The Faculty of Pharmacy: a common core curriculum

1. In order to advance the Faculty of Pharmacy's objective of nurturing highly skilled medical professionals with strong people skills and a comprehensive education, the program for first year students in both departments will be primarily based at Keio's Hiyoshi Campus. Opportunities to take classes in the sciences, humanities and social sciences will enable students to develop a broad base of cultural knowledge rather than focusing exclusively on specialist pharmacy skills. A unique, interdisciplinary "People and Culture" course will allow students to select from a wide range of classes offered within the faculties of Letters, Economics, Law, Business & Commerce, Medicine, and Science & Technology, based at the Hiyoshi Campus.
2. While the ultimate goal of education in each department is different, there is a core body of knowledge required for graduates of either program to excel in their chosen fields. As a result, all students will be required to take a common set of courses in addition to those specific to their program of study.
3. The importance of practical work experience cannot be overstated; it gives students the essential skills required by employers, complementing the knowledge they have gained throughout their academic study. Both departments in the Faculty of Pharmacy offer early work experience schemes designed to help students weigh career options and develop a valuable network in their field. Students will have opportunities to take part in practice-based activities and the management and care of patients.
4. Keio University is strongly committed to providing opportunities for its students to develop international skills and competencies. The ability to communicate effectively in English is essential to future leaders, and the Faculty of Pharmacy will include various language components in its curriculum. Specialist subject courses will be complemented with classes on relevant scientific and medical English terms, and English language lectures will also be provided in some courses.

Faculty of Pharmacy: Department of Pharmacy six-year curriculum

The six-year Bachelor of Pharmacy program will provide a humanistic-focused, comprehensive and practical education. Upon completion of the program, students will be highly skilled in the professional aspects of pharmacy, have effective communication skills and appreciate the relationship between the pharmacist's professional and social roles.

From the first year of the program, students will participate in small group sessions on bioethics, which will instill an appreciation for the dignity of human life while providing opportunities to improve communication and presentation skills. As part of the department's efforts to encourage in students an appropriate attitude as medical professionals, visits to hospitals and with pharmacists will be arranged soon after enrollment at the university. It is hoped that these experiences will also inspire and motivate students in their studies. The initial emphasis of the program will be on developing a strong base in chemistry, physics and biology, before focusing on specialist subjects.

In the second and third years of the program, students will participate in lectures and training sessions in areas such as organic chemistry, biochemistry and physical chemistry as part of the core scientific grounding necessary to become an effective pharmacist.

The focus in the first half of the fourth year will be on proper drug usage, and will cover drug therapy, the relationship between pharmaceutical science and society, and other relevant topics. The second semester will involve advanced training at medical pharmacy training labs.

Before moving on to practical training in the fifth year of the program, students will attend lectures on integrated medical pharmacy. The lectures will prepare students for hands-on clinical sessions at full scale hospitals and pharmacies. Training programs are being planned primarily be held at the Keio University Hospital at the Shinanomachi Campus and other partner hospitals in the Tokyo area.

The main aim of the sixth and final year of the program will be to enhance problem solving skills through research projects, including a major final project. Students will also benefit from Keio University's cutting-edge hospital training system, designed to provide experience in working with advanced medical practice.

Faculty of Pharmacy: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences four-year curriculum

The four-year Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science program will provide a broad-based, scientifically strong and comprehensive education. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for an active contributing role in a wide range of areas in the pharmaceutical and related fields. It will equip students with the strong base of skills needed to support the nation's health through education and advanced pharmaceutical research, and prepare them to adapt to changes that may occur during their careers.

In addition to increasing the breadth of students' knowledge and giving them a firm grounding in the basics relating to their specialty, the first year of the program will provide opportunities to explore a wide range of career options through early work experience schemes. Students will have a chance to observe and gain hands-on experience in a range of fields, benefiting from valuable mentoring and advice from field professionals with pharmaceutical science backgrounds. These experiences will help students to better define their interests and future career goals. One early work experience option will allow students to get involved in advanced research being carried out by various faculties within the university. Encouraging students to think about how their studies tie in with their future goals from the beginning of the program will increase motivation and focus on their work.

In the second and third years of the program, students will participate in highly specialized courses designed to provide a scientific grounding focusing on the human body, disease and pharmaceuticals. The curriculum will also include advanced training modules to prepare students for full fledged research, and teach scientific processes and presentation skills. The third year will also include a corporate internship.

In their fourth and final year, students will consult with a personal tutor to design a course of study that best suits their goals after graduation. Those who are interested in pursuing a career directly after completing the program can choose to take primarily lectures, which will prepare them for further training in their chosen profession. Those planning to go on to graduate studies or research-intensive careers can opt for the research track, where they will undertake a major final project taking roughly one year to complete.

Note: Students who demonstrate a high level of achievement may be permitted to advance to the first semester of the graduate school curriculum following completion of the third year of the program.

Faculty & Departments

Keio University Faculty of Pharmacy
- Department of Pharmacy (six-year program)
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (four-year program)

Pre-2006 departments

- Department of Pharmacy (four-year program)
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy (four-year program)

* Due to the introduction of the six-year program in 2006, applications are no longer being accepted for these departments.

Degrees granted

- Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
- Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPharm.Sc.)