PORTLAND – The State Board of Education has approved the University of New England’s proposal to establish a second pharmacy school in Maine.

The university said 53 pre-pharmacy students have begun studies at its Biddeford campus and the four-year graduate program in pharmacy is scheduled to begin in fall 2009 on its Portland campus.

The board’s decision follows its vote in June to allow Husson College in Bangor to create a pharmacy school offering doctorate degrees. Husson plans to start classes in the fall of 2008.

Both programs are aimed at addressing a shortfall of pharmacists in Maine, which has had no pharmacy schools.