Major in Pharmacy Regulation & Policy

Beginning in the fall of 2008, the University of Florida offers a part-time online major in Pharmacy Regulation and Policy (PRP) within the Master of Science in Pharmacy program.  This major provides students with the opportunity to better understand the law and speak more authoritatively in the workplace when issues of law and regulation arise.  Courses in the program are taught by national content experts.  Courses are taught using a distance-learning format, thus students do not need to relocate to earn this degree. 

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Background

The PRP major was developed as a response to student demand based on a survey of University of Florida students and graduates.  These prospective students aspire to regulatory and policy careers within pharmacy corporations, government agencies, professional associations, managed care organizations, and the pharmaceutical industry.  The positions they will occupy include legal compliance, government relations, and regulatory affairs.  The program takes two years for students to complete.  All online courses are 7 weeks in length and are taken sequentially; two courses per semester.  Online courses use Electronic Learning System (a University of Florida adaptation of WebCT Vista) as the learning platform and Elluminate for live online classes.  Individual courses are available to those who wish to acquire limited specialized knowledge without making a commitment to the complete program.  All students must attend three weekend seminars in Gainesville during the course of their two years of study.

Program Goals

Too often government regulations and policies stand in the way of effective drug treatments, and patients suffer as a result.  There are also situations in which the people who provide pharmaceutical products and services fail to appreciate the significance of regulations and policies that affect those services and products, consequently the providers are put at a disadvantage.  The purpose of the PRP program is to create a cadre of dedicated professionals who understand the regulatory and policy context of medications use and who can use their understanding of the process to advocate for regulatory and policy changes that promote good outcomes from drug therapy.  Regulation and policy can be positive tools in the improvement of patient care, and those who understand how to mold regulation and policy can add tremendous value to patient care.  The PRP masters program provides its students with the expertise and the credentials to serve that influential role.

Courses in the curriculum:

• The Structure, Process & Outcomes of Regulation
  


• Federal Regulation of Drugs & Pharmacy
  


• Federal Regulation of Controlled Substances
  


• Regulating Drug Production, Distribution & Use
  


• Ethics of Drug Production, Distribution and Use
  


• Medicare & Medicaid
  


• State Regulation of Drugs & Pharmacy
  


• Pharmaceutical Products & Public Policy
  


• Practices & Procedures of Administrative Agencies
  


• Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy Seminar

Schedule