RHOP

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Pharmacy

Options

The Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) currently has options in clinical laboratory science (medical technology), dental hygiene, dentistry, medial technology, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and radiography. The information contained on this page pertains only to pharmacy. For information on the other options, make a new selection from the Health Professions options page, call 888-293-2293, or email hpoffice@csc.edu.

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for RHOP, the applicant MUST:

1. Be a rural Nebraska resident (Omaha and Lincoln areas are excluded).
2. Be a Nebraska high school graduate.
3. Apply to only the Chadron State College OR Wayne State College RHOP program.
4. Be committed to practice in a rural Nebraska area.
5. Be enrolled at CSC for the entirety of their discipline guidelines.
6. If a nontraditional student: must be willing to begin their work at CSC as a freshman, regardless of previous education.

December 1 Deadline

Applications must be completed on-line, printed & together with three letters of recommendation, a copy of ACT scores, and transcripts submitted via mail to the Chadron State College Health Professions Office. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify a complete application prior to the December 1 deadline. Click here for an application.

Program Characteristics

Three years of study at Chadron State College, followed by three years of pharmacy education at the UNMC College of Pharmacy, are required. The fourth year curriculum at the College of Pharmacy is experience-based and will be conducted at sites in rural communities in Nebraska. A doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from UNMC will be awarded upon successful completion of the program. The application of college credit earned through previous college work, CLEP or high school courses for college credit under an Advanced Placement curriculum will be determined on an individual basis.
The application of college credit earned through previous college work, CLEP or high school courses for college credit under an Advanced Placement curriculum will be determined on an individual basis.

Selection Guidelines

Numerous factors are a part of the selection process. For the Rural Health Opportunities Program, special consideration will be given to applicants who:

• Want to become pharmacists.
• Demonstrate academic potential.
• Are from rural areas of Nebraska.
• Are committed to returning to rural areas of Nebraska to practice.

Interviews

Interviews will be approximately 20-30 minutes in length, informal and conducted by faculty from UNMC and CSC. The interviewers are interested in learning as much about the interviewee as possible, and in answering any questions he/she may have regarding Chadron State College, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the College of Pharmacy, or the Rural Health Opportunities Program.
The interviews will be held on the CSCcampus. However, each person being interviewed will receive a letter stating the specific time and location for the interview.

Final Selection

RHOP Positions: Three applicants will be selected to fill the positions in the program for the next class.

Alternate Positions: Three applicants will be selected as alternates. Only alternates will be allowed to fill any vacancies that may develop in this class. Those students receiving alternate status will maintain this status as long as they enroll at Chadron State College maintain the standards set forth in the RHOP guidelines, and follow the prescribed curriculum.

All applicants will be notified of their status as soon as possible.

Career Promotional Activities

Exposure to the world of pharmacy and rural health care is an important additional objective of the student’s studies at Chadron State College. Some activities in which each student will participate include:

• Attend credit and non-credit UNMC conducted videoconferences and classes.
• Develop a professional association with one or more practicing pharmacists.
• Shadow pharmacists.
• Tour the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
• Work with pharmacy students at UNMC.
• Attend classes with pharmacy students at UNMC.
• Observe pharmacists practicing in community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and other practice sites.
• Participate in on-campus activities for health professions students. 

Progress Evaluation

Course Work

• Follow the specific curriculum designed for this program.
• Complete courses in a timely manner in order to enter the professional program as scheduled. 

Program Standards

• A minimum of 3.25 with a 3.5 GPA in science courses is required during the freshman and sophomore years.
• Should the student earn a "D" or an "F" in any course or have a semester in which the GPA falls below 3.25, or 3.5 in science courses, the participant must immediately meet with the pre-pharmacy advisor and the Director of Health Professions. The student and the advisor will determine a remedial program. The student will be considered at academic risk and will be placed on one semester of probation. If the GPA remains below 3.25, or 3.5 in science courses, after the semester of probation, the student may be dropped from the program.

Journal

Each student is required to keep a journal of his or her professional activities and experiences at CSC. The journals will be turned in to the CSC Health Professions Office at the end of each semester.

Benefits of the Program

If selected as a participant in the program, each student will:

• Receive early acceptance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy as he/she begins the pre-pharmacy curriculum at Chadron State College.
• Follow a special curriculum at CSC which will prepare the student for pharmacy studies at UNMC.
• Have recognition of their desire to become a pharmacist.

For course work requirements while at CSC please see the degree programs page.