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University of Pittsburgh    
2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2016-2017 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Doctor of Pharmacy, PharmD


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Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Program

The professional curriculum is configured in a course of study requiring two years (62 credits) of pre-professional study followed by four years of professional courses. The four-year professional curriculum emphasizes problem solving and critical thinking, blending classroom and laboratory learning with experiential learning practice. The required component of experiential learning is designed to facilitate progress from initial stages of making meaningful connections with patients to caring for complex patients with acute and chronic diseases. Experiences include patient care in communities, in hospitals, and during transitions of care. This experiential education begins in the first weeks of your P1 year.

Through our commitment to personalizing education, PittPharmacy inspires students to use their unique interests and talents to improve the lives of people through the safe, effective, and responsible use of medications and other interventions.

The PharmD program prepares students to be practitioners who advance the profession by fostering innovation, leadership, interprofessional collaboration, civic engagement, advocacy, life-long learning, and a professional attitude of inclusion.

Program Accreditation

University of Pittsburgh’s Doctor of Pharmacy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL  60603, 312/664-3575; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.

Pre-Professional Requirements


Applicants to the professional pharmacy program must have successfully completed, or be in the process of completing, all prerequisite mathematics and science subjects no later than the spring term of the year of admission. All other pre-professional courses should be completed no later than the first day of the fall term of admission. Pre-professional courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Pre-Professional Courses:


  • General Biology (with lab) - 8 credits
  • General Chemistry (with lab) - 8 credits
  • Organic Chemistry (with lab) - 8 credits
  • English Composition - 6 credits
  • Calculus - 3-4 credits
  • Statistics - 3-4 credits
  • Elective courses+ - 24 credits

Total: 60-62 credits


*Freshman Studies, 1 credit, is recommended for University of Pittsburgh freshmen.

+At least 12 credits must be in the humanities and 12 credits in the social sciences. A course in Public Speaking is recommended.

Non-native English-speaking applicants must supply evidence of their proficiency in the English language.

Degree Requirements


To earn the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy, the student must demonstrate satisfactory achievement in required course work prescribed by the curriculum (detailed below under Program Description), earning an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher. Refer to the school’s Student Handbook for the guidelines for academic progress.

Program Description


The professional curriculum leads to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and requires completion of 132.5 credits (note: this curriculum is subject to change):

Total: 15 credits


Total: 15 credits


Total: 16 credits


Total: 15 credits


Total: 16.5 credits


Total: 15 credits


Total: 40 credits


Total Professional Credits: 132.5 credits


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