CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER (CMO) No.

__ Series of 2009 SUBJECT: POLICIES AND STANDARDS FOR GRADUATE PROGRAM IN HEALTH EDUCATION

POLICY STATEMENTS FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS (Pharmacy) (Masters and Doctorate Degrees) In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7722, otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994 and CMO 36 s. 1998 Policies and Standards for Graduate Education the following minimum policies and standards for the Graduate Health Profession Programs are hereby adopted and promulgated by the Commission, thus: Article I Program Objectives Section 1. Graduate programs on health professions education will provide training on socially responsive, holistic approach, globally-accepted, dynamic and advanced competencies that will enable the graduates to: 1] contribute in maintaining healthy population and environment; 2] be ethically upright; 3] conduct evidenced-based practice and, 4] lead in patient/client advocacy. The Graduate program in health should be vertically articulated by discipline, thus, should therefore emanate from strong undergraduate program across all higher education institutions. The graduate program may be offered by an HEI with either: 1. level II accreditation or 2. strong research program as shown by their: a. presence of research unit with research facilities b. pool of qualified faculty c. presence of research agenda d. research budget e. documented research output

Article II Degree Programs Section 2. Masters degree programs for health professions education are designed with thesis. Doctorate programs require dissertation.

Article III Administration Section 3. Responsibility of the Institution. The HEI is responsible in providing quality graduate programs including qualified and competent faculty, appropriate equipment and necessary facilities. It is also the institutions responsibility to see to it that the student meets the retention, residency and graduation requirements for completion of the program. Section 4. Graduate School/Committee The HEI shall have a Graduate School Program Committee or its equivalent body that shall set internal program policy specifications and shall be responsible for the administration of both the masters and doctorate programs. The Graduate School shall: a. oversee the needs of the programs such as faculty requirements, course offerings and research facilities; b. prepare a Program of Study for the student which lists the courses that the student will take and their sequence so that the student can complete his/her studies within an expected time frame. The HEI and the student shall be committed to fulfill the Program of Study; and, c. review and monitor the program of study of each student. Article IV Faculty Section 5. Qualifications Institutions offering graduate degree program in health must have highly competent faculty, majority of whom should be actively engaged in both graduate teaching and research. For Masters Degree Program: All faculty must be holders of Masters degree in the discipline or related field with at least three (3) full time faculty At least one (1) Ph.D. holder in health profession education or related field

For Doctorate Degree Program: All faculty must be holders of Doctorate degree in the discipline or related field with at least three (3) full time faculty All faculty must have publications in refereed journals in the discipline Section 6. Faculty Work Load. Faculty of graduate programs are expected to perform the following: 6.1 teaching 6.2 program and thesis/dissertation advising 6.3 research activities 6.4 administrative duties as necessary 6.5 extension work as necessary A faculty should be given corresponding credit for assigned workload. A faculty shall be allowed a maximum workload in accordance with the policy of the higher education institution. Article V Curriculum Section 7. The graduate program shall have the following core courses: 7.1 Health Administration & Management 7.2 Bioethics /Jurisprudence 7.3 Research 7.4 Statistics The major courses and electives per program area could be referred to in the attached Annexes. Article VI Library Section 8. Description The library should be a unit able to support both graduate level academics and research. The HEI should strengthen the library towards a pre-identified field of specialization. The publications must be refereed journals. CD ROMs, Internet and other education technologies should be provided.

Article VII Laboratory Facilities and Equipment Section 9. Description Specifications for graduate laboratory facilities and equipment should exceed the minimum determined requirements for the undergraduate level of the same program. Specialized facilities and equipment required for the implementation of graduate programs for the health programs are listed in the individual Annexes. 9.1 The laboratory facilities and equipment should exceed the minimum requirements in the undergraduate level. The classrooms must have multimedia facilities and computers. Article VIII Admission, Grade Requirement & Other Requirements for Students Section 10. Admission. An applicant must comply with the admission requirements for each specific discipline [See Annexes]. However, for programs with licensure examinations, an applicant must be a registered professional. Section 11. Grade Requirements: The graduate student must maintain a weighted average of the following: 11.1 For masters degree, 1.75 with no grade below 2 11.2 For doctorate degree, 1.75 with no grade below 2 Section 12. Other Requirements: a. Not more than five (5) calendar years including leave of absence (LOA) and absence without official leave (AWOL) from the start of the graduate work shall be allowed for the fulfillment of all requirements for the masters degree. b. In case of maximum residence rule (MRR) is exceeded, an extension of one (1) semester upon recommendation of the adviser and subject to the approval of the department/program committee shall be granted. Further extension of no more than one (1) semester shall be allowed. c. As a general rule, a student may be allowed to carry maximum load of twelve (12) units for full-time student and three (3) to six (6) units for parttime student each semester. However, a student may be allowed to take units in excess of this policy if he/she is graduating after that term.(how many units allowed for overload and what is the average grade requirement for one to be granted the overload) 4

d. Provision for transferees shall satisfy residency requirement of core and cognate courses of the graduate education institution. e. For transferees, units earned from the previous higher education institution may be credited as long as at least twenty seven (27) units inclusive of thesis writing will be earned from the HEI awarding the degree. f. Thesis in Absentia: a. The thesis of a candidate may be done in absentia with the approval of the program committee if the work requires facilities and other resources outside the country. b. A student who needs to work for his thesis in absentia shall first register for six (6) units of masters thesis before departure and pay residency fees as needed accordingly. c. For masters degree program, the expected time frame shall exclude any undergraduate or bridging course. ARTICLE XIII TRANSITORY PROVISION Higher education institutions that have been granted permit or recognition to offer the graduate program are required to fully comply with all the requirements in this CMO within a non-extendible period of one (1) year after the date of effectivity. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) shall also comply with the requirements herein set forth. ARTICLE XIV REPEALING CLAUSE All CHED issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which is inconsistent with the provisions of this CMO are hereby repealed. ARTICLE XV EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE This CMO shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication of the official Gazette, or in two (2) newspaper of national circulation. This CMO shall be implemented beginning Academic Year 2010-2011.

Article IX Effectivity Clauses Section 15. New Program. These Policies and Standards shall apply immediately to new program necessitating issuance of permits to operate for Schoolyear 20102011. Section 16. Existing Programs Existing programs with Permit or Recognition status should conform with this CMO effective SY______.

EMMANUEL Y. ANGELES Chairman

Pasig City, Philippines _________, 2009

ANNEX A PROPOSED CURRICULUM FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHARMACY Unit s 6 18 6 6 36

I. Core Courses II. Professional Courses III. Cognates IV. Masters Thesis TOTAL CORE COURSES

Research Methods (3 Units) The course covers the different methods of research in preparation of an original independent research project. Advanced Statistics (3 Units) The course deals on the application of various statistical techniques in data collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation. PROFESSIONAL COURSES Product Development & Dosage Formulations (3 Units) The course focuses on the practical application of principles, regulations, and methods in the development and formulation of safe, efficacious, and quality drug products. Advanced Pharmacology & Toxicology (3 Units) The course covers the advanced concepts and principles of Pharmacology of drugs with emphasis on the molecular basis of drug action and the different mathematical models for the various kinetic processes. This course also includes the study of the toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic principles of drugs and other substances. Advanced Clinical Pharmacy (3 Units) This course entails the significant progress of patient-oriented pharmacy service in community and hospital settings. This 7

includes the expansion of the pharmacists clinical role to provide therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacokinetic dosing, patient education, medication counseling, medication history, drug utilization review, emergency, medical care, and provision of drug information to other health professionals. Advanced Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance (3 Units) The course deals with the theories, principles, techniques, and application of various methods of pharmaceutical analysis in the quality assurance of raw materials and drug products. Advanced Jurisprudence and Bioethics (3 Units) This course deals with the study of the laws and regulations relative to the practice of pharmacy both locally and internationally. This also includes the application of ethical principles with emphasis on biomedical research. Advanced Pharmacy Administration & Management (3 Units) This course includes the basic principles and application of management & administration to pharmacy practice. It involves skillful and careful managing, handling, controlling, and directing in a tactful manner the various scientific fields of community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industrial pharmacy, and government organizations dealing with enforcement of health and welfare regulations. COGNATES Nutraceuticals, Complimentary, & Alternative Medicine (3 Units) The course includes the study of non-pharmacological substances and approaches in the promotion of well-being and as an adjunct in disease management. Drug information System (3 Units) The course covers the development, evaluation, and provision of drug and health-related information to facilitate rational drug use. MASTERS THESIS Thesis I (3 Units) Protocol development and defense Thesis II (3 Units) 8

Conduct of the approved protocol, thesis writing and oral defense.

ANNEX B ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 1. Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy with a general average of at least 2.0/85% or B. 2. Certified true copy of Transcript of Records and document/s attesting to passing a board exam. 3. Two (2) referral forms: One (1) for the current superior or Dean; and the other for the professor in one major course. 4. For Foreigners: Requirements TOEFL English Proficiency and Student Visa

5. Transfer Credentials, if applicable.