Preparing incoming pharmacy students for a professional program: utilization of a practice lecture and comparative quizzes as a component of a bridging program

摘要

Transition from an undergraduate curriculum into a rigoroushealth sciences professional degree program is academicallychallenging. The transition into a Doctor of Pharmacy(Pharm.D) program may be more challenging than other doctoral level health science programs, such as medical school orphysical therapy school, since most Pharm.D programs onlyrequire 2 yr of college level prerequisite coursework for admission into the 4-yr Pharm.D program.Students who struggle with the transition often exhibit difficulties with the intensity of the program: large course loads(~18 –19 units/semester) with advanced level content. Thesestudents have not developed the academic skills and gritnecessary to succeed in a professional degree program. Theinability to adapt quickly predisposes students to course failures early in the curriculum, leading to delayed graduation ordismissal from the program. To facilitate a more successfultransition, some pharmacy schools have begun to implementbridging programs (4). Bridging programs or courses are short,intensive courses commonly designed to increase knowledge,boost confidence, facilitate academic and social transitions, andenhance student preparation for more advanced impendingcoursework (4).