School of Pharmacy
Until their third year, students primarily study pharmacy, much as they did in the old curriculum. In addition to gaining and understanding of the necessary fundamental subjects such as chemistry, biology, life sciences, and latest medical techniques, we also hold classes on medical ethics and the fundamentals of pharmacotherapy.
From year four, the number of courses related to medicine increases, and pre-education for clinical teaching experience (taken by fifth years) takes place in Sept. to Nov. In Dec-Jan., the PhCATs are held, and students are able to begin clinical training upon receiving a passing grade. Studies in graduation research, with the goal of training pharmacists with a researcher's mind starts once a student is assigned to a research laboratory.
During the fifth year, students undergo approximately five months of clinical training. Besides an approximately one-month period within the university, there is also a long term, participatory clinical training experience at a hospital or insurance pharmacy. High level training is administered by pharmacists with training as instructors (certified clinical training pharmacists). At the university, some of the clinical training period is spent in "coordinated participatory experience with medical student clinical training (Porikuri)(*2)." This program nurtures the nascent pharmacist in our medical students by having them work to provide team care at a university hospital.
During the sixth year, in addition to even higher level clinical pharmacy courses, the study of drug discovery is also possible. This curriculum provides a high level of knowledge, with no bias towards any one particular subject. In addition, students also summarize their graduation research by writing a graduation thesis, thus also gaining plenty of presentation skills.
By completing the above curriculum and graduating, students can gain the qualifications of a nationally tested and licensed pharmacist. A four-year doctor's program is also available at the graduate school, in which students can join to perform an even higher level clinical pharmaceutical research and achieve a prestigious degree.
(*1) PhCAT: Pharmaceutical Common Achievement Tests
Our six-year program in education is carried out in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Education Model Curriculum. Pharmacy students who do not possess a pharmacist license are required to take and pass the Pharmaceutical Common Achievement Tests (PhCAT) in order to take their participatory training in an actual medical setting during their fifth year. Students of all Pharmacy Schools are required to take the PhCAT to prove that they qualify for participatory training. The tests use Computer-based Testing (CBT) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to determine whether students meet or exceed the criteria of basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of pharmacy students
(*2) Porikuri
An abbreviation of the German word "Poliklinik", meaning "general hospital," referring to the clinical experience in which upper-class medical students take part. Students can gain experience with a variety of hospital departments by working in the university hospital.
In order to cultivate talented pharmacologists with clinical medicine experience based on the philosophy and goals of the School of Pharmacy, in addition to what is listed in the School of Pharmacy policy, we are looking for the following types of candidates:
- Persons who are interested in pharmacology and who after graduating will have a willingness to contribute to society by assuming leadership roles in various pharmaceutical fields such as medicine and clinical pharmacological research.
- Persons who as pharmacists can nurture a love for mankind, strong ethics, and a solid sense of cooperation in order to understand a patient's feelings.
Curriculum policy
System: We are organizing our curricula based on the relevant academic system for each field.
Graduated system: The system is organized so that students learn basic science subjects early on, then gradually transition to subjects related to applied pharmacology, and finally practical clinical & pharmacology subjects.
Individualization (based on career path): In addition to implementing long-term practical training for practicing pharmacology in the fifth year, students are assigned to laboratories from the second half of the 3rd year in order to attain research awareness.
