Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

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  • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

    • Application Requirements

    Before you apply to the PharmD program, you must meet certain academic requirements—so you’ll arrive on campus ready to dive in.

    You must:

    • Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
    • Have achieved a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all college work and pre-pharmacy required courses at an accredited two- or four-year college (biochemistry must be taken at a four-year institution). Pre-pharmacy courses from vocational or technical schools are not accepted. If you did not achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA but demonstrate ability to be successful in the program, you may still be considered for admission.
    • Complete all pre-pharmacy required courses with a grade of C or higher at least one week before you enter our program. 
    • Repeat pre-pharmacy requirements in the following areas if they were taken more than 10 years before your application: biochemistry, human physiology, microbiology and organic chemistry. 

    You must complete the following prerequisites as an undergraduate student prior to enrollment in the PharmD program. We recommend that you take the physiology and microbiology prerequisites at a four-year university or college. Biochemistry as an upper-division course must be taken at a four-year institution.

    PrerequisitesSemesters/Quarters
    Biochemistry (upper division)1/1
    Calculus1/2
    General biology with labs2/3
    General chemistry with labs2/3
    Human physiology1/1
    Microbiology1/1
    Organic chemistry with labs2/3
    Statistics1/1

    Requirements are subject to change.

    Biological Sciences

    • Biochemistry: One upper-division course for science majors
    • General biology: One-year course for science majors with labs (excluding courses in human anatomy, human physiology, botany and microbiology); if your university offers less than a one-year course, you must complete the second semester at another institution
    • Human physiology: One course for science majors (if taking a combined anatomy and physiology course for science majors, entire series must be completed)
    • Microbiology: One course in the fundamentals of microbiology for science majors (note that microbiology is offered only in the fall at some institutions)

    Mathematics and Physical Sciences

    Only courses designed for science majors are accepted. We recommend that math and science courses be completed during the regular academic year rather than during a summer term.

    • Calculus: One semester or two quarters (should include differential and integral calculus for science majors)
    • General chemistry: One-year course with labs for science majors (should include inorganic chemistry and qualitative analysis)
    • Organic chemistry: One-year course with labs for science majors; if your university offers less than a one-year course, you must complete the second semester at another institution
    • Statistics: One course in statistics (not business statistics)

    The following recommended courses will strengthen your background and your application’s competitiveness:

    • Microeconomics
    • Molecular biology (upper division)
    • Physics (courses that include thermodynamics and electromagnetism)
    • Psychology and/or sociology

    Send one official transcript from each higher education institution you have attended to PharmCAS when you apply to our school. Transcripts should be sent to PharmCAS as soon as you begin your PharmCAS application.

    Three letters of recommendation are required.

    • One letter must be from a science professor with whom you took a class and/or did research.
    • Two remaining letters may be from professors, advisers, researchers, pharmacists or employers.

    Letters of recommendation must be submitted online as part of the PharmCAS application.

    Any online prerequisites taken prior to spring 2020 can be reviewed by the Admissions Committee: Email a link to the course description to pharmadm@usc.edu with a request for consideration.

    Pass/no pass grading of prerequisites is acceptable. Any pass/no pass courses taken before 2020 may be acceptable upon verification by the Admissions Committee: Email a link to the course description to pharmadm@usc.edu with a request for consideration.

    We accept PharmD students seeking transfer on a case-by-case basis. If you are enrolled in an accredited PharmD program at another institution and want to seek advanced standing at the USC School of Pharmacy, contact: pharmadm@usc.edu

    Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an American immigration policy that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday, and before June 2007, to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation. If you are an undocumented applicant, we welcome your application to the PharmD program.

    The Admissions Committee will not accept College Level Examination Program courses. Our Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs may consider Advanced Placement (AP) exam and International Baccalaureate (IB) credit if you have a bachelor’s degree.

    An AP score of 3, 4 or 5 or IB scores of 5, 6, or 7 may be used toward the statistics requirement and the first quarter or semester of a one-year series of pre-pharmacy courses, such as general biology or general chemistry. AP calculus BC can be used to satisfy the calculus requirement. Please submit a copy of all AP scores through your PharmCAS application (Program Materials section) if you are using them to satisfy pre-pharmacy required courses.

    The Admissions Committee may accept you “conditionally” if you have one or more incomplete pre-pharmacy course(s), if your bachelor’s degree is not yet completed or if your final degree is not yet posted to your transcript.

    As you complete the missing course(s), please submit your updated transcript(s) to PharmCAS. The Admissions Committee will assess your final GPA and overall performance and will contact you if further action is needed. Please mail one official transcript after the close of each term directly to the USC School of Pharmacy Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs, 1985 Zonal Avenue, PSC 206A, Los Angeles CA 90089-9121. If you cannot complete all pre-pharmacy course requirements by August of your enrollment year, contact Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs right away.

    How to Apply

    Once you confirm you have met the eligibility requirements listed below, your next steps are:

    We use PharmCAS so you can complete one application for multiple pharmacy schools. We don’t require a separate USC supplemental application.

    • Create a PharmCAS account to obtain your PharmCAS ID number.
    • Save your work and return to your application as many times as needed until you are ready to submit it.
    • Enter your transcript information from each higher education institution you’ve attended. All data you enter must match your transcripts.
    • Complete the information about your pre-pharmacy courses and arrange for your official transcripts to be sent directly to PharmCAS from each institution.
    • Arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent directly to PharmCAS. One letter must be from a science professor with whom you took a class and/or did research. The remaining two letters may be from professors, advisers, researchers, pharmacists or employers. If you are reapplying from one year prior you only need to submit one new letter of recommendation.
    • Answer the questions in the Program Materials section, including two USC PharmD Essay Questions.
    • Electronically sign the California State Board of Pharmacy Felony and Misdemeanor Conviction Disclosure Statement, the Essential Characteristics and Abilities form, and the Applicant’s Affidavit.

    Submit your PharmCAS application as early as possible. Generally, PharmCAS takes two to five weeks to process your application and send it to the USC School of Pharmacy.

    After you have submitted your PharmCAS application, we’ll invite you to an admissions interview. You will notified one to three weeks in advance so you’ll have time to prepare.

    Your admissions interview will be conducted virtually. It will consist of:

    • Traditional interview with one faculty member or alumnus plus a current student (approximately 20 minutes)
    • Real-life scenario that you must address. The scenario does not test for specific knowledge but offers a holistic view of your reaction skills. We hope to see your proficiency in communication, leadership, interpersonal interactions, critical thinking and ethical decision-making.

    Interview Dates

    N-PERSON INTERVIEWS
    Fridays (1-4pm), October 8, November 12, December 3, 2021, January 14, February 11, March 11, and April 8, 2022

    VIRTUAL (ZOOM) INTERVIEWS
    Thursdays (3-5pm), December 2, 2021, March 10 and April 28, 2022

    *All interview dates are subject to change

    Once you are admitted to the USC PharmD program, you must submit:

    • An official transcript showing your prerequisite courses and completed bachelor’s degree, upon request from the Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs. If your final transcript and degree have been verified by PharmCAS, you won’t need to send it to USC.
    • If you are an international student [link to International Student Admissions page], submit to USC your International Education Research Foundation verification for your international coursework and degree.

    Mailed the above items directly to:

    USC School of Pharmacy
    Office of Enrollment and Student Affairs
    1985 Zonal Avenue, PSC 206A
    Los Angeles CA 90089-9121

    Admissions Calendar

    July 14, 2021 : PharmCAS launches [fall 2021] application process

    October to March: Virtual interview sessions begin for invited students

    December 1, 2021 (11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time) : Priority application deadline for submitting PharmCAS application, including letters of recommendation and official transcripts

    June 1, 2022 (11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time) : Regular Deadline for submitting PharmCAS application, including letters of recommendation and official transcripts.

    Two weeks after receiving notification of admission: Accepted students mail USC School of Pharmacy’s Admissions Office the required Commitment Deposit Fee

    Accepted students with international coursework and/or degree: Arrange for degree and coursework verification by the International Education Research Foundation to be sent to USCInterviews

    Interviews

    IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS

    Fridays (1-4pm), October 8, November 12, December 3, 2021, January 14, February 11, March 11, and April 8, 2022

    VIRTUAL (ZOOM) INTERVIEWS

    Thursdays (3-5pm), December 2, 2021, March 10 and April 28, 2022

    *All interview dates are subject to change

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