The purpose of the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program is to prepare entry-level pharmacy practitioners to meet the health care needs of an increasingly diverse patient population, and to constantly strive to add to the knowledge base of the profession of pharmacy. This includes use of the newest instructional techniques, experiential learning and exposure to the latest information concerning pharmacy care as taught by a creative and innovative faculty.
In fulfilling its educational mission, the school provides the environment, opportunities and stimuli for faculty, students and practitioners of the profession to learn, maintain and expand upon the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the health care needs of the patients they serve. Through a combination of traditional instruction, the innovative use of computer technology and the latest concepts of distance education, the school seeks to provide the highest quality instruction to both traditional and nontraditional learners. The School of Pharmacy supports the concept that the mission of pharmacy is to serve society as the profession responsible for the appropriate use of medications, devices and services to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
Entrance Requirements
Admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program is determined by the School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee. Consideration for admission requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the 63 semester hours of prerequisite coursework. All students are required to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). All application processing for the traditional PharmD program is through the PharmCAS Central Application Service at www.PharmCAS.org. Although these applications are processed differently, they are held to the same standards as Shenandoah University’s other graduate programs. Instructions for the admissions process can be found at http://pharmacy.su.edu. After review of completed applications, qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.
Undergraduate Pathways to Doctor of Pharmacy Program
Articulation Agreement Pathway
The School of Pharmacy has established an articulation agreement with the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. This agreement provides a pathway into the graduate admission process by reserving a set number of seats in the program for students applying from within Shenandoah.
Taking advantage of this agreement works as follows: Any student currently enrolled at SU as an undergraduate student applies to the Pharmacy program. The graduate program will evaluate the applications from SU students individually, and as long as they meet admissions requirements, will be invited to interview for the graduate program. The program has reserved a certain number of seats for SU students in their program, and those seats will be filled with qualified applicants to the graduate school.
This articulation agreement is designed for applicants who have completed the prerequisites. They have an option to apply without having attained an undergraduate degree. The agreement is available to all students enrolled full time at SU for undergraduate study. If a student applies under the articulation agreement and is not accepted, their application is automatically entered in the pool of traditional applicants. They do not need to reapply that cycle. Students who take a gap year or more will not be eligible and must apply to the graduate program via the traditional pathway.
Guaranteed Graduate Admission Pathway & 3+4 Early Assurance for the Doctor of Pharmacy Program Pathway
In addition to the articulation agreement, the School of Pharmacy has established a unique admissions process with the undergraduate Office of Admissions for Shenandoah University.
(The Guaranteed Graduate Admission Pathway will transition to the Early Assurance Pathway for students beginning Fall 2019). The purpose of this program is to allow highly qualified high school students to be guaranteed an admission interview with the graduate program as long as criteria are maintained during the undergraduate years.
In order to be admitted to this program as a freshman at Shenandoah University (out of high school) the student must achieve the following:
- High School GPA: minimum 3.5
- Minimum High School Course Requirements: Minimum B- in both biology and chemistry
- Test Score (only 1 required):
- Successfully complete an interview with School of Pharmacy faculty
In order to remain in the program and matriculate into the PharmD Program at the end of three years of undergraduate study at Shenandoah University, the student must fulfill the requirements stipulated in the contract signed upon matriculation to the College of Arts and Science. These requirements include but are not limited to:
- Successfully complete a minimum of 90 hours of undergraduate coursework with a grade of “C” or above which includes the required prerequisite courses.
- At the time of application, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale for the 90 hours of undergraduate coursework.
Guaranteed Graduate Admission Pathway & 2+4 Early Assurance for the Doctor of Pharmacy Program Pathway
In addition to the articulation agreement, the School of Pharmacy has established a unique admissions process with the undergraduate Office of Admissions for Shenandoah University.
(The Guaranteed Graduate Admission Pathway will transition to the Early Assurance Pathway for students beginning Fall 2019). The purpose of this program is to allow highly qualified high school students to be guaranteed an admission interview with the graduate program as long as criteria are maintained during the undergraduate years. Students will not earn a bachelor’s degree; they progress through coursework designed to satisfy prerequisite requirements for pharmacy school.
This pathway is recommended for freshman students bringing with them a significant number of dual-enrollment and/or Advance Placement (AP) credits that allows them to focus mainly on pharmacy school prerequisites.
In order to be admitted to this program as a freshman at Shenandoah University (out of high school) the student must achieve the following:
- High School GPA: minimum 3.5
- Minimum High School Course Requirements: Minimum B- in both biology and chemistry
- Test Score (only 1 required):
- Successfully complete an interview with School of Pharmacy faculty
In order to remain in the program and matriculate into the PharmD Program at the end of two years of undergraduate study at Shenandoah University, the student must fulfill the requirements stipulated in the contract signed upon matriculation to the College of Arts and Science. These requirements include but are not limited to:
- Successfully complete prerequisite coursework with a grade of “C” or above
- At the time of application, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale
Traditional Pathway
A student at Shenandoah completes a bachelor’s degree and applies to the graduate program(s) of their choice following the admissions guidelines and procedure published on the program website.
Any current student or former student, is eligible to apply to the graduate program using this pathway. Students must follow the admission requirements outlined for all candidates found on the individual program web sites.
Degree Requirements
Conferral of the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree requires the successful completion of 148 credit hours in the didactic and experiential curriculum (not including prerequisite courses) with a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
Accreditation
The professional pharmacy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60603-4810. Graduates are eligible to sit for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
Return to: