Overview

The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree is awarded after successful completion of four years of professional study. Two years (62 semester credits) of pre-professional education is required for admission, followed by four years of professional studies. The curriculum is designed such that courses integrate information, building upon one another, and encompass both didactic and experiential learning. An integrated course model will be used to provide the foundations of drug actions. In this model, physiology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology are integrated to allow the student to see a broad view of how the physiochemical properties of medications interact with human physiology. The courses will be taught by system (i.e., cardiovascular, neurological, renal, etc.). Medications and human physiology pertinent to each system will be team-taught by faculty in their respective areas. Starting in the second year, an integrated course will be used to provide the foundations of the application of drug therapy to disease. Also taught by system (i.e., cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, etc.), the pathophysiology and application of drug therapy will be team-taught by faculty in their respective areas. Running throughout the first three years of the curriculum will be professional courses intended to provide the student with an opportunity to integrate and apply information and to work in small groups to complete projects and assignments, develop critical thinking skills, and foster collaboration. These courses will also provide early laboratory work in compounding and an opportunity for further development of both verbal and written skills. The curriculum also provides students with a broad range of introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences over the last three years of the professional curriculum. These experiences are student-centered, activity-based, outcome-oriented and they are designed to develop attitudes, values, and skills that foster the effective delivery of pharmaceutical care.

About the Program

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program requires the equivalent of two years (62 semester hours) of pre-professional education at an accredited college or university. Application may be made after completion of 30 semester hours of coursework. Minimum course requirements are:

Grades below “C” cannot be accepted toward completion of these requirements. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 is required for both cumulative and science courses. All science courses (Chemistry, Biology, and Physics) must include a laboratory with each lecture. All pre-professional coursework must be completed prior to matriculating into the School of Pharmacy.

Application Process

Submit Application Through PharmCAS

Submit an online application to PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service), a centralized application service that offers the convenience of one general application for multiple Pharm.D. programs. Applications must be received by PharmCAS no later than March 1. Applicants are encouraged to complete the application process early. Incomplete applications will not be processed by PharmCAS or WSOP.

Your PharmCAS application, PharmCAS fee, PCAT scores, official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, and two letters of recommendation must be submitted directly to PharmCAS for verification.

Complete applications for admission to the Wegmans School of Pharmacy will be processed upon receipt. The Admissions Committee will identify and invite the most qualified candidates to campus for an interview. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. The Admissions Committee will notify applicants of a decision on a rolling basis. Early completion of the application process is recommended.

Special Instructions for International Applicants/Foreign Transcripts

WSOP requires TOEFL scores for non-native English speaking applicants. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 575 (paper-based), 233 (computer-based), or 80 (internet-based). Foreign transcripts must be sent to an evaluation service for a course-by course report. Send this report directly to PharmCAS. Please see www.pharmcas.org for a list of approved foreign evaluation services.

Criminal Background Check Requirements

Students accepted to the Wegmans School of Pharmacy are subject to criminal background checks. All accepted students are required to complete this procedure prior to matriculation into the Wegmans School of Pharmacy. It is the students responsibility to assume expenses related to this requirement. Students must follow procedures for completing a criminal background check as instructed by the Wegmans School of Pharmacy.

Read the entire Criminal Background Check (CBC) Policy [pdf]

Additional Information

• Additional Requirements for Curriculum Completion [pdf]
• Professional Standards for Graduation [pdf]
• Computer Requirements for Accepted Students [pdf]

Program Requirements

Course Sequence

First Professional Year

Fall

Spring

Second Professional Year

Fall

Spring

Summer

Third Professional Year

Fall

Spring

In addition to these required courses, all students must also complete six credit hours of electives during the second and third years of the curriculum.

Fourth Professional Year

Advanced practice experientials in the fourth year will consist of seven six-week rotations. Required rotations will include internal medicine, ambulatory care, community practice, and hospital practice. Elective rotations could include pediatrics, drug information, infectious disease, ICU/critical care, emergency medicine, advanced hospital practice, managed care, psychiatry, geriatrics, hospice, nutrition, kinetics, or any other approved elective.

Graduation Requirements

To receive the Pharm.D. degree from St. John Fisher College, a student must:

• Successfully complete all prerequisite coursework for admission.
• Successfully complete all pharmacy coursework and professional requirements (Continuing Professional Development, professional meetings, and volunteerism requirements) at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy.
• Have a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average for all classes taken in the School of Pharmacy.
• Satisfy all financial and library obligations to the College.
• Be approved by the faculty for graduation.
• Regardless of academic achievement, a student on disciplinary probation may not graduate from St. John Fisher College until the probation has been removed.