Georgia Southern and South University Collaborate to Launch Pharmacy Careers

A new collaboration between Georgia Southern and South University will cut the cost and time for local students pursuing a pharmacy degree. The reverse transfer partnership allows qualified Georgia Southern students studying biology or chemistry to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in three years and progress to South University School of Pharmacy to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in an additional three years. The pathway for the undergraduate to graduate degrees normally would take students seven years to complete; however, this intercollegiate agreement allows students to complete both programs in only six years and saves students the tuition costs of an additional year at Georgia Southern.

“The College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) at Georgia Southern has an established and proud record of preparing students to study pharmacy, with many of our students matriculating to our local pharmacy school, South University,” said Delana Gajdosik-Nivens, COSM dean. “We look forward to the many opportunities that this arrangement will bring such as collaborative basic and applied research projects for our graduate and undergraduate students.”

Leaders from both institutions believe the agreement provides a substantial benefit for students.

“First and foremost, this is a great opportunity and benefit for the Georgia Southern University students to receive their bachelor’s degree while on their way to earning their Pharm.D. degree from South University,” said Dean Arneson, South University School of Pharmacy dean. “… Secondly, this strengthens the relationship between the two universities. During the negotiations opportunities for collaboration and scholarship have been discussed for both schools’ faculty members and students, and are in the process of being implemented. The South University School of Pharmacy faculty are extremely excited about this agreement and how it will benefit both programs.”

The “3+3” program between the two institutions is available to current and incoming Georgia Southern students.