School of Pharmacy
Founded in 1878, the School of Pharmacy is the oldest of the University’s schools of the health professions. Since its inception, the School of Pharmacy has been at the forefront of changes in pharmacy education. Today, the school offers a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, a six-year program configured in a course of study requiring two years (62 credits) of preprofessional courses taken during the freshman and sophomore years followed by four years in the School of Pharmacy’s professional program.
The professional curriculum emphasizes problem solving and critical thinking, blending classroom and laboratory learning with clinical practice experiences. As students progress through the curriculum, they develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to deliver pharmaceutical care to their patients.
Students who enroll in the school’s graduate program may earn a Master of Science or PhD degree. The graduate program provides education and training in the design and implementation of basic and clinical studies related to the discovery, development, and clinical use of drugs. Students who have earned a professional pharmacy degree and wish to pursue a career in clinical research may enroll in an intensive clinical scientist training program.
The school is dedicated to maximizing human health and well-being by preparing pharmacists to be lifelong learners, by providing pharmaceutical care, by developing innovative practice models, and by advancing science through cutting-edge research.
Contact Information
- University of Pittsburgh
School of Pharmacy
904 Salk Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Admissions: 412-383-9000
rxschool@pitt.edu - www.pharmacy.pitt.edu
Admissions
The School of Pharmacy admits students to its programs under one of two statuses—conditional or open. Those two admission statuses are detailed below:
Conditional Admission
The School of Pharmacy does not admit freshmen directly to the professional program. However, the School offers conditional acceptance to a limited number of high school seniors who enroll at one of the University of Oakland Campuses.
Students who rank in the upper 10% of their graduating class and score 1300 or higher on the SAT I (Math and Critical Reading sections), with a minimum of 680 in the math section, and specify Pharmacy on the application will be offered the conditional acceptance.
Students should first submit an application to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, indicating an interest in studying pharmacy.
Beginning in September, the applications of students who meet these criteria will be reviewed, and offers of conditional admission will be extended to qualified students on a rolling basis as applications are received. Since only one half of the 108 spaces in the pharmacy class will be allocated for this type of admission, the number of offers will be limited.
Students who receive the conditional admission are expected to perform well in their preprofessional courses. In order to secure a place in the PharmD Program, students must earn:
- a letter grade of a C or better in all preprofessional courses with no repeat of preprofessional courses
- a 3.25 or greater overall GPA in preprofessional courses
- a 3.25 or greater GPA in the required Math and Science courses
To exercise the conditional admission, all applicants must:
- interview as a part of the PharmD application process
- take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
- complete the PharmCAS application by the deadline
- complete the Supplemental Application by the deadline
Students who meet these performance criteria will be admitted into the PharmD Program.
Open Admission
Qualified University of Pittsburgh students and students attending other universities are encouraged to apply to the School of Pharmacy. The minimum requirements for admission to the School of Pharmacy’s professional program are
- completion of the 62 credits of preprofessional course requirements at an accredited US college or university,
- GPA of 3.0, with no grade below C in a required course,
- completion of a PharmCAS application, the Web-based Pharmacy College Application Service,
- completion of a Supplemental School of Pharmacy application, and
- the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).
More information about PharmCAS and deadlines for application can be found at www.pharmcas.org.
In previous years, approximately 10 to 20 percent of the class was composed of students who completed their preprofessional courses at other colleges.
Students applying for admission must apply through PharmCAS, the Web-based Pharmacy College Application Service.
All students interested in applying to the pharmacy program should also consult the Application for Admission section of this bulletin and the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Visit the School of Pharmacy Web site at www.pharmacy.pitt.edu.