Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights and the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy in Lexington have signed an articulation agreement creating a 3+4 pre-pharmacy and PharmD pathway that allows eligible students to earn both degrees in seven years instead of the traditional eight.
Under the agreement, eligible students in NKU’s Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences track, or Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences track, may apply to the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy after completing at least 72 credit hours and the required prerequisite coursework, according to an Aug. 3 news release. Students accepted into the program will begin PharmD coursework in their fourth year.
The partnership comes as Kentucky and other states face pharmacist workforce shortages. The release cited data showing pharmacies in rural communities declined nearly 6% between 2018 and 2023, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 14,000 pharmacist job openings annually through 2034. The agreement will be reviewed every three years.
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