Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Course Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Pharmacy Admission



Applications

Applications are reviewed weekly and admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. 

Questions? Call Admissions and Student Affairs at 860.231.5858.

Also see

Admission requirements

To be considered for admission to USJ’s Pharm.D. program, you must first meet the following prerequisites. Contact us for more information.

Competitive candidates should achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum GPA of 2.8 in the 50 semester credits of required prerequisite courses, with no grade below a C (C-minus grades are not accepted).

In addition, all candidates must:

  • Hold an earned bachelor’s degree
  • Complete a minimum of 68 semester credits of pre-pharmacy study in a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Ordinarily, all prerequisite coursework should be less than seven calendar years old.
  • Complete all science and mathematics prerequisites by the end of the spring semester before entry into the program
  • Take the PCAT and have scores sent to PharmCAS. We recommend taking the exam in the fall just prior to the desired year of admission.

Required courses

Biological sciences - minimum 12 semester credits or 18 quarter units:

  • Microbiology with laboratory - 4 semester credits (6 quarter units)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology with laboratories - 8 semester credits (12 quarter units). Often a two-semester course. It may be an integrated course sequence or two separate courses.

Chemistry - minimum 16 semester credits or 24 quarter units:

  • General Chemistry with laboratories - 8 semester credits (12 quarter units)
  • Organic Chemistry with laboratories - 8 semester credits (12 quarter units)

Physics - minimum 4 semester credits or 6 quarter units:

General Physics with laboratory - 4 semester credits (6 quarter units). This course should include mechanics, universal laws of motion, force, energy, momentum and rotational systems, and an introduction to thermodynamics.

Mathematics - Minimum 6-7 semester credits, or 8-10 quarter units:

  • Calculus - 3-4 semester credits (4-6 quarter units). Should not be a survey course (e.g., business calculus) and should cover limits, continuity, functions (exponential, logarithmic, inverse trigonometric and hyperbolic), and derivatives and their applications.
  • Statistics - 3 semester credits (4 quarter units). Should include basic probability concepts and descriptive statistics, random variables, binomial distribution, normal distribution, regression, correlation, sampling, confidence of estimations and hypothesis testing.

English - minimum 6 semester credits or 8 quarter units:

  • English composition - 3 semester credits (4 quarter units)
  • A second English course - 3 semester credits (4 quarter units). Should contain a substantial writing component.

Oral communication - minimum 3 semester credits or 4 quarter units:

May include speech, communication, and/or debate. Should focus on public speaking and develop articulation, coherence and confidence.

Economics - minimum 3 semester credits or 4 quarter units:

Should be a survey and analysis of consumer behavior, market structures, resource pricing, labor policy and current economic issues.

Additional required courses

Additional health-related science - at least 6 semester credits or 8 quarter units

Courses from any discipline that will prepare a student to excel in the Pharmacy profession. May include Computer Fundamentals, Mathematics above Calculus I, Biochemistry, Medical Terminology, Immunology, Genetics, Cell Biology.

Behavioral sciences - At least 6 semester credits or 8 quarter units:

May include Anthropology, Economics, Government, History, Human Development, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Ethnic Studies or other recognized discipline.

Humanities/fine arts - At least 6 semester credits or 8 quarter units:

May include Art, Drama, Theater, Literature, Religion, Music, Philosophy or Foreign Language.