Special Topics Courses

Special Topics elective courses promote student opportunities to personalize education by engaging in mentored experiences in a particular area of pharmaceutical science, pharmacy practice, or pharmacy education through individual or small group work under the direction of a faculty member.

Special Topics activities may take the form of immersion in a laboratory, a defined literature review, research with science or patient care focus or other longitudinal experience, activity, or course co-designed by a student and a faculty mentor. Special Topics may be designed as either 1-credit (3 hours/week), 2-credits (6 hours/week) or 3-credits (9 hours/week), depending on the nature of the experience, expected commitment of the student, and stated outcomes of the course.

Special Topics applications and final reports will utilize the learning management system Canvas for course coordination and organization. The Vice Chair of the Curriculum Committee will serve as the Course Coordinator each semester (fall, spring, summer) a Doctor of Pharmacy student enrolls in Special Topics.

Students may enroll in up to 2 Special Topics experiences in any given semester.  

Mentor oversight is provided by a School of Pharmacy faculty member, including those with adjunct appointment. When a mentor is requested who is not a Pitt Pharmacy faculty member or is not able to provide the required responsibilities for course completion, a co-mentor faculty member must participate. 

To register for Special Topics students must: 

  • Identify a faculty mentor 
  • Complete the Special Topics Learning Agreement with the faculty member 
  • Submit the signed Special Topics Learning Agreement to the School of Pharmacy Academic Records Manager prior to 12:00pm (Noon) the day the University of Pittsburgh Add/Drop Period ends 
    • Add/Drop requests after the University deadline may incur late registration charges

To receive a grade for the Special Topics course, a student must submit a final report, signed by their faculty mentor, prior to the last day of classes. The student must also submit a narrative reflection with grade justification, signed by the faculty mentor, prior to the end of finals week. Final letter grades will be submitted by the Vice Chair of the Curriculum Committee by the designated university date for grades. Student failure to submit a summary final report and written narrative with final grade and justification signed by the faculty mentor will result in assignment of “I” grade and notification of the Academic Performance Committee, with a written plan for removal of the “I” designation by the faculty mentor and Course Coordinator. 

FINAL REPORT 

Final report must include a description of the 1) question, hypothesis, objective, or aims, 2) methods/approach, 3) resources/tools, 4) results, and 5) conclusions. The final report must be signed by the faculty mentor prior to submission to Canvas. 

FINAL COURSE GRADE 

Written narrative reflecting on work throughout the semester including final course grade. A narrative justification is required as evidence. The narrative and final course grade must be signed by the faculty mentor prior to submission to Canvas.