Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program
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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MS) Programs
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Chartered in 1878, the School of Pharmacy has a tradition of developing leaders and innovators that drive the future of pharmacy. We investigate, discover, and create ways to improve patient health and, through partnerships, change practice and improve efficiency of care. We also use computational and bench research methods to discover and develop drugs and drug delivery, systems, and other novel approaches to optimize therapy. The School of Pharmacy (Pitt Pharmacy) leads the way in education, encouraging learners to personalize their education. Pitt Pharmacy is among the oldest pharmacy schools in the country. Pitt Pharmacy is in the top tier of schools of pharmacy in US News & World Report rankings and NIH-funded research.
Mission
The School of Pharmacy develops pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists as innovators and leaders to improve the health and well-being of the world around us.
Through inclusive excellence, innovation, and leadership, we achieve pioneering and exemplary:
- Pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences education,
- Research and scholarship, and
- Patient care and service.
Vision
To be an outstanding school of pharmacy renowned for excellence in the discovery and advancement of science-based use of medicines and other interventions to enhance the vitality and quality of life.
Values
Integrity guides our daily work. We foster:
Professionalism
Integrity
Teamwork
Trust
Passion
Health Equity
Accountability
Responsibility
Mutual Respect
Program Contact Information
School of Pharmacy
John P. & Constance A. Curran Center for Pharmacy Students
3501 Terrace St
Salk Hall 5th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: 412-383-2587
www.pharmacy.pitt.edu
Mission
The Pitt Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Program inspires students to personalize their education and become medication experts, interprofessional collaborators, and leaders who advocate, champion, and act to improve health, well-being, and quality of life for individuals and communities.
The Doctor of Pharmacy Program emphasizes a problem-based approach to learning from the design of our curriculum to teaching and assessment strategies so that knowledge deepens the real world problem solving abilities of our students. This encourages our students to seek out those pharmacy roles and develop needed expertise that is most meaningful to them, while also providing them with a thorough understanding of generalized pharmacy.
Our innovative curriculum integrates science and practice, emphasizes student-centered learning, and gives our students the best possible preparation for pharmacy practice in any setting they choose.
The professional curriculum is composed of a course of study requiring sixty-two (62) credits of pre-professional study followed by four years of professional courses. The four-year professional curriculum blends active learning in large group classrooms, small group team-based activities, and laboratories with “hands on” experiential learning in diverse practice settings.
Experiential Learning is a foundation of the curriculum, beginning within the first weeks of the first professional (P1) year and sequentially building practice experiences and culminating in eight “full-time” five-week advanced practice experiences in the fourth professional (P4) year. Students progress from early stages of meaningful connections with patients to caring for complex patients with acute and chronic diseases. Practice activities occur in communities, in hospitals and health care settings, and in many unique learning environments that encourage students to personalize their professional development towards career goals.
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3000, Chicago, IL 60603-3446, 312/664-3575; FAX 866/228-2631, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.
The University of Pittsburgh Doctor of Pharmacy Program received ACPE accreditation status for 8 years, the maximum period allowable, through June 30, 2033.
Special Academic Opportunities
Pitt Pharmacy provides opportunities for students to personalize their education and achieve personal and professional goals and careers.
Areas of Concentration
Areas of Concentration (ARCOs) provide structured paths for students to focus personal and professional interests while developing specialized knowledge and skills in practice areas. During pharmacy school, students may competitively apply for admission to an ARCO, completing specialized coursework, a scholarly project, and practice experiences, while receiving individualized mentoring by faculty experts in the practice area. Current ARCO specialties include:
- Community Leadership, Innovation, and Practice
- Geriatrics and Palliative Care
- Global Health
- PharmacoAnalytics
- Pharmacotherapy Scholars
- Pharmacy Business Administration
- Research
International Pharmacy Travel
Pitt student pharmacists have opportunities to gain exposure to diverse practices of pharmacy and global cultures through coursework and international practice experiences in countries including Germany, Ireland, Italy, Namibia, and others.
Student-Driven Independent Study
Students have the opportunity to work directly with a faculty member to design an elective Mentored Research or Mentored Inquiry course experience, completing a specific project or inquiry. Students assume active roles in establishing project goals and methods, generating a quality product at its conclusion, such as a research presentation, poster, or other creative scholarly work.
Selecting Experiential Rotations
Students are able to design an individualized program of introductory and advanced pharmacy practice choosing from over 1,800 local, national or international rotations including but not limited to focus areas in health system and ambulatory patient care, community and health system practice, pharmacy administration/management, managed care, and industry.
School of Pharmacy
3501 Terrace St
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Admissions: 412-383-9000
E-mail: PharmDAdmissions@pitt.edu
www.pharmacy.pitt.edu
The Pitt Pharmacy PharmD program admits students to PharmD programs through one of two pathways - guarantee or open. Those two admission pathways are detailed below:
Pharmacy Guarantee First Year Admission
The School of Pharmacy does not directly admit first year students to the professional program. All high school students should first submit an application to the University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. The School offers a guaranteed acceptance to a number of high school seniors who enroll at one of the University of Pittsburgh campuses.
Applicants to the Pittsburgh campus should select the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences as the first-year admitting school. All applicants can select pharmacy in the Guaranteed Admissions drop-down box on the Application for Undergraduate Admissions to be considered for the guarantee as part of the comprehensive individual review for admissions conducted by the University of Pittsburgh Office of Admissions. Students who receive the guarantee are expected to perform well in the pre-professional courses in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences or regional campus. To secure a seat in the PharmD Program, students must earn:
- a letter grade of a C or better in all preprofessional courses
- a combined 3.25 or greater overall GPA in PharmD preprofessional courses
- a combined 3.25 or greater GPA in the required math and science preprofessional courses
NOTE: Required math and science courses must be taken at the University of Pittsburgh. AP, dual enrollment, and college in high school credits may be used to fulfill preprofessional credits.
Test optional applicants are eligible for the pharmacy guarantee.
To exercise the Pharmacy guarantee, all applicants must complete the pharmacy admissions process and requirements typically in the second year of study in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences or at the regional campus:
- submit a completed application and fee in the Pharmacy College Application System (PharmCAS)
- The PharmCAS application must include three letters of evaluation with two from college faculty in any subject area, math and science are recommended. Letters are NOT accepted from teaching assistants or graduate students. The third letter can be from any employer, faculty advisor, pharmacist, health care professional, or supervisor.
- participate in a satisfactory interview, when invited, during the admissions process
- complete standardized writing assessment, when invited
Pharmacy guarantee students who meet these criteria will be admitted into the PharmD Program. Those not meeting these criteria will be considered as part of the open admissions pool that is holistically reviewed by the PharmD Admissions Committee. More information about PharmCAS and application deadlines can be found at www.pharmcas.org.
Open Admission
Students admitted to the program through the open admission pathway compete for remaining spaces in the class. The requirements to be considered a competitive applicant for the Pitt Pharmacy PharmD program are:
- completion of the pre-professional requirements
- Applicants can apply while courses are in progress
- competitive math and science GPA of 3.0 in preprofessional courses
- submission of a verified PharmCAS application and fee
- The PharmCAS application must include three letters of evaluation with two from college faculty in any subject area, math and science are recommended. Letters are NOT accepted from teaching assistants or graduate students. The third letter can be from any employer, faculty advisor, pharmacist, health care professional, or supervisor.
- selected applicants will be required to participate in a satisfactory interview (interviews are by invitation only)
- complete standardized writing assessment (selected applicants who are invited for an interview)
More information about PharmCAS and deadlines for application can be found at www.pharmcas.org.
Visit the School of Pharmacy Web site.
Application Procedures and Deadlines
PharmCAS (Pharmacy College Application Service): This service enables students to generate one primary application that can be submitted to multiple PharmD degree programs. All applicants must file an application through PharmCAS, www.pharmcas.org by the application deadline.
The application process, application deadlines, and other admission requirements are summarized on the School of Pharmacy Web site.
Throughout the application process, it is the student’s responsibility to follow all instructions and meet all deadlines. Failure to do so might result in their application being canceled. It is highly recommended that students apply early to ensure that all application materials are received by the deadline.
Preparing to Complete the Application
Pitt Pharmacy recommends that students thoroughly review the application process before entering data or filling out forms so that they are aware of all the information they will need to gather and how much time the entire process will take. Visit the PharmCAS Web site at www.pharmcas.org and review the “Preparing to Apply” tab. Then review the Checklist, PharmCAS Instructions, and the Applicant Code of Conduct links. Review the time line for the application process: Admissions Calendar
Complete Preprofessional Courses and Minimum Eligibility Requirements: All required math & science courses must be completed by the end of Spring term of the year of entry in the professional program. All remaining courses should be completed by the end of the Spring term and must be completed prior to the Fall term entry into the professional program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition rates and fees for the current academic year for the Pittsburgh campus can be found on the University’s site at www.tuition.pitt.edu with details for Pennsylvania residents and out-of-state residents. Those without a previous college degree should view information for undergraduates and those who have earned a previous college degree should view the information for graduate students.
The University also offers a wide range of financial support through the Office of Financial Aid and the Financial Wellness Center, where students can receive coaching and advice on financial needs. We encourage all students to explore these options as well.
Pitt Pharmacy is grateful to the many donors who make our scholarships possible each year. The School of Pharmacy has an appointed committee who reviews each individual applicant each year. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need with consideration of merit and service. The needs of the applicant pool change annually, and scholarships are awarded based on an individual’s application with regard to the overall needs of the entire applicant pool.
Pitt Pharmacy also provides additional mechanisms to support student achievement by supporting student organizations and student travel.
Academic and Professional Standards
Academic Integrity
School of Pharmacy students are responsible for upholding the standards of behavior outlined in the University’s Guidelines on Academic Integrity, the University’s policy on sexual harassment, and other policies related to student behavior.
Enrollment in the School of Pharmacy carries with it obligations of conduct within and outside of the classroom. Professional students are expected to maintain the highest standards of personal integrity and conduct themselves in a manner that is a credit to themselves, the school, and the profession. Students must review and affirm their commitment to ethical and professional behavior to meet the School of Pharmacy Professional Code of Conduct each year.
Academic Standing
Pitt Pharmacy complies with the University Policy regarding Academic Standing Graduate and Professional Students. An exception was granted by the Office of the Provost to allow at least a 2.00 grade point average (GPA) and making satisfactory progress towards the degree to denote students enrolled in the PharmD program are in good academic standing.
The School’s policy PharmD Academic Progression of Students governs the academic progression of each PharmD student. Students must review and affirm their understanding of this, and other, policies each year. Good Academic Standing in the program is determined by term and cumulative GPA as well as progress toward a degree, which is defined as successful completion of program requirements such as milestones, clinical experiences and lab/research experiences.
At the end of each term, GPA calculations will be made, including all required professional courses and approved professional electives taken while enrolled in the PharmD program. Students must maintain both term and cumulative GPA of 2.00. Students who fail to maintain a term or cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above will be placed on academic notice and must participate in an academic intervention plan developed by the Academic Performance Committee and PharmD Program Director. Students failing to achieve a term or cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above by the specified deadline or fail to successfully complete the Academic Intervention Plan may be dismissed from the PharmD program. Academic dismissal is a final action within the School.
It is the responsibility of students to monitor their academic progress and become familiar with the program degree requirements and academic regulations.
Clearance and Immunization Policy
The Office of Experiential Learning manages learning experiences in communities and professional practice environments that are embedded across all four years of the PharmD program. Because these experiences involve direct patient contact, the practice sites where students are placed require proof of immunization to communicable diseases, fingerprinting, background checks, select training programs, and drug screens. Students who fail to complete these prerequisites no later than two weeks prior to the start of classes will not be able to fulfill their experiential learning requirements. Pitt Pharmacy works with DISA Healthcare, a background screening and compliance tracking solutions company, to collect and manage the documentation of all such prerequisites. Each student has access to his or her information through the secure DISA Healthcare web site both as a student and after graduation. The site is a secure site to which only the Office of Experiential Learning Office and the student have access.
A positive criminal history and/or positive drug screen may disqualify a student from completing required experiential learning and may prevent successful completion of the PharmD program. All sites used for experiential learning require students to meet certain prerequisites. These prerequisites may include showing proof of immunization to communicable diseases, undergoing criminal background checks, and drug screening. Failure to meet these prerequisites can result in students being unable to complete their experiential learning requirements.
Additionally, in order to become a licensed pharmacist, many states will inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of any misdemeanor, felony, or any illegal act associated with alcohol and/or substance abuse. A criminal history may delay or prevent licensure.
Pharmacy Intern License
Students must obtain their Pennsylvania (PA) Pharmacy Intern License to participate in our Experiential Learning Program. Students may need to obtain their home state intern license if they choose to complete rotations outside of PA. Students also will obtain their PA Authorization to Administer Injectables (aka “Student Immunizer License”) in the Spring of the first academic year.
Combined Programs
Pitt Pharmacy offers combined degree pathways for students in the PharmD program who are committed to extending their education to pursue graduate studies. See full details for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Science (MS) programs below.
PharmD/PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences*
For students interested in pursuing a professional PharmD degree and a research-based PhD degree in pharmaceutical sciences, we offer a combined PharmD/PhD option.
The average time to complete a PhD is 5 years. Students in the combined PharmD/PhD program can reduce this time to 1 year by taking required PhD courses during their PharmD training.
- Students complete the 4-year PharmD professional degree as outlined above.
- Students may apply for the PhD program in the fall of the third professional (P3) year via PharmGRAD. See application instructions outlined below.
- Admission to the PhD program is not guaranteed
- Students in a combined program will begin working with graduate Research Faculty Advisors and become immersed in the research environment during their PharmD training
PharmD/MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences*
For students interested in pursuing a professional PharmD degree and a research-based MS degree in pharmaceutical sciences, we offer a combined PharmD/MS option.
The average time to complete a Thesis MS is 2 years and a non-thesis MS is 3 semesters. By committing to a PharmD/MS, the time to complete the MS can be reduced by up to a year.
- Students complete the 4-year PharmD professional degree as outlined above.
- Students may apply for the Thesis or non-thesis MS program in the fall of the second or third professional (P2 or P3) year via PharmGRAD. See application instructions outlined below.
- Admission to the MS program is not guaranteed
- Students in a combined program will begin working with graduate Research Faculty Advisors and become immersed in the research environment during their PharmD training
*PharmD/PhD or PharmD/MS Pharmaceutical Sciences students can choose between 6 different research focus areas (or tracks): 1) Medicinal chemistry, 2) Biochemical Pharmacology, 3) Pharmaceutics, 4) Clinical Pharmaceutical Science, 5) Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology (PSP), and 6) Pharmaceutical Outcomes Policy and Research.
Some specific courses taken in the PharmD program that can meet credit requirements in the MS and PhD programs, but are not limited to:
- PHARM 3040 Statistical Methods
- PHARM 5218 Pharmacokinetics and Drug Response
- PHARM 3042 Research Practicum
- Journal clubs: examples PHARM 3048 Drug Design and Development Journal Club and PHARM 3072 Topics in Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Journal Club
- PHARM 3074 Intro to Regulatory Aspects of Drug Development
- PHARM 3002 Advanced Pharmacokinetics
- PHARM 2003 Pharmacoepidemiology
- PHARM 3049 Scientific Writing Skills
PharmD/MS and non-thesis MS in PharmacoAnalytics - Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research (PA-POR):
For students interested in pursuing a professional PharmD degree and a research-based MS degree in Pharmacoanalytics - Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, we offer a combined PharmD/MS PA-POR option.
The average time to complete a Thesis MS is 2 years and a non-thesis MS is 3 semesters. By committing to a PharmD/MS PA-POR, the time to complete the MS can be reduced by up to a year.
- Flexible, self-paced and 100% online courses
- Hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous content
- Students complete the 4-year PharmD professional degree as outlined above.
- Students may apply for the Thesis or non-thesis MS program in the fall of the second or third professional (P2 or P3) year via PharmGRAD. See application instructions outlined below.
- Admission to MS program is not guaranteed
The School of Pharmacy offers graduate level training to highly motivated individuals. Our mission is to prepare students to be scientists, leaders, and innovators who think critically, solve complex problems, and advance science and healthcare. Major strengths include highly accomplished, well-funded research faculty, multidisciplinary training opportunities, and cutting-edge technologies.
Training consists of required core courses, elective courses, journal clubs, research presentations, and an original faculty-advised research project leading to a final thesis or dissertation. Students may select to enroll in six focus areas (tracks): 1) Medicinal chemistry, 2) Biochemical Pharmacology, 3) Pharmaceutics, 4) Clinical Pharmaceutical Science, 5) Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology (PSP), and 6) Pharmaceutical Outcomes Policy and Research.
Lori Altenbaugh
Graduate Program Coordinator
3501 Terrace St
5016 Salk Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-648-1014
altenbaughlm@pitt.edu
Applications must be submitted electronically at the Pharmacy College Application Service for Graduate Programs (PharmGrad). An application fee of $50.00 is required and to cover the cost of the application platform - application fees cannot be waived.
Applications for the Fall term must be submitted no later than January 3, 2026. Visit the School of Pharmacy application page for additional application deadline information, request information link, and other application details.
- Applications require 3 letters of reference written on official letterhead and signed.
- In lieu of personal statements, applicants must answer specific questions within the application.
- Applicants must indicate in which of the six research focus areas (tracks) they are most interested.
- Completed applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed by faculty within the selected track(s).
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications as early as possible and email the faculty members whose research aligns with their interests.
- Completed applicants will be invited for virtual interviews, at which time official transcripts will also be required.
- Competitive PhD applicants have research experience and a published research manuscript and/or a MS, PharmD or MD degree
- Competitive thesis MS applicants have some research experience
- Applicants without research experience but want to explore a research career in pharmaceutical sciences are best suited for the non-thesis MS degree
- IMPORTANT: WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY DOCUMENTS SENT VIA MAIL TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
- All applicants are for fall term admission only.
International Students
If English is the official language of your country or if you have graduated from a U.S. institution, proof of English proficiency is not required. For all other students, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. The minimum score for consideration for admission is a 100+ composite score with subscores of 20+. The new TOEFL scale as of January 2026 is a 5.0+ composite score with subscores of 4.0+. For IELTS the minimum acceptable score is a 7.0+ composite score with subscores of 6.0+. We are now accepting Duolingo scores if you are not able to take the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum score for Duolingo is 130 and the test can be found https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants Any application with a lesser score will not be reviewed. You must submit TOEFL (or IELTS) scores to PharmGRAD; institution code is 2927.
Most students accepted to our PhD program are offered full tuition scholarships plus a stipend for participation as a TA, TF, or GSR. Visit the University Graduate Office for additional details.
Tuition Rates and Fees can be found at www.tuition.pitt.edu. Visit the School of Pharmacy Scholarships and Awards for more information on financial support offerings.
NOTE: Health insurance is REQUIRED for all students.
Length of Programs
The PhD Program requires a minimum of 72 credits. Most students complete the PhD degree within five years. Visit Regulations Governing Graduate Studies for more information on credit requirements, Statute of Limitations, Transfer credits, and Leaves of Absence.
The Thesis-based MS program requires a minimum of 40 credits. Most students complete the MS degree in two academic years. Visit Regulations Governing Graduate Studies for more information on credit requirements, Statute of Limitations, Transfer credits, and Leaves of Absence.
The non-thesis MS program requires a minimum of 34 credits and is usually completed within one calendar year (three semesters). Visit Regulations Governing Graduate Studies for more information on credit requirements, Statute of Limitations, Transfer credits, and Leaves of Absence.
Academic Standards
School of Pharmacy students are responsible for upholding the standards of behavior outlined in the University’s Guidelines on Academic Integrity, the University’s policy on sexual harassment, and other policies related to student behavior.
This MS program in PharmacoAnalytics-Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research provides students the opportunity to develop expertise in the application of data science and technology to optimize pharmaceutical use and enhance patient care and outcomes. The program will provide students with the tools and knowledge necessary to analyze trends from large data sets and then interpret these trends in a way that allows them to improve their daily practice. Students will be competent with identifying big data sources, managing data, using various data analytic techniques from experience with statistical and analytics software to apply towards decision-making processes in the pharmacy field, including drug development, drug pricing and acquisition, and patient care outcomes. Students will work directly with highly accomplished, well-funded research faculty; will have multidisciplinary training opportunities; and gain experience with cutting-edge technologies.
Knowledge of data manipulation in some platform (STATA, SAS, Python, R, Tableau); secondary data sources, methods and tools are preferred prior to enrollment.
Lori Altenbaugh
Graduate Program Coordinator
3501 Terrace St
5016 Salk Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15261
412-648-1014
altenbaughlm@pitt.edu
Applications must be submitted electronically at the Pharmacy College Application Service for Graduate Programs (PharmGrad). An application fee of $50.00 is required and to cover the cost of the application platform - application fees cannot be waived.
Applications for the Fall term must be submitted no later than January 3, 2026. Visit the School of Pharmacy application page for additional application deadline information, request information link, and other application details.
- Applications require 3 letters of reference written on official letterhead and signed.
- In lieu of personal statements, applicants must answer specific questions within the application.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications as early as possible and email the faculty members whose research aligns with their interests.
- Completed applicants will be invited for virtual interviews, at which time official transcripts will also be required.
- Competitive thesis MS applicants have some research experience
- Applicants without research experience but want to explore a research career in pharmaceutical sciences are best suited for the non-thesis MS degree
- IMPORTANT: WE DO NOT ACCEPT ANY DOCUMENTS SENT VIA MAIL TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
International Students
If English is the official language of your country or if you have graduated from a U.S. institution, proof of English proficiency is not required. For all other students, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required. The minimum score for consideration for admission is a 100+ composite score with subscores of 20+. The new TOEFL scale as of January 2026 is a 5.0+ composite score with subscores of 4.0+. For IELTS the minimum acceptable score is a 7.0+ composite score with subscores of 6.0+. We are now accepting Duolingo scores if you are not able to take the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum score for Duolingo is 130 and the test can be found https://englishtest.duolingo.com/applicants Any application with a lesser score will not be reviewed. You must submit TOEFL (or IELTS) scores to PharmGRAD; institution code is 2927.
Tuition Rates and Fees can be found at www.tuition.pitt.edu. Visit the School of Pharmacy Scholarships and Awards for more information on financial support offerings.
NOTE: Health insurance is REQUIRED for all students.
Length of Programs
The MS in PharmacoAnalytics-Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research program requires a minimum of 30 credits. Most students complete the MS degree in one academic year (three semesters). Visit Regulations Governing Graduate Studies for more information on credit requirements, Statute of Limitations, Transfer credits, and Leaves of Absence.
Academic Standards
School of Pharmacy students are responsible for upholding the standards of behavior outlined in the University’s Guidelines on Academic Integrity, the University’s policy on sexual harassment, and other policies related to student behavior.
School of Pharmacy Faculty
School of Pharmacy Faculty
Program and Course Offerings
Concentration
Doctoral
Master’s
Professional
