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
1104 Salk Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
General Information: 412-648-8579
Admissions: 412-648-1015
- 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
Conditional status is offered only to students who enroll at one of the University of Pittsburgh campuses. High school students who meet the following criteria are eligible for this type of admission:
- A ranking in the upper 10 percent of their graduating class, and
- A score of 1250 or higher on the Scholastic Achievement Test I (SAT I) with a minimum of 650 in the math section.
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 90 spaces in the pharmacy class will be allocated for this type of admission, the number of offers will be limited, and once the allotted slots are filled, no more offers will be extended. Students interested in taking advantage of this type of admission are urged to apply early as these spaces are typically filled before November 1.
Conditional status students are expected to perform well in their preprofessional courses at the University. In order to guarantee a place in the School of Pharmacy, these students must earn an overall GPA of 3.25 or greater and a 3.25 QPA in the required math and science courses without repeating any courses or earning any grade below a C. Students who meet these performance criteria will be admitted provided that they complete the other requirements for admission to the school as described in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Conditionally accepted students will not be required to take the PCAT.
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 college or university,
- QPA of 3.0, with no grade below C in a required course,
- completion of a Supplemental School of Pharmacy application, which includes three letters of recommendation and a personal essay, and
- the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).
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. More information about PharmCAS and deadlines for application can be found at www.pharmcas.org.
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.
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