Academic Life

Coursework during the first two years of the Pharm.D. program focuses on developing students' understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences - the relationship between medicine and the human body. Since scientists discover new drugs every year, understanding the science behind how medicine works help Oregon State students become future-ready pharmacists.  First and second-year students also learn about communication and teamwork with other pharmacists and other health care providers. They develop their skills in counseling patients, giving immunizations, performing physical assessments, and making ethical healthcare decisions.

Our Portland facilities at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) provide an unparalleled addition to Oregon State Pharm.D. students’ education. At Oregon’s only academic medical center, students receive first-hand exposure to practicing pharmacy in a large city's teaching hospital. The third year of the program includes coursework covering a wide scope of pharmacy practice. Students learn to apply their scientific foundation to clinical applications of pharmaceutical care, focusing on disease state management. In addition, students study the economic and drug policy implications of pharmacy practice.

Working with students from OHSU’s Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and other health professional programs offer a unique interprofessional education experience for Oregon State Pharm.D. students. In July 2014, the Robertson Life Sciences Building (RLSB) became the new house to many OHSU professional and graduate programs, allowing for more collaboration between pharmacy students and students from OHSU’s other disciplines.

While students are exposed to hands-on-learning throughout the first three years of the curriculum, the fourth year is entirely devoted to professional rotations throughout Oregon and beyond. Students complete rotations that last for six weeks each, letting students practice pharmacy in community, ambulatory care, general medicine, and hospital or health system settings. Students also choose elective rotations, which lets them further explore practice areas of their choice.

P3 to P4 Transition

During the fall term of the P3 year, P3 students attend a P4 year orientation and begin selecting rotation sites for the following year. Hundreds of pharmacy practice settings all over Oregon offer rotations for Oregon State students, so students can tailor their fourth year to suit their personal needs and career plans. It is also possible to complete rotations in other states and even in other countries. During the P4 year, students return to campus for seminars on getting ready to enter the pharmacy workforce.

Student Life - Portland

OSU Pharmacy's Portland campus at sunset

Oregon State Pharm.D. students enjoy all the advantages of affiliations with two distinguished universities. In Portland, students benefit from a variety of OHSU student resources. They can participate in clubs and Student Interest Groups, stay active at OHSU's recreation facility, March Wellness & Fitness Center, use the largest health sciences library in Oregon, play intramural sports with other health professions students, and attend campus events.

Of course, our students also get to live, work, and study in Portland! An exciting city that complements our students' rigorous academic life, Portland is known for culture, fine dining, coffee houses, food carts, cycling, and microbreweries. Year after year, Portland tops lists of America's most livable cities. Portland is 35 minutes from Oregon's wine country, 35 minutes from the scenic Columbia River Gorge, an hour from the hiking trails and ski slopes around Mt. Hood, and 90 minutes from the Oregon Coast.


Housing in Portland Resources
Finding a place to live in Portland is an important step as you transition to your third and fourth years in the Pharm.D. program. We’ve gathered some helpful resources and tips to make your housing search easier:

OHSU Housing Options
OHSU partners with College Housing Northwest to offer apartments at rates approximately 15% below market price. Each property has units reserved specifically for OHSU students. Visit the OHSU Housing website for details and application information.

OHSU Off-Campus Housing Classifieds
Looking for a roommate or a room to rent? OHSU’s off-campus housing classified website allows students, staff, and affiliates to post available rooms and search for housing with others connected to OHSU. This internal platform works much like a private Craigslist for the OHSU community. Access the classifieds here.

Neighborhoods, Transportation, and Commuting
Explore these links to learn more about living and getting around in Portland:

These resources can help you find the right neighborhood, understand your commuting options, and connect with the OHSU community as you settle into life in Portland.

Student Life - Corvallis

Pharmacy Building

Students in Corvallis have all the resources of a major land-grant research university at their disposal, including the OSU Libraries and College of Pharmacy research facilities. In Corvallis, students can improve their professional readiness by taking elective courses in public health, toxicology, business, gerontology, and other fields. Many students participate in research with the College of Pharmacy faculty members. While Oregon State is a large university, the limited size of the Pharm.D. program enables pharmacy students to build strong connections to their professors and to each other.

Oregon State offers a friendly, welcoming community in a classic college town. Pharmacy students can participate in the more than 300 student organizations at Oregon State and attend campus lectures, concerts, festivals, and cultural programs. The campus houses several cultural centers, the Women's Center, and the Pride Center. Oregon State is consistently rated as one of the top LGBT-friendly campuses in the United States. Pharm.D. students enjoy full access to Recreational Sports facilities, including Dixon Recreation Center. The Memorial Union offers arts, dining, and entertainment, as does downtown Corvallis. The Oregon State Beavers offer exciting Pac-12 athletics.

Corvallis sits at the heart of the Willamette Valley, among wonderful farmer's markets, vineyards, and craft breweries. The Oregon Coast is only forty miles to the west and the Cascade Mountains (and ski slopes) are to the east. Oregon State has its own forests which are ideal for hiking and mountain biking.