Kean University students now have a faster path to earning a doctoral degree in pharmacy under a new dual degree agreement with Howard University that is designed to encourage more students from underrepresented groups to enter the health care field.
Signed this week during Kean’s ongoing Black History Month celebrations, the accelerated degree program provides qualified students at Kean the opportunity to begin studying at Howard, one of the nation’s most prestigious historically Black research universities, during their senior year.
Ultimately, participating Kean students will obtain both a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Kean and a Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D., from Howard in Washington, D.C., in seven years, one year faster than through traditional pharmacy academic programs.
“This landmark agreement with one of the preeminent historically Black universities in the nation is a momentous step in fulfilling Kean’s mission as New Jersey’s urban research university,” Kean President Lamont Repollet said. “It will bring students from diverse backgrounds into this critical field. As a minority-serving institution, Kean shares profound similarities and deep-rooted values with Howard. We look forward to learning from this partnership and are committed to strategically aligning with other institutions to optimally support and elevate our students’ experiences and opportunities.”
Representatives of Howard are expected to visit Kean in April to begin recruiting students for the program.
Under the articulation agreement, Kean students in the chemistry program can apply for the program in their sophomore year. Once admitted, they’ll enroll in the first year of pharmacy school at Howard during their senior year at Kean.
After successful completion of their first year at Howard, Kean will accept the Howard credits and award the student a B.A. in chemistry. Students will then progress through Howard’s Pharm.D. program and receive their Pharm.D. after successfully completing the requirements.