KENT – Kent State University’s College of Applied and Technical Studies (CATS) is partnering with the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) to provide a pathway for students to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.).

The journey begins on a Kent State Regional Campus through the Associate of Science degree program and leads directly to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at NEOMED. The robust curriculum is designed to fully prepare students for the transition to NEOMED through a suggested sequence of courses to complete the associate of science degree and to continue into the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

An early assurance component secures a seat in NEOMED’s pharmacy school for high school seniors, first-year college students or college sophomores who meet the necessary requirements.

Students must complete six semesters (71 hours) of coursework as an undergraduate at Kent State to earn an Associate of Science degree through CATS with at least a 2.5 GPA and no grade lower than a C-.

Established in 1973, NEOMED is a public health sciences university located in Rootstown, Ohio. It is committed to the health, economy and quality of life in Northeast Ohio through the medicine, pharmacy and health sciences education of students and practitioners at all levels; the development of new knowledge through research in the biomedical, community health and behavioral sciences; and the provision of community service and wellness education throughout the region.

“We are thrilled about this new relationship because we have seen how successful students from Kent State are in our PharmD program,” noted Katherine M. Tromp, Pharm.D., dean of the NEOMED College of Pharmacy. “This new relationship creates a cost-effective path to the PharmD degree, and we are hopeful that it will expose more students to the exciting career paths in pharmacy.”

Kent State officials are equally excited about this partnership and the opportunities it presents to future students. “I’m so proud of this partnership,” said Peggy Shadduck, Ph., D., vice president of Kent State’s Regional Campuses and dean of CATS. “By bringing together our College Credit Plus program, the Regional Campuses, the Kent Campus and NEOMED, we’re creating the most direct and economical pathway possible for students to move from an associate degree all the way to a Doctor of Pharmacy. This collaboration will open doors, giving students across our communities access to life-changing career opportunities.”

To learn more, contact Alison Hoskinson from Kent State’s Enrollment Management and Student Services Department at 330-675-8966 or afrost@kent.edu. Details can also be found at https://www.kent.edu/cats/pharmacy.