CURRICULAR TRANSFORMATION .1. THEORETICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS UNDERLYING SELECTED PHARMACY EDUCATION STUDIES

Rarely is ideology clearly and explicitly exposed in the curriculum de velopment and planning process. Often those developing curricular plan s and studies may not even be consciously aware of the world view orie ntation they hold. This study sought to identity and describe the theo retical and philosophical foundations underlying the primary curriculu m studies in pharmacy education in order to make them more clearly vis ible. Such an examination can help uncover the conceptual framework up on which pharmacy education programs have been built. The authors beli eve this understanding can enable us to better comprehend the historic al roots, the present status, and possible directions for the future o f pharmacy education. Such an analysis can expand our capacity to not only understand what curriculum is, but also to begin to consider more comprehensively what it might be.