PharmD/MBA & MS Dual Degree

Saint Joseph’s PharmD/MBA & MS dual degree program will help expand career opportunities, build entrepreneurial skills, and prepare pharmacists for positions in healthcare business, pharmaceutical industry, innovation, and leadership. Designed for PharmD students in their first professional year or higher, these dual degrees equip students with essential business skills such as strategic management, financial analysis, and leadership, which are increasingly valuable in the evolving healthcare landscape. The MBA and MS components, offered by the Haub School of Business, prepare student pharmacists to navigate the complex, cost-focused healthcare environment. You can complete the MBA/MS component of the program online or on-campus in 2-3 years while at the same time pursuing your doctor of pharmacy degree. 

As a student in enrolled in this joint program, you’ll combine your PharmD degree with one of the following MBA or MS programs:

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What Sets Our Program Apart

  • The PharmD/MBA & MS dual doctorate degree is designed to meet the needs of our full-time PharmD students seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in healthcare business and related areas. With the PharmD courses taking place on-campus, students can enroll in the business courses completely online. Our evening business classes are small and designed for students to create connections with their classmates and professors. Work at your own pace by strategically choosing courses. Learn more about the online experience

  • Saint Joseph's faculty are experts in their fields, bringing theory, practice, and relevance to the classroom. Students enrolled in this program will benefit from the resources and experienced faculty in both the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the Haub School of Business. 

    • Expanded career opportunities: A PharmD/MBA or PharmD/MS dual degree can open up exciting career paths, including roles in pharmaceutical companies, healthcare management, and executive positions.
    • Business acumen: An MBA provides valuable business skills that complement clinical pharmacy knowledge, including management, marketing and finance.
    • Leadership preparation: Many healthcare administrators (e.g. directors of pharmacy) have masters degrees, so the degree can be beneficial for pharmacists interested in administrative or leadership roles in hospitals or other healthcare organizations.
    • Entrepreneurial skills: For pharmacists interested in owning their own pharmacy, starting a business or looking to expand pharmacy services at their place of employment, dual PharmD/MBA or PharmD/MS provides essential entrepreneurial and management skills.

What can you do with a PharmD/MBA & MS Dual Degree? 

This combination enhances career opportunities, significantly increasing the graduate's competitiveness in the job market and opening doors to diverse roles in pharmaceutical industries, healthcare administration and beyond. Upon graduating, students can land a career in: 

  • Pharmaceutical Industry Management 
  • Healthcare Administration 
  • Managed Care Organizations 
  • Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing 
  • Healthcare Consulting 
  • Entrepreneurship

Program Details

  • View required courses for the PharmD/MBA dual degree here and the PharmD/MS dual degree here. 

  • Approximately one-half of the tuition cost of MBA/MS courses are covered by the PharmD program tuition if courses are taken during the P1-P3 semesters of the PharmD program. MBA/MS classes taken during the summer or during the P4 year of the PharmD program are charged at the per-credit tuition rate. Costs are also incurred if you exceed 20 credits per semester.

    Visit our Tuition & Fees page for more information.

  • SJU is a Yellow Ribbon School that accepts GI education benefits. Our Office of Veterans Service can help you access and understand your benefits.

Why Pursue a PharmD/MBA & MS Dual Degree in Philadelphia? 

Here in Philadelphia, you’re in the heart of the health science industry, where you’re surrounded by 250 medical facilities and within two hours of 75% of all U.S. pharmaceutical firms. And with our University City location being near so many healthcare organizations, you’ll have endless options for internships and rotations that often lead to employment coming out of pharmacy school. Philadelphia is also home to one of the major corporate centers in the U.S., positioning students to gain career opportunities in one of the 14 Fortune 500 companies headquarters in the city.

Admission Information

  • Any student that is accepted or currently enrolled in the PharmD program may apply for the dual degree program if they:

    • Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
    • Are at the first professional year (P1) level or higher
    • Have completed their general education/cornerstone core curriculum credits or have previously earned a Bachelor's degree.

    For students currently in the direct entry program who have not yet earned their bachelor’s of science (BS) Degree:

    • Students will be issued a conditional acceptance to the dual degree program until they apply for BS graduation.
    • Students are permitted to take up to 9 credits of MBA coursework prior to obtaining the BS degree at the end of the second professional year (P2).

    Participation Criteria: 

    • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to enter a dual degree program.
    • Students must maintain a professional (PharmD+Haub courses) GPA of 3.0 to stay in the dual degree program.
    • Special permission and scheduling is required for students to take graduate certificate / Haub courses during the last professional year alongside advanced pharmacy practice experiences (P4/APPEs).
    • Per university policy, special permission is required to take greater than 20 credits in any given semester.
    • In order to obtain the Haub degree, students must have a cumulative GPA in their Haub courses that equals or exceeds 3.0.

  • Students from outside of SJU who are applying to the PharmD program should indicate interest in the MBA or MS programs on their PharmCAS application. The deadline for external applications to the PharmD program is May 1st. Email pcp@sju.edu for more information.

    Applications from currently enrolled Saint Joseph’s University students are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students should contact Dr. Lora Packel, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, at lpackel@sju.edu with any questions.

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