School of Pharmacy
Integrated Curriculum & Team-Based Learning

Most courses are taught using Team-Based Learning (TBL). Team-Based Learning (TBL) is a relatively new teaching method in the field of pharmacy education that has a widespread history of proven success in medical and business schools. Unlike traditional teaching methods in which information is learned through a lecture format, in TBL students learn the discipline of pharmacy through a working group approach. They are divided into teams of five or six members who work together for an extended period of time to learn subject matter. Prior to class, study material is assigned to students for independent review. During class, they apply their gained knowledge to relevant activities with their teammates, which reinforces the information. In this way, the focus of the classroom experience becomes applying the course content and concepts. Students are held accountable for both individually and as a team through readiness assessments tests over the respective materials.

The aspect of integrating course content throughout our pharmacy curriculum reinforces topic areas, giving our students a comprehensive and dynamic fund of knowledge by the time they graduate. Regis University School of Pharmacy is one of two pharmacy schools in the country currently using TBL as the primary teaching method, and it is the only pharmacy school combining integrated content with the TBL method.

In addition to classroom instruction, the Pharm.D. program has an experiential component that provides students with a variety of learning situations where they receive hands-on experience under the guidance of professional preceptors in hospital and clinic settings. These settings often afford the opportunity to interact with diverse and multicultural patients, enhancing an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. Students begin their Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) in the second semester of their first year. Regis University School of Pharmacy enjoys enthusiastic and far-reaching support from the clinical community in the Denver metro area and beyond. Our students have been welcomed by the pharmacy community, and through their knowledge and professionalism have affirmed the confidence community leaders have placed in our program. In addition to practical experiences, service learning activities are integral components of our experiential program, allowing students community outreach both locally and abroad.

 

The Regis University School of Pharmacy and the Center of Service Learning in RHCHP have been working collaboratively to create a progressive model for service learning in Pharmacy education.

Service learning is integrated into one course each of the first six semesters. This level of integration is not common in Pharmacy Schools and demonstrates Regis’ commitment to creating a School of Pharmacy dedicated to a values driven education. In these courses, each service experience will be guided by a theme that is specific to the course objectives. Students are required to do approximately 15-20 hours of service.

Examples of Service Learning Goals include but are not limited to:

• Expose students to a cross section of diverse populations
• Provide students with an opportunity to become more culturally competent through relationship formation and communication with diverse groups
• Students will give critical thought to the role of pharmacists as patient advocates and consider strategies to advocate for the populations they work with
• Increase global awareness and advocacy skills
• Students will make the correlation between health care access challenges and socioeconomic or environmental factors
• Students will gain awareness of the importance of health literacy