MBA & Doctor of Pharmacy

Be an Effective Leader in the Pharmacy Profession

An MBA is an inarguable asset to a pharmacist, who is able to enter into management positions within pharmacy settings, creating efficient, effective care delivery systems from day one. After establishing your studies in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, you will enter the MBA program in the fourth year of your graduate education, earning a complete MBA as you finish your PharmD and becoming integrated into Minnesota Carlson's prestigious network of business leaders, academics, and alumni. PharmD-MBA students will also have the opportunity to take advantage of the unique experiences offered through Minnesota Carlson's Medical Industry Leadership Institute, which brings together graduate students from across the University of Minnesota to work on healthcare industry problems from the organizational to the political realms.

The PharmD-MBA Dual Degree Program was developed for students who have already been enrolled in the University of Minnesota PharmD Program (Twin Cities or Duluth campus). This program serves students who wish to earn both an MBA degree and a PharmD. 

More Information About PharmD-MBA

The Medical Industry Leadership Institute (MILI) supports the MBA's Medical Industry Specialization and so much more. It offers experiential learning through the Valuation Lab, access to national and international medical industry firms, and affiliations and governance through the National Industry Council and Executive in Residence. Not only that, it hosts its own annual conference Convene which brings together industry leaders and academics to discuss their perspectives on trends, opportunities, and challenges in healthcare.

Medical Industry Leadership Institute

Dual Degree students must apply separately and be admitted to both programs. Students apply to the Full-Time MBA Program during the fall semester of their third year in the College of Pharmacy, but do not begin the MBA Program until the fourth year of this five-year dual degree program.

MBA Application Dates - Fall Start

RoundSubmission DeadlinesDecision Notification
Round 1October 1November 15
Round 2December 1February 1
Round 3February 1March 15
Round 4 April 1May 15

Deadlines that occur on a weekend or holiday are extended through the next business day. We will review applications beyond our final round deadline on a case by case basis.

The GMAT or GRE is required for all applicants but may be waived—waiver eligibility criteria and instructions.

MBA Admissions Requirements PharmD Admissions Requirements

Many students immediately pursue their residency post-graduation and work in healthcare services or a retail/chain pharmacy. But there are a variety of other options for PharmD-MBAs including but not limited to consulting research, and pharmaceutical companies. Many PharmD-MBAs are in high demand for leadership positions such as Director of Pharmacy Operations, Lead Pharmacist, Department head in a pharmaceutical manufacturing company, or Administrator in a managed care department.

Learn More About MBA Career Services

PharmD-MBA students pay the tuition and fees at the school through which they are registered each semester. Scholarships are awarded separately by each program and are applied when a student is enrolled in that designated program.

All applicants admitted to Carlson are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.

MBA Tuition & Financial Aid PharmD Tuition & Financial Aid

Program Structure

Both degrees are completed in five years.

Fall Semester

Register in PharmD.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6515Molecules to Medicines Required10
6513PSD 1Required2
65143C 1Required2
7351IPPE-1 CommunityRequired1

Total Credits: 15
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6525Self-Care, Prevention, & Urgent Care Required10
6523PSD 2Required2
65243C 2Required2
7352IPPE-2 CommunityRequired1

Total Credits: 15

Fall Semester

Register in PharmD. 

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6535Spectrum of Chronic Care 1Required10
6533PSD 3Required2
7353IPPE-3 InstitutionalRequired1

Total Credits: 13
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD. Apply to MBA by April 1 (for Year 4 admission).
(Additional deadlines: Oct 1, Dec 1, Feb 1) (if admitted, defer for one year)

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6545Spectrum of Chronic Care IIRequired10
6543PSD 4Required2
7354IPPE-4 InstitutionalRequired1

Total Credits: 13

Fall Semester

Register in PharmD. 

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6555Hospital Care & Acute Events Required10
6553PSD 5Required2
7355IPPE-5 AS/IMUSRequired2

Total Credits: 14
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD. Apply to MBA by April 1 (for Year 4 admission).
(Additional deadlines: Oct 1, Dec 1, Feb 1 - final for international students) Recommend to apply before PharmD APPE placements.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6565Specialty Care & Systems Issues Required5
6563PSD 6Required1
7356IPPE-6 AS/IMUS (2 weeks)Required2
7601APPE Readiness (2 weeks)Required1
7511APPE 1*Required5

Total Credits: 14
 

Summer Semester

Register in PharmD. Apply to MBA by April 1 (for Year 4 admission).
Mandatory MBA Orientation: late August

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
7512APPE 2*Required5
7513APPE 3*Required5
7514APPE 4* Required5

Complete blocks 2-3, receive K grade for block 4 and have block 4 off
Total Credits: 15

Start your MBA & continue PharmD APPE Rotations.

 

Fall Semester

Register in MBA. 

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6031Financial AccountingRequired3
MBA 6121Data Analysis for ManagersRequired3
MBA 6141Managerial EconomicsRequired2
MBA 6211Marketing ManagementRequired3
MBA 6221Supply Chain and OperationsRequired3
MBA 6231Financial ManagementRequired3
MBA 6301Strategic ManagementRequired3

Total Credits: 20
 

Spring Semester

Register in MBA.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6111Organizational BehaviorRequired5
MBA 6241Competing in a Data-Driven AgeRequired1
VariousChoose 10-16 cr of required and elective courses that must be completed before MBA graduation:
- International Experience Requirement (4 cr)
- Enterprise (optional)** (4 cr)
- MBA Electives***		VariousCredits Vary

**Enterprise is optional for PharmD dual degree students. If choose to pursue, will complete in spring of year 4 for 4 credits. If decide not to pursue, will complete 4 additional elective credits.
***Required to complete a minimum of 16 credits of MBA Electives to graduate. If decide not to pursue Enterprise, will be required to complete 20 credits of MBA Electives.

Total Credits: 16-18 recommended total credits (12-20 MBA tuition band)
  

Summer Semester

Register in PharmD. 

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
7515APPE 5*Required5
7516APPE 6*Required5
7517APPE 7*Required5

Total Credits: 15

Complete MBA & PharmD APPE Rotations & coursework.

 

Fall Semester

Register in MBA. Graduating with an MBA in the Fall Semester of Year 5.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6315Business Ethics Required3
MGMT 6465Leadership & Personal DevelopmentRequired3
VariousChoose 10-16 cr of required and elective courses that must be completed before MBA graduation:
- International Experience Requirement (4 cr)
- MBA Electives***		VariousCredits Vary

***Required to complete a minimum of 16 credits of MBA Electives to graduate. If decide not to pursue Enterprise, will be required to complete 20 credits of MBA Electives.

Total Credits: 14-15 recommended total credits (12-18 MBA tuition band)
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD. Graduating with PharmD Spring of Year 5 (joining that cohort of the Spring)

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
7518APPE 8*Required5
7519APPE 9*Required0
6571Patient Care Challenges & Advanced Prep for PracticeRequired6

Total Credits: 11

Fall Semester

Register in PharmD.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6515Molecules to Medicines Required10
6513PSD 1Required2
65143C 1Required2
7351IPPE-1 CommunityRequired1

Total Credits: 15
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6525Self-Care, Prevention, & Urgent Care Required10
6523PSD 2Required2
65243C 2Required2
7352IPPE-2 CommunityRequired1

Total Credits: 15

Fall Semester

Register in PharmD. 

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6535Spectrum of Chronic Care 1Required10
6533PSD 3Required2
7353IPPE-3 InstitutionalRequired1

Total Credits: 13
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD. Apply to MBA by April 1 (for Year 4 admission).
(Additional deadlines: Oct 1, Dec 1, Feb 1) (if admitted, defer for one year)

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6545Spectrum of Chronic Care IIRequired10
6543PSD 4Required2
7354IPPE-4 InstitutionalRequired1

Total Credits: 13

Fall Semester

Register in PharmD. 

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6555Hospital Care & Acute Events Required10
6553PSD 5Required2
7355IPPE-5 AS/IMUSRequired2

Total Credits: 14
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD. Apply to MBA by April 1 (for Year 4 admission).
(Additional deadlines: Oct 1, Dec 1, Feb 1 - final for international students) Recommend to apply before PharmD APPE placements.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
6565Specialty Care & Systems Issues Required5
6563PSD 6Required1
7356IPPE-6 AS/IMUS (2 weeks)Required2
7601APPE Readiness (2 weeks)Required1
7511APPE 1*Required5

Total Credits: 14
 

Summer Semester

Register in PharmD. Apply to MBA by April 1 (for Year 4 admission).
Mandatory MBA Orientation: late August

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
7512APPE 2*Required5
7513APPE 3*Required5
7514APPE 4* Required5

Complete blocks 2-3, receive K grade for block 4 and have block 4 off
Total Credits: 15

Start your MBA & continue PharmD APPE Rotations.

 

Fall Semester

Register in MBA. 

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6031Financial AccountingRequired3
MBA 6121Data Analysis for ManagersRequired3
MBA 6141Managerial EconomicsRequired2
MBA 6211Marketing ManagementRequired3
MBA 6221Supply Chain and OperationsRequired3
MBA 6231Financial ManagementRequired3
MBA 6301Strategic ManagementRequired3

Total Credits: 20
 

Spring Semester

Register in MBA.

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6111Organizational BehaviorRequired5
MBA 6241Competing in a Data-Driven AgeRequired1
VariousChoose 10-16 cr of required and elective courses that must be completed before MBA graduation:
- International Experience Requirement (4 cr)
- Enterprise (optional)** (4 cr)
- MBA Electives***		VariousCredits Vary

**Enterprise is optional for PharmD dual degree students. If choose to pursue, will complete in spring of year 4 for 4 credits. If decide not to pursue, will complete 4 additional elective credits.
***Required to complete a minimum of 16 credits of MBA Electives to graduate. If decide not to pursue Enterprise, will be required to complete 20 credits of MBA Electives.

Total Credits: 16-18 recommended total credits (12-20 MBA tuition band)
  

Summer Semester

Register in PharmD. 

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
7515APPE 5*Required5
7516APPE 6*Required5
7517APPE 7*Required5

Total Credits: 15

Complete MBA & PharmD APPE Rotations & coursework.

 

Fall Semester

Register in MBA. Graduating with an MBA in the Fall Semester of Year 5.

Fall Semester Required Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
MBA 6315Business Ethics Required3
MGMT 6465Leadership & Personal DevelopmentRequired3
VariousChoose 10-16 cr of required and elective courses that must be completed before MBA graduation:
- International Experience Requirement (4 cr)
- MBA Electives***		VariousCredits Vary

***Required to complete a minimum of 16 credits of MBA Electives to graduate. If decide not to pursue Enterprise, will be required to complete 20 credits of MBA Electives.

Total Credits: 14-15 recommended total credits (12-18 MBA tuition band)
 

Spring Semester

Register in PharmD. Graduating with PharmD Spring of Year 5 (joining that cohort of the Spring)

Spring Semester Required and Elective Courses
Course NumberTitleRequired or ElectiveCredits
7518APPE 8*Required5
7519APPE 9*Required0
6571Patient Care Challenges & Advanced Prep for PracticeRequired6

Total Credits: 11

Credit Distribution

To complete in this time frame students will carry a very demanding course load, but with a credit reduction benefit of a dual degree program.  

MBA = 52
Transfers= 12 per program

Full-Time & Part-Time MBA Programs

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 612-625-5555

PharmD Program

Natasha Bellefeuille
Student Advisor and Career Coordinator
College of Pharmacy Dual Degree Program Information