Nutrition Education in Colleges of Pharmacy1

Colleges of pharmacy in the United States were surveyed to determine the status of nutrition education; 54 colleges responded. Entry-level programs required a median of 12 to 15 contact hours of nutrition-related coursework. Experiential training was offered by 69 percent. Increased emphasis on nutrition over the next five years was anticipated by 44 percent. Continuing education in nutrition was offered by 56 percent during the past three years. Persons primarily responsible for nutrition education, most commonly, had received a PhD or a PharmD degree. Nutrition education varies widely amongst colleges. The number of colleges reporting no required coursework is alarming. The number of colleges anticipating an increase in nutrition coverage with conversion to an entry-level PharmD is encouraging, but most colleges presently offering both BS and entry-level PharmD programs apparently did not expand nutrition coverage in the conversion