3+3 MCW Dual-Degree Program
Through a unique partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin, students can go from Carthage freshmen to achieving their Doctor of Pharmacy in just six years. Trim two years off the typical path and avoid the anxiety of the graduate admissions process.
The 3+3 dual-degree program consists of three years at Carthage and then three years at the Medical College of Wisconsin, allowing students to finish their studies sooner and save significantly on tuition. Qualifying Carthage students receive automatic admission to the School of Pharmacy at the Medical College, leading to both bachelor’s and doctorate degrees.
Best of both worlds
Start with a personalized, well-rounded Carthage education while consulting with a pre-pharmacy coordinator and career specialist. Chemistry and physics provide strong preparation, but you can choose any of our 50-plus areas of study.
While attending Carthage, you’ll have rare access to some of the Medical College’s programs and services:
- Receive supplemental advising from an MCW faculty mentor
- Participate in MCW’s Summer Program for Undergraduate Research
- Attend the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin annual meeting
Located in Milwaukee, the Medical College has the only accelerated PharmD program in the Midwest that’s based at an academic medical center. It equips pharmacists to provide a wider range of services, helping to alleviate a lingering shortage of physicians.
Carthage students who proceed to the PharmD program enjoy a variety of unique opportunities at MCW:
- Start gaining clinical experience right away in first-year rotations.
- Learn alongside students and providers from other health care fields.
- Get access to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, and the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
Learn more about the pharmacy program at the Medical College of Wisconsin
Admission requirements
- Complete all required prerequisite courses at Carthage with a grade of C or higher.
- Earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA in all courses taken at Carthage.
- Enroll full-time (12 or more credits) each semester at Carthage. Dual-degree direct admission program students must complete all requirements within three years of the date of initial enrollment at Carthage.
- Submit an application essay.
- Participate in an early entrance interview at MCW during your first year at Carthage and be recommended by the School of Pharmacy faculty for admission.
- Meet all School of Pharmacy minimum admission requirements.
- Take the PCAT exam.
- Participate in a pre-matriculation interview (separate from the early entrance interview).
Dual-degree requirements
The coursework a student completes in the first year at MCW also counts toward Carthage’s elective requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students in the dual-degree program must meet these requirements to earn the bachelor’s degree:
- Complete at least 108 credits at Carthage, 12 of which are prerequisite courses for the program, before completing their degree at MCW.
- Meet the degree requirements specified in the Carthage catalog at the time of admission to Carthage.
- Complete the first year of the PharmD curriculum at MCW to fulfill remaining electives (up to two) within the major — a total of 30 credits.
- Complete a research experience to fulfill the senior seminar requirement.
- Have official transcripts sent to Carthage after completing the first year at MCW.
To earn the Doctor of Pharmacy, students must also complete the requirements specified in the MCW catalog at the time they’re admitted to the School of Pharmacy.
Doctor of Pharmacy at MCW
The dual-degree program will require approximately three years of attendance at Carthage followed by three years of attendance at the MCW School of Pharmacy. The dual degree program is accomplished through the reverse transfer of MCW School of Pharmacy coursework to fulfill elective credits toward the Carthage bachelor’s degree, and 138 total credits.
DOCTOR OF PHARMACY REQUIREMENTS
Students must successfully complete the Carthage dual-degree requirements and the pharmacy degree requirements as specified in the MCW catalog at the time of admission to MCW.
Visit MCW’s website for more information
Getting started
For more information about the PharmD 3+3 program, contact:
Christine Blaine
Professor of Chemistry
cblaine@hrfjk.com
262-551-5872
Brandon Porter
Registrar
bporter1@hrfjk.com
262-551-5764