Implementation of curricular track programs at a college of pharmacy over a 15-year period

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the history and evolution of our elective track programs and overall lessons learned and to identify the percentage of University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy (OUCOP) graduates who completed a curricular track in ambulatory care, leadership, nuclear pharmacy, pediatrics, or research.

Educational activity: The OUCOP curricular track programs were established in 2011 and require 16 h of didactic coursework and advanced pharmacy practice experiences. The percentage of OUCOP graduates who completed a curricular track program was determined. Additionally, the initial position following graduation from the graduating classes of 2016-2025 was collected. The number of graduates that completed post-graduate education/training (i.e., residency, fellowship, or graduate school) between those who did and did not complete a curricular track program was compared.

Findings: Since 2011, 382 students were admitted to a curricular track program with 377 students completing the program upon graduation. This accounts for 29.3% of the 1287 students graduating from 2011 to 2025, with the percentage that completed a track ranging from 2.5 to 66.7% of each graduating class. Most [198/377 (52.5%)] completed the leadership curricular track program. There was a significant difference in the number of graduates who took a post-graduate education or residency position between those who did versus did not complete a track program, 99 (32.9%) versus 68 (16.4%), p < 0.0001.

Summary: One-third of OUCOP graduates from 2011 to 2025 completed a curricular track program. Graduates pursued a variety of initial positions following graduation with a significantly higher number of OUCOP graduates completing a post-graduate education or residency position.

Keywords: College of pharmacy; Concentration; Curricula; Curricular track; Elective track.