Degree Requirements
To qualify for the doctor of pharmacy degree, a minimum of 206 credit hours of approved courses is required in the six-year curriculum for students admitted into the classes of 2007–2011 (Catalog Years 2001–2005). Students admitted into the class of 2012 and later years (Catalog Years 2006 and later) will require 209 credits to qualify for the doctor of pharmacy degree.
All students admitted to the classes of 2012 and prior years (Catalog Years 2006 and prior) must complete the 56-credit requirements of the core curriculum, while students admitted to the classes of 2013 and later (Catalog Years 2007 and later) must complete the general education requirements. All pharmacy students must enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester and be enrolled at the University for at least 12 semesters, including 40 weeks of advanced pharmacy practice experience.
Students admitted into the entry-level doctor of pharmacy program, graduating class of 2005 and prior years (Catalog Years 1999 and prior), must achieve a minimum grade of “C-” (“P” if taking pass/fail election) in all courses with the prefix PA, PC, PH, or PP in order to progress in the program. These students must also maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.30 throughout years three through six (the professional years) of the program.
Entry-level doctor of pharmacy students admitted into the graduating classes of 2006–2008 (Catalog Years 2000–2002) must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.30 by August 15 following the second year and maintain a semester GPA of 2.30 in every semester of years three through six (the professional years) of the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Entry-level doctor of pharmacy students admitted into the classes of 2009–2011 (Catalog Years 2003–2005) must, by May 15 of the second year, achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50, must successfully complete and pass all required first- and second-year courses, and must have taken all required courses at USP since matriculation. They must maintain a semester GPA of 2.30 in every semester of years three through six (the professional years) of the program.
Entry-level doctor of pharmacy students admitted into the classes of 2012–2013 (Catalog Years 2006–2007) must, by May 15 of the second year, achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 and a minimum math/natural science GPA of 2.30, must successfully complete and pass all required first- and second-year courses, and must have taken all required courses at USP since matriculation. They must maintain a semester GPA of 2.30 in every semester of years three through six (the professional years) of the program.
Entry-level doctor of pharmacy students admitted into the classes of 2014 and later (Catalog Year 2008 and later) must, by May 15 of the second year, achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a minimum cumulative natural science/math GPA of 2.50, must successfully complete and pass all required first- and second-year courses, and must have taken all required courses at USP since matriculation. They must maintain a semester GPA of 2.30 in every semester of years three through six (the professional years) of the program. They must achieve a minimum grade of “C-” (“P” if taking pass/fail election) in all nonelective required courses with the prefix PA, PC, PH, or PP in order to progress in the program. Students who achieve a grade of less than “C-” upon repetition of the same nonelective required course with the prefix PA, PC, PH, or PP will be dropped from the program.
Passing the writing proficiency examination is a graduation requirement for students who entered in Catalog Year 2008 or earlier (see Catalog Year for Degree Requirements). Students who have failed the examination are urged to seek assistance from the Writing Center. Students admitted into the classes of 2008 and prior years (Catalog Year 2001 and prior years) must pass the writing proficiency prior to progressing to the fourth professional year. Students admitted to the classes of 2008–2012 (Catalog Years 2002–2006) must pass the writing proficiency exam prior to progressing to the third professional year of the program. Students admitted into the graduating classes of 2013 and 2014 (Catalog Years 2007 and 2008) must complete the writing proficiency exam prior to entering the second professional year. Students admitted to the classes of 2012 and prior years (Catalog Year 2006 and prior years) must also pass the computer competency requirement prior to progressing to the third year.
Students must be certified in First Aid/CPR in accordance with the American Red Cross standards prior to beginning their experiential training. Competence in pharmaceutical calculations must be completed in their final didactic semester on campus prior to progressing to the fourth professional year. Students are also required to undergo criminal background checks throughout the professional years to participate in the IPPE and APPE components of the curriculum.
Completing the entry-level doctor of pharmacy program at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy requires full-time (i.e., 12 credits/semester or greater) enrollment from the time the student is admitted. Students admitted into the first professional year of the program must be enrolled for at least four years (i.e., 8 semesters of at least 12 credits/semester) in residency at the college, regardless of the nature or extent of previous academic experience. Such students, however, will receive credit in those basic sciences and general education subjects that are considered equivalent in content and semester-hour credit with similar courses included in the pharmacy curriculum at this University and in which they earned a grade of “C” or better.
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