The Destination for Pharmacy Education

About the Harrison College of Pharmacy

The Walker Building

Auburn University, chartered in 1856, is located in Auburn, Alabama. For more than 150 years, Auburn has evolved into a premier comprehensive university. The University has a unique role among the State’s higher education institutions in that its mission involves three interrelated components: instruction, research, and extension. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students receive outstanding instruction at Auburn University. The University is recognized for providing quality instruction that is economically accessible for students. Many areas of research conducted by Auburn University are providing the citizens of Alabama with a better quality of life.

Founded in 1885, Auburn University's pharmacy program ranks among the top 20 percent in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report. In November of 2000, the Pharmacy Building was named in honor of W.W. Walker, founder of Birmingham-based Walker Drug Company. On Jan. 25, 2002, the Auburn University College of Pharmacy was named the James I. Harrison College of Pharmacy, honoring the contributions Harrison and his family made to the field of pharmacy in the state of Alabama.

The Harrison College of Pharmacy offers the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, as well as graduate degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences. The College has campuses both in Auburn and in Mobile, Alabama. The Mobile campus, created in 2006, is housed within the University of South Alabama Research Park and is a collaborative venture with USA.

The college is made up of three academic departments (Drug Discovery and Development, Health Outcomes Research and Policy, and Pharmacy Practice) and three administrative divisions (Academic Programs, Clinical Affairs and Outreach, and Faculty Affairs and Strategic Initiatives).


Doctor of Pharmacy Program

The Auburn Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program is a four-year course of study that requires the completion of the pre-pharmacy curriculum prior to enrollment. The curriculum is designed to facilitate the development of those abilities necessary for entry-level practitioners in various practice settings. Consistent with accreditation standards and guidelines, the curriculum provides an appropriate balance of course work in the following areas: biomedical sciences (basic and clinical); pharmaceutical sciences; behavioral, social, and administrative pharmacy sciences; pharmacy practice; and pharmacy practice experience. The goal of the curriculum is to prepare students who can provide pharmaceutical care and are life-long learners. To accomplish this, the curriculum involves students in continuous patient care responsibilities starting upon entry into the College. Students also participate as active, self-directed learners in interdisciplinary teaching models.

Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603, 312/664-3575; FAX 866/228-2631, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.


Graduate Programs

The Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy offers interdisciplinary M.S. and Ph.D degree programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Those pursuing one of these degrees must select one of four curricular options: 1) Medicinal Chemistry, 2) Pharmaceutics, 3) Pharmacology, or 4) Health Outcomes Research and Policy.Dual-degree programs are also offered for those interested in Pharm.D.-Ph.D. and Pharm.D.-MPH.

The Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology options are designed for students interested in the drug discovery or development processes, and are affiliated with the Department of Drug Discovery and Development. Areas of interest include neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes and other metabolic diseases, synthetic organic chemistry, forensic analytical chemistry and drug delivery, disposition and formulation.

The Health Outcomes Research and Policy option is designed for students interested in analyses of pharmaceutical care outcomes and the management and optimization of pharmaceutical care organizations, and is affiliated with the Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy.

The M.S. degree is offered under the thesis option. Students must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate courses, 6000 level or above. Thesis students register for Research and Thesis in semester(s) when working on the thesis, when submitting, defending or awaiting final approval of the thesis, and when taking final examinations. Candidates for the M.S. degree are required to prepare a thesis proposal and complete a proposal defense.


HCOP at a Glance

NATIONAL RANKINGS

Auburn’s Harrison College of Pharmacy is ranked among the top 25% of all pharmacy schools by U.S. News & World Report.


ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

  • Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
  • Master of Science (M.S.)
  • Additionally, students have the opportunity to pursue Pharm.D./Ph.D. and Pharm.D./MPH (Master of Public Health) dual-degree programs.

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS

  • Drug Discovery and Development
  • Health Outcomes Research and Policy
  • Pharmacy Practice

ACCREDITATION

HCOP is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).


CAMPUSES AND LOCATIONS

  • Auburn
  • Mobile
  • Clinical centers in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Columbus, Ga.

HISTORY

Auburn’s pharmacy program was founded in 1885. The college was named the James I. Harrison College of Pharmacy (HCOP) in 2000. The Mobile campus was added in 2007.


STUDENTS

  • Pharm.D: 534
  • M.S./Ph.D.: 60

Students from 23 states and 14 foreign countries

HCOP offers students the opportunity to get involved in more than 20 student organizations

Class Snapshot (Class of 2023):

  • Total Students: 143
  • Average Incoming GPA: 3.3
  • PCAT (cumulative): 58th percentile

FACULTY

  • Faculty: 70+
  • Administrative/Professional Staff: 60+
  • Preceptors: 500+

RESEARCH

Over the past year, HCOP researchers have generated more than $5.97 million in research funding.

HCOP Clinical & Research Faculty totaled totaled more than 160 authorships last year along with 75 authorships from graduate students.

Research Areas:

  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Drug Safety
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Health Care Policy
  • Neurodegenerative Disorders
  • Population-Based Outcomes

RESIDENCIES

4 PGY1 ambulatory care resident positions


CARING FOR ALABAMA

HCOP is committed to improving the health outcomes of Alabama citizens by optimizing the use of medications and promoting wellness. HCOP operates three pharmaceutical care clinics and three pharmacies on the Auburn campus and downtown Montgomery:

  • Auburn University Health Care and Education Clinic
  • Auburn University Pharmaceutical Care Center (AUPCC)
  • State Insurance Employee Board (SEIB) Healthcare Center Clinic in Montgomery
  • Auburn University Employee Pharmacy
  • Auburn University Student Pharmacy
  • State Insurance Employee Board (SEIB) Pharmacy in Montgomery

CONTINUING EDUCATION

HCOP offers four Continuing Education programs annually, involving more than 500 participants. For more information, go to pharmacy.auburn.edu/ce.


ALUMNI

  • HCOP Alumni: 5,672
  • Auburn Pharmacist Alumni Affiliate (APAA): 1,147 members
  • APAA is the oldest alumni organization at Auburn.

OUTREACH

  • In 2018, HCOP entered into an agreement with the City of Auburn to establish the Auburn University Health Care and Education Clinic. The interprofessional clinic will bring students from a variety of healthcare disciplines together to provide care for the underinsured and uninsured in the local community.
  • Additionally, HCOP students have been involved in the creation of two student-run clinics in Birmingham (Equal Access Birmingham) and Mobile (PAWS), teaming with medical and nursing students to offer healthcare to the underserved and homeless.
  • HCOP’s Drug Information Center (DIC) provides unbiased medication information to Alabama healthcare professionals.

Making Medications Work Through Innovative Research Education and Patient Care


On April 22, 2014, the Harrison College of Pharmacy introduced a new slogan: "Making Medications Work Through Innovative Research, Education and Patient Care."

The idea of a slogan was first brought up in 2012, with a call put out to students and faculty to submit ideas. While the intention was to review the submissions and select a winner, the end product ended up being a conglomeration of the submissions.

The slogan hits on three main areas as part of the mission of Auburn University and the Harrison College of Pharmacy: Research, Teaching and Outreach.


Tubes in a Centrifuge
Innovative Research
Faculty will discover and develop new drugs, improve how existing medications can be used more effectively, and develop new and innovative programs to improve health outcomes. Our groundbreaking research enterprise will engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with other researchers across the globe to save and improve patients’ lives.

Conference Meeting Room with Students and a Professor
Transformative Education
The Auburn graduate will be ready to adapt to a changing practice environment and provide leadership to capitalize on those changes for the betterment of patient care and the profession. Graduates will be exceptionally prepared to contribute to a safe and effective drug distribution system, increase access to primary care and ensure that patients’ drug therapy is optimized.

Pharmacy Student performing a checkup on Aubie
Life-Changing Patient Care
By directly engaging patients and health care systems, we will improve health outcomes and promote progressive changes in practice. The College will establish, maintain and evaluate collaborative inter-professional patient care practices for the betterment of patient health and advancement of the profession.

Last Updated: October 24, 2022