About

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is committed to student success and offers a diverse array of undergraduate and graduate programs where students learn about, from, and with each other in interprofessional settings 

Departments and Programs

• Health Sciences
  • The undergraduate Health Sciences curriculum is flexible in order to serve the needs of a variety of health care career interests.  Students choose to focus their education according to one of three majors, depending on their areas of interest: Clinical and Medical Sciences, Health Care Administration, or Public Health.
  • As a Health Sciences student, you can prepare for a career in areas as diverse as medicine, practice management, public health, pharmaceutical research, or health insurance administration. You will receive the scientific foundations as well as background in health care issues to be well prepared to pursue graduate study to become a physician, physical therapist, physician’s assistant, or other health care professional.
  • The graduate online Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics (MS HIA) empowers students to apply data analysis and information technology solutions to the evidence-based delivery of health care. 
    • As a Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics student, you will use biomedical data, information, and knowledge to improve health care in transforming an in-demand industry.  You will help providers assess and treat patients more effectively. When applied to public health, your use of informatics and analytics will improve decision-making and the monitoring of diseases.
• Athletic Training (MAT)
  • As an Master in Athletic Training student, you can prepare for a variety of careers as you work with Division I student-athletes and pursue a variety of minors and concentrations in a curriculum that allows for the obtainment of a Bachelor and Master degrees in a shorter amount of time than if the degrees were obtained separately.
  • Students may enter the Pre-Athletic Training track within the Health Sciences major to complete the program prerequisites or following completion of a minimum of three years of undergraduate coursework. 
  • This rigorous program will prepare you to sit for the National Board of Certification examination for Athletic Training.
• Nursing (ABSN)
  • In Drake's Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, you can complete your nursing education in just 12 months, instead of the 4 years most traditional nursing programs take to complete. The ABSN program combines didactic coursework and over 600 hours of simulation, laboratories, and clinical hours in diverse settings with interprofessional education.
  • This competency-based curriculum will prepare you to be successful on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and as a future leader in the field of nursing.
• Occupational Therapy (OTD)
  • As the demand for occupational therapists grows, you will be ready to meet those needs, backed by Drake’s tradition of educational excellence in the health sciences. That legacy is rooted in a learning experience that takes place in the classroom and in the field, and emphasizes technical knowledge and the interpersonal skills necessary to be an effective health care provider and innovative leader in occupational therapy.
  • As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) student, you can participate in an accelerated year-round program that provides course work and experiences that prepares you to help patients live their lives to the fullest.  Drake’s accelerated, three-year OTD—and Pre-Occupational Therapy track for undergraduates—is designed with the future of health care in mind.
• Pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Pharmacists don’t just stand behind a counter and count pills, so why should your pharmacy education be just about the textbook or lecture? At Drake, we are teaching innovative practices for the future of pharmacy—in and out of the classroom.
  • As a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student, you can participate in a variety of experiences not only in Des Moines, but throughout the country and the world. You can participate in high quality experiential sites that prepare you for your career. You can join our graduates who have enjoyed an accomplishment rate of nearly 100 percent since 1984 with a high percentage of graduates entering competitive residency and other post-graduate positions. You can be part of a program has a strong reputation across the country as we are consistently highly ranked among private schools by the US News & World Report.
  • Start your pursuit of a career in pharmacy with all the advantages of Drake’s pre-pharmacy program. Drake’s pre-pharmacy major is a two-year curriculum that prepares students to apply to our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.  If you are admitted to Drake’s pre-pharmacy school, you will receive the benefits of the Drake Direct PharmD program, which is a 2+4 program that allows you to become a pharmacist in 6 years instead of seven to eight.  Students who have completed the proper coursework at another institution may apply for admission into the professional program as well.
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP)
  • As a Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology student, you will receive advanced training and education in the field of clinical psychopharmacology to enhance your ability to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care to individuals with mental health conditions. We are committed to developing psychologists who are skilled in pharmacological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning and who possess the knowledge and expertise to collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals.

  • The online Master’s in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) degree from Drake University gives licensed post-doctoral psychologists the specialized training required to prescribe medication in Iowa and other states. This advanced credential can enhance your practice offerings, help you increase access to essential mental health care, and open doors to new professional opportunities.

  • After completing your MSCP degree, you will meet the requirements to sit for the Psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologists (PEP). With a passing score on the exam and completion of a fellowship where you will gain hands-on experience and supervision from a licensed physician, you will be ready to apply for prescriptive certification.

  • The MSCP program at Drake University has been designated by the American Psychological Association (APA) as an Education and Training Program in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority.  Designation status is professional recognition that the Drake program meets the highest level of academic and training standards. Drake University is the 6^th MSCP program in the country to achieve APA designation.

A Message from the Dean

Hello, I am Erik D. Maki, and I have the honor of serving as the Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. When we get the chance to meet, please call me Erik. 

I originally came to Drake because of the commitment to student success and the opportunity through mentorship to build meaningful personal relationships. I strongly believe in and am committed to our mission, especially our emphasis on collaborative learning and integration of liberal arts, sciences, and professional preparation. 

I believe Drake is a great place for students because of the diversity of individual and collective opportunities offered here that are not available at other institutions. Our students are more than just students within their majors. They are athletes, musicians, and artists, just to name a few. They are leaders at the university and serve in our community. They pursue multiple majors, concentrations, and degrees. Ultimately ready to make us proud and fulfil our mission of leading meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. I am consistently inspired by our students’ diverse talents and pursuits

As a college we are invested in student success. For example, we use a "blended model" of advising and mentoring. This means that each student is formally assigned a combination of professional Advising Specialist and a Faculty Mentor. 

Faculty Mentors

• Provide mentoring from a students' first day on campus through graduation and beyond
• Help students adapt to the college environment
• Assist in the development of individual educational plan
• Encourage discussions about career tracks and the career options within professions
• Assist with identifying opportunities for professional skill development including internships and shadowing

Advising Specialist

• Answer questions regarding registration, credit completion, program requirements, Drake Curriculum, course transfer process, and study abroad opportunities
• Serve as a resource for the combined degree programs
• Coordinate and communicate opportunities for internship, study abroad, research, and post-graduate study
• Advise on educational plan exceptions and transfer credit requests
• Update degree evaluations re: substitutions, exceptions, and transfer courses

I have no doubt that you will find our community to be one that exhibits our values of collegiality, professionalism, collaboration, entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, and learner-centered en route to accomplishing our vision to be a "diverse community of learners leading the way to a healthy world." Even though I have been a member of this community for several years, I continue to be amazed each day with the passion and dedication that the faculty, staff, students, alumni and our many partners bring to this vision and our values.

Whichever program you choose to pursue, you will find excellent and accessible faculty ready to guide you toward success. You will have the opportunity to learn from them in the classroom or through individual assistance, gain advice on career pathways, participate with them in their research projects, and provide professional and community service together. And the connections don't end with graduation. We are proud of our alumni and the network that has developed through their giving back to our programs. Our alumni have found that whatever path they choose to pursue, they are recognized for their commitment to advancing their practices, supporting their community, and advocating for their patients and profession. 

Welcome to our community!

Erik D. Maki
Dean