The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a historically Black educational institution in Princess Anne, has entered into a partnership agreement with Frostburg State University. The cooperative undergraduate/professional program agreement will enable Frostburg students to earn a pharmacy degree at UMES by reducing instruction time by up to two years. UMES’s pharmacy program, one of 15 in the nation that offers year-round instruction, enables students to earn a doctorate in three years instead of the traditional four. Upon completion, students are eligible to take the pharmacy licensing exam.
Undergraduates majoring in chemistry who meet the requirements and have strong academic credentials may gain preferential admission to UMES’ professional degree program after three years of undergraduate study. Frostburg students who choose to pursue the UMES pharmacy track and successfully complete the “3 + 3” program will earn two degrees, one from each institution – a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Frostburg State and a pharmacy doctorate from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
“This is an exciting collaboration for UMES, FSU, and the University System of Maryland,” said Heidi M. Anderson, president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. “Both of our universities are located in rural areas that have serious healthcare disparities. Additional community pharmacists can have a positive impact on the health of the population they serve.”
“We’re delighted to launch this partnership for several crucial reasons, not the least of which is meeting the educational needs of the state of Maryland with high-quality and innovative academic programming,” added Nancy Niemi, provost and vice president for academic affairs at UMES.
