverse community of full-time MBAs
- Network with alumni and leaders from the top health care organizations around the country.
It is recommended you apply to the MBA program during your P1 year if you are in good academic standing in the PharmD program. It is discouraged, but permitted, to apply between P2 and P3. It is not permitted after P3. PharmD/MBA students take MBA core courses in a dedicated year, blending MBA electives in remaining pharmacy years.
GMAT/GRE Waiver
PharmD/MBA applicants who are already enrolled in the University at Buffalo’s PharmD program do not need to submit a standardized test score if they did not submit one for admission to the PharmD program.
Total Credit Requirement
| Degree Program | Credits |
|---|---|
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Total | 142.5 60 202.5 |
The MBA is a 60-credit degree. Depending on the collaborative degree arrangement and curriculum requirements, approved coursework from the partner program may be applied toward MBA requirements, with a maximum of 12 credits eligible to count toward the MBA. As a result, students may complete as few as 48 MBA credits through the School of Management while earning the full 60-credit MBA degree.
Depending on the policies and curriculum requirements of the partner program, selected MBA coursework may also be eligible to satisfy degree requirements in the partner degree. This integrated approach reduces the total coursework and cost of earning both degrees while preserving the full academic strength of each program.
Rotation/Internship Requirement
A PharmD/MBA student must fulfill seven APPE rotations for the PharmD program and 48 credits in the MBA program, including a 3-credit MBA internship. To fulfill the curricular requirements of both schools, you must complete one of the following:
- Take one of the PharmD APPE electives (6 hours) to fulfill the MBA internship requirement (3 hours). To fulfill both requirements, choose a rotation that serves both purposes (e.g., HMO, hospital administration, etc.). You must inform the appropriate staff in the Pharmacy Department and your MBA advisor. You must complete a 3-credit MBA elective to fulfill the 48-credit-hour requirement under this option.
- Take a 3-credit MBA internship. (Summer internships will require additional MBA tuition and fees per credit hour.) You still must fulfill six APPE rotations for PharmD completion.
To learn more about the Doctor in Pharmacy program, visit the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.