Admission Requirements
All prospective PharmD program applicants are encouraged to review the PharmD Prerequisites (.pdf).
For thorough information about our admission requirements, go to our PharmCAS schoolpage. The PharmCAS schoolpages are helpful to easily compare our admission requirements against those of other PharmD programs.
Download/View PharmD Prerequisites Checklist PDF
There are three basic admission requirements for the PharmD program:
- Complete the required PharmD prerequisite courses
All Pharm.D. prerequisite courses are necessary for admission to the College of Pharmacy. The UHCOP Admissions Committee will look at an applicant’s overall prerequisite GPA, which includes all required courses. Applicants must receive no less than a “C” (2.0) in all prerequisite courses in order to be considered for admittance.
In addition, math and science courses from our prerequisite list are averaged, which becomes the applicant’s math/science prerequisite GPA. Both the prerequisite GPA and math/science GPA are extremely important for the student’s application. Students should plan their course schedule such that they complete the math and science prerequisites no later than the spring semester prior to entry into the program. No math and science courses may be taken the summer prior to beginning the PharmD curriculum. However, non-math/science courses may be taken that summer.
The Fall 2022 entering pharmacy class overall GPA range was 2.48-4.0 GPA. Their math/science prerequisite GPA range was 2.20-4.0 GPA.
Other information concerning prerequisites:
- Grades of repeated courses are averaged; not replaced.
- Although there is no minimum prerequisite GPA, it is preferred that applicants have a 2.50 or higher in their all prerequisite and math/science prerequisite GPAs.
- The Biology I & II lecture/lab series may be met by taking BOTH Botany lecture/lab, AND Zoology lecture/lab courses designed for science majors. If Biology I lecture/lab is taken, Biology II lecture/lab should be completed at that same institution to complete the Biology I & II lecture/lab series. It is NOT permissible to take either Botany lecture/lab or Zoology lecture/lab at one institution, then take Biology I lecture/lab or Biology II lecture/lab at another institution.
- In order to use credit earned by examination (i.e. AP, IB, CLEP, etc.) for meeting prerequisite coursework, official college/university transcript(s) sent into PharmCAS must have specific course names and course numbers of credit awarded clearly indicated to be recognized.
Applications missing any required items by the May 1, 2023 deadline will be considered INCOMPLETE and denied automatically, without review by the admissions committee.
- Take the PCAT exam (Optional for 2023 Cycle)
The PCAT test will be optional for applications submitted for the upcoming 2023 cycle.
Fall 2023 applicants who opt to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) should send their scores directly to PharmCAS.
For the 2023 application cycle, the March 2023 PCAT will be the most recent PCAT scores that will be accepted by the UH College of Pharmacy. Click here for PCAT Test Dates.
There is no minimum PCAT score, although it is recommended that students score in the 40% or above range in each of these areas of the PCAT: Biological Processes, Chemical Processes, Critical Reading, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Students may take the exam several times; each score will be looked at separately. If students do retake the exam, it is advised that students increase their score for each retake. The college does not drop the lowest score or average PCAT scores. PCAT scores more than three years old (older than 1/07/2020) will not be considered when making admissions decisions.
Applications missing any required items by the May 1, 2023 deadline will be considered INCOMPLETE and denied automatically, without review by the admissions committee.
- Obtain three letters of reference
The college requires that students submit 3 letters of reference with their application to PharmCAS. All letters of reference must be from individuals residing in the U.S.
It is recommended that letters come from the following sources:
- licensed pharmacist practicing or having practiced in the U.S.
- college professor
- employer
- supervisor
- teaching assistant
- pre-health advisor
- faculty advisor
Letters of reference from family or friends are NOT accepted.
We require that the reference fill out the letter of reference forms through PharmCAS. The person may submit an attached letter if he/she chooses. In addition, we recommend that students obtain “strong” letters of reference. Please refer to the following hints for obtaining such good letters:
1. Most people are uncomfortable giving reference for someone whom they do not know well. Get to know the person and let them get to know you so that you will obtain a good letter.
2. Ask early for your letter of reference. Do not ask the reference too close to the application deadline for a letter.
3. Ask for a “strong letter.” Some references may have a hard time saying “no,” and will write a letter that is superficial. It is important that the applicant ask for a “strong letter” and give the person a way of saying no if she/he is not enthusiastic about writing for you.
4. Begin working on this no later than your second semester in college.
5. Search for a reference with whom you believe you have something in common or with whom you have similar research or employment interests.
6. Respect the reference’s time.
7. Be a positive addition to their time and life.
8. It is suggested that students obtain a letter of reference from a pharmacist with whom they have established a professional or working relationship.
Applications missing any required items by the May 1, 2023 deadline will be considered INCOMPLETE and denied automatically, without review by the admissions committee.
- Community service (25 hours minimum)
Volunteer/community service is required for all applicants to the program.
A minimum of twenty-five (25) volunteer/community service hours are required for admission consideration. Students should have a consistent amount of volunteer/community service hours to be a competitive applicant.
Volunteer activities do not have to be in the health-care area, and can be whatever type they choose, so long as it is non-paid and clearly benefits the community at-large. This volunteer/community service must begin at the onset of the applicant’s college-career.
If you are looking for opportunities to volunteer in the midst of Covid, check out our FAQs page.
Applications missing any required items by the May 1, 2023 deadline will be considered INCOMPLETE and denied automatically, without review by the admissions committee.
Degree Requirements
Degree Plan
Note: The following degree plan applies to students entering the Professional Pharmacy Program (PharmD) Fall 2018 or later.
The curriculum for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree includes a minimum of 219 semester hours of college work, 147 semester hours of which must be pharmacy courses or the equivalent. Students with course credit for non-pharmacy courses or pharmacy courses from another college/school of pharmacy similar to those courses in the professional program may be petitioned for equivalency credit. The degree plan for the PharmD program is shown below under the Pharmacy Course of Study.
Overview
The Pharm.D. curriculum is designed to prepare students to be practice ready upon arrival at their experiential sites, and ultimately undergo more robust clinical and professional growth during their patient care encounters and research activities.
The curriculum integrates core knowledge areas - such as the effects of drugs in the body and how to select a particular drug among a range of options - into courses based on organ systems and disease states, in contrast to the previous system that delivered the information in separate courses where therapeutic relevance is sometimes lost between the molecules and actual medicines.
Integrated Modules
Each integrated module is organ system- or disease-based and provides students with the 360-degree picture of how to treat and/or manage patients. Each module contains key aspects of pathophysiology of disease; pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacogenomics, and toxicology affiliated with the drugs relevant to the disease states; and therapeutic concepts centered on therapeutic goals, drug selection, monitoring, and self-care. Where appropriate, all spectrums of ages (pediatrics through geriatrics) are included.
Module-Related Skills Lab (MRSL)
For each semester of integrated modules, there is an affiliated MRSL which presents students with structured cases as well as reinforcing courses covered earlier in the curriculum (e.g., pharmacokinetics, calculations, pharmaceutics, patient assessment, literature evaluation, communication, pharmacoeconomics, self-care, etc.). These MRSLs are hands-on activities with an emphasis on critical thinking and skill development allowing our students to meet accreditation standards of becoming “practice ready.”
Electives
Students must complete six hours (a minimum of three elective courses) in pharmacy elective courses. Four of the six pharmacy elective hours may be satisfied by completion of two Selected Topics courses (PHAR 5298, 5398). Any student may participate in a Selected Topics course if he/she is in good academic standing in the College and have approval of a faculty member who will supervise his/her work.
Hours in Residence
The college requires at least three years in residence in the professional program at the college of pharmacy for graduation. Students transferring from another school or college of pharmacy are required to complete at least 25% of the semester hours of pharmacy and related work in residence at the University of Houston.
For more Information
For more information, please consult the UHCOP PharmD Student Handbook (.pdf).