Professional Degrees

Doctor of Pharmacy

A four-year curriculum, following a minimum of two years of college prerequisite work, leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) is offered to students admitted to the School of Pharmacy. A sample outline of the curriculum is listed in the following pages. The degree will not be conferred until the student has successfully completed all prerequisite and Doctor of Pharmacy degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

The criteria used by the School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee include a number of factors. Major consideration is given to those applicants who indicate qualities of self-motivation and promise as future pharmacists. In addition, the committee views with high regard those applicants who can function well with people on a one-to-one basis, possess good communication skills and have potential leadership qualities. Academic transcripts, an essay and letters of recommendation are reviewed carefully by the committee. Interviews may be required. The School of Pharmacy cannot accommodate all qualified applicants who apply for admission.

Admission of International Students to the Pharm.D. Program

Special admission procedures are required of international students. Instructions given in the Admissions section of this catalogue are to be followed.

Entrance Requirements

Admission to the School of Pharmacy requires: (1) graduation from an accredited high school; (2) a minimum of two years (60 semester or 90 quarter units) of prerequisite college courses.

Pre-pharmacy Requirements

A minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units, to include English, public speaking, social sciences, humanities, calculus, chemistry and biological sciences, are required for admission to the School of Pharmacy. These requirements may be fulfilled at a two-year community college, four-year college or university. Only grades of C- or higher are acceptable. Pass/no pass and credit/no credit grades will not be accepted.

English

One year of English composition is required. Remedial English and English as a second language (ESL) are not acceptable. An English proficiency examination may be required. Equivalent composition courses at USC are Expository Writing 101 and 102 or 111 and 112 for non-native speakers.

Public Speaking (Speech)

Course should include oral and written communication skills and the development of listening skills. One semester or one quarter is required. The equivalent course at USC is COMM 102 Spoken Communication.

International Students English and Speech taken in a foreign country will be accepted only from countries whose native tongue is English (e.g., Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the British West Indies).

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Psychology, macro- or microeconomics and related courses, totaling at least 12 semester or 18 quarter units must be included.

Psychology One course in general psychology and human behavior is required. The equivalent course at USC is PSYC 100.

Economics One course in economics, macroeconomics or microeconomics is required. If a one-year course is offered, both semesters may be taken and excess units may be applied to either the remainder of the unit requirements for the subject area, or as elective units. The equivalent course at USC is ECON 203 or 205.

Other Recommended Subject Areas Studies in anthropology, psychobiology, geography, sociology and political science are recommended.

Humanities

A minimum of two courses in literature, philosophy, history, ethics, foreign language or fine arts, totaling at least six semester or nine quarter units is required. The humanities requirement can be met by completing the Humanities Core Course in the University of California system.

Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Courses must include calculus, general chemistry and organic chemistry, totaling at least 19 semester or 28 quarter units. Only courses for science majors are acceptable.

Calculus One semester or two quarters is required. The course should include differential and integral calculus. The equivalent course at USC is MATH 125.

General Chemistry One-year course, including laboratory, for science majors is required. The course should include inorganic chemistry and qualitative analysis. The equivalent course at USC is CHEM 105abL.

Organic Chemistry One-year course, including laboratory, for science majors is required. If the school offers less than a one-year course, the student must complete the second semester at another institution. The equivalent course at USC is CHEM 322abL.

Biological Sciences

A one-year course is required in general biology with laboratory, for science majors (excluding courses in human anatomy, human physiology and microbiology), totaling at least eight semester or 12 quarter units. The USC courses are BISC 106L and 107L.

Electives

The student must complete other courses to meet a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter units. Recommended courses: statistics, computer science, physics and biochemistry.

Advanced Placement Examination

The School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee will not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) courses. The School of Pharmacy Office of Admission may consider advance placement examination credit. Only course credit will be given, not unit credit.

The pharmacy prerequisites are essential preparation for a rigorous four-year professional curriculum in the School of Pharmacy. Because of scheduling, it may not be possible to arrange all requirements into a four-semester or six-quarter course of study. It is recommended that, if necessary, summer sessions be used to meet non-science prerequisites.

An entrance examination (PPBE, PCAT) is not required. An interview may be required.

Transfer Students

Students from other U.S. accredited colleges of pharmacy may be admitted to advanced standing in the second or third year class if a vacancy exists. To be eligible for transfer, a student must be in good standing at his or her present school, the curriculum of the school must be similar to that of the USC School of Pharmacy, and a statement must be sent from the dean of the present school indicating that the school approves of the student's transfer application. No student from another school will be accepted for admission into the fourth year.

The class level into which a transfer student is placed will be determined by review of the applicant's prior course of study and academic record. A transfer student admitted to advanced standing must meet in full all pre-pharmacy requirements.

Post-Baccalaureate Program

The School of Pharmacy accepts a limited number of applicants who hold a recently conferred baccalaureate degree in pharmacy from a college of pharmacy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education. Such applicants may not be required to meet all pre-pharmacy requirements in order to qualify for admission and, if admitted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, may be accepted at an advanced level for a minimum of two years (66 semester units) of full-time study.

Graduates from a Foreign School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee may consider, on a limited basis (space permitting), applications for admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy program from applicants holding a recent pharmacy degree (B.S. Pharm.) from a recognized foreign school of pharmacy and who have completed all prerequisite courses listed herein. The class level into which the applicant will be placed is determined individually by review of the applicant's prior academic record.

Application Procedure

Application forms may be obtained by mail or in person from the School of Pharmacy Office of Admission. A non-refundable fee of $50 must be sent with the completed application, personal statement, sealed official transcripts and sealed letters of recommendation by the final deadline date of February 1 (subject to change).

Applications received before February 1 will have priority consideration when all necessary criteria have been met.

Credentials for admission must include complete records of all previous college or university work. The student must include with the application two copies of sealed official transcripts from each college or university attended.

Evaluation of official transcripts is completed by the School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee and a letter of acceptance is mailed to each applicant who qualifies for entrance. All documents received by the Office of Admission become the property of the university and cannot be returned or duplicated for other than university purposes.

The School of Pharmacy cannot accommodate all qualified applicants who apply for admission.

Trojan Early Decision Program (TED)

The new TED program is being introduced to encourage highly qualified applicants who wish to apply to the USC School of Pharmacy Pharm.D. program as their first choice. Applicants who submit an application with all required documents and meet specific requirements by October 15 will be considered for early priority admission. If admitted, it is understood that the student will not apply to other schools.

Special Admissions Program for High School Students

The Trojan Admission Prepharmacy Program (TAPP) has been designed to attract highly qualified, mature high school seniors to take their prepharmacy course work at USC beginning as first semester freshmen. Admission to TAPP requires a student to have a minimum 1100 combined score on the SAT or a minimum 3.40 high school GPA and have good oral and written communication skills.

Students accepted to both USC and TAPP who meet all prepharmacy requirements in four semesters at USC with an approved cumulative GPA, and an approved math and science GPA and meet all other requirements will be guaranteed acceptance into the doctor of pharmacy program. In addition to this unique advantage, TAPP also offers ongoing individual advisement, participation in the university's Prepharmacy Club and access to the School of Pharmacy's student services.

High school students interested in this program must request an admission application from the USC Office of Undergraduate Admission. Upon admission to USC, applicants should contact the School of Pharmacy Office of Admission for a TAPP application.

This unique six-year prepharmacy/doctor of pharmacy program will afford students continuity in their professional education and strong support from an outstanding private university.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
David Henriquez
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu