Program Admission
Preparation for the Major
In high school the student should take an academic curriculum in preparation for entrance to college. A sound foundational education in science and mathematics courses is an essential part of preparation for the study of pharmacy. Good written and verbal communication skills are important. Students planning to transfer from another college or university should consult with the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions early in their academic careers to plan coursework that will and meet pre-pharmacy requirements.
Application Process
All students seeking admission to the 4-year professional program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree must submit an application for the professional program. Applications are available from the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions website. The deadline for applying for admission for the fall semester is February 1. Limitations in the size of the physical facilities, the number of faculty and the number of advanced pharmacy practice experience sites make it necessary to limit the class size in the professional program. Each student admitted into the professional program is required to authorize and pay for a criminal background check. The background check report is automatically sent to the student and to the College and must be approved by the Admissions Committee.
Selection is competitive and based upon several factors including pre-pharmacy coursework, written and oral communication skills, knowledge of the profession, residency status, and other factors. Any student who anticipates successful completion of the pre-pharmacy mathematics, science, and communication requirements prior to fall semester is eligible to apply.
Notification of initial acceptance into the professional program will be made by March 15 for students that apply by the February 1 deadline. Students admitted to the professional program must submit a non-refundable pharmacy major fee to secure their position for the fall semester.
Early Assurance Pathway
Admission to the Pharm.D. Program by Early Assurance will require a student to:
- Submit an undergraduate admission application to SDSU
- Meet SDSU Freshmen Admission Requirements
- Submit an application for Early Assurance during senior year of high school
- Successfully complete an interview prior to the start of the Freshman year.
Progression into the 4-year core Pharm.D. curriculum will require:
- Overall cumulative GPA > 3.0
- By the end of the fall semester that proceeds the beginning of the desired Pharm.D. start date, students must have completed 7 of the 10 required math and science courses with a grade point average of at least 2.7 and no grade lower than C. Required courses are general chemistry, organic chemistry, general biology, calculus, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, statistics, and seminar pre-pharmacy coursework. Refer to the Additional Admissions Requirements section below for a list of courses.
- In their fourth semester, successful candidates must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in the remaining required math and science courses and successfully pass an impromptu writing assessment.
- Any student who is unable to meet the grade requirements listed above, will lose their place in the professional program. Students who lose their place in this manner may re-take courses to try to meet the academic requirements and re-apply through the traditional 4-year Pharm.D. application process.
Traditional Pathway
Applicants to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program will submit:
- The completed application
- Official transcripts
- Contact information for two references
- A short essay on the topic of “Why I want to obtain a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree at SDSU”
- A completed shadowing form
- Documentation of ACT, SAT, or PCAT scores is optional
The program requires an interview with the Pharmacy Admissions Committee before we make the final selections for the new Fall class. Those selected are required to send a non-refundable deposit to secure enrollment for the fall semester. Students must pass a criminal background check before final approval for admission into the professional program.
Program Format
The curriculum is divided into a 2-year pre-pharmacy and a 4-year professional program phase. The pre-pharmacy courses provide a solid knowledge base and ability to use critical thought processes in the biological and physical sciences.
The four years of the professional program incorporate a solid foundation of pharmaceutical science courses as well as a comprehensive sequence of therapeutics and professional practice courses. Students earn a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences after successful completion of the first two years of the professional program. The application of drug knowledge, basic science, and critical thinking to resolve problems of drug distribution and patient care are emphasized throughout the curriculum. In their first three years of the program, students gain initial practice experience through introductory pharmacy practice experiences in settings such as community and hospital pharmacies.
In the final year of the program, students have an opportunity to apply knowledge and pharmacy care principles to pharmacy practice situations in a series of advanced pharmacy practice experiences in a variety of patient care settings which include patient care areas of hospitals, nursing homes, community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, Indian Health Service facilities, and clinic pharmacies. Students will work side-by-side with licensed pharmacists and other healthcare professionals; examples include physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, and medical laboratory personnel.
Pharmacy Regulations
Students in the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions are governed by the regulations which apply to all students at SDSU but are also governed by requirements established by the College. These requirements are presented in detail in the Pharmacy Student Handbook and include:
Progression
Progression standards for students in the Pharm.D. program are set to ensure graduates are prepared to provide pharmacy services to the public. The integrated curriculum relies on information and skills garnered in previous courses. Therefore, students’ success depends on achieving a minimum level of performance in each course. Minimum level of performance is defined as a grade of C or better based on University Catalog grade definitions. A grade of D is defined in terms of “insufficient” and “inadequate” according to the University Catalog. A grade of F is defined in terms of “failure.” D, F, and U (unsatisfactory) grades do not represent a minimum level of performance needed to develop skills, abilities, and knowledge of a general practitioner.
Refused Status
A student will be placed on refused status if the student:
- Earns a D, F, or U in a pharmacy course.
- Does not complete the Pharm.D. program within six years of starting the professional program.
Class Standing Requirements
Standing - In order for students to enroll in the fall semester of the pharmacy program, students must meet the class standing requirement. These are defined as follows (note: “completion” means a passing grade in each pharmacy course and maintaining semester and cumulative PHA GPA requirements):
P1 Year Standing - The student must have been admitted into the professional program.
P2 Year Standing - Completion of all PHA 300 level required courses and PHA 119/101 and PHA 219.
P3 Year Standing - Completion of all PHA 400 level required courses. PHA 610, a bachelor’s degree, and all capstone activities are required to begin the fall semester. Completion of all required PHA 700, non-advanced pharmacy practice experience courses are required to progress to the subsequent semester.
P4 Year Standing - Completion of all PHA 600-700 level required, non-advanced pharmacy practice experience courses, and 300 hours of IPPE.
Student Learning Outcomes
The educational outcomes are the knowledge, skills and attitudes which the College desires each Pharm.D. graduate to possess. The Pharm.D. program consists of specific courses and other experiences which are designed to provide the knowledge, training and experience to allow each student to successfully attain these outcomes.
Foundational Knowledge
The professional program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (hereinafter “the program”) develops in the graduate the knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to apply the foundational sciences to the provision of patient-centered care.
1.1. Foundational Knowledge (Learner) – Develop, integrate, and apply knowledge from the foundational sciences (i.e., biomedical, pharmaceutical, social/behavioral/administrative, and clinical sciences) to evaluate the scientific literature, explain drug action, solve therapeutic problems, and advance population health and patient-centered care.
Essentials for Practice and Care
The program imparts to the graduate the knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to provide patient-centered care, manage medication use systems, promote health and wellness, and describe the influence of population-based care on patient-centered care.
2.1. Patient-centered care (Caregiver) - Provide patient-centered care as the medication expert (collect and interpret evidence, prioritize, formulate assessments and recommendations, implement, monitor and adjust plans, and document activities).
2.2. Medication use systems management (Manager) – Manage patient healthcare needs using human, financial, technological, and physical resources to optimize the safety and efficacy of medication use systems.
2.3. Health and wellness (Promoter) – Design prevention, intervention, and educational strategies for individuals and communities to manage chronic disease and improve health and wellness.
2.4. Population-based care (Provider) – Describe how population-based care influences patient-centered care and influences the development of practice guidelines and evidence-based best practices.
Approach to Practice and Care
The program imparts to the graduate the knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to solve problems; educate, advocate, and collaborate, working with a broad range of people; recognize social determinants of health; and effectively communicate verbally and nonverbally.
3.1. Problem Solving (Problem Solver) – Identify problems; explore and prioritize potential strategies; and design, implement, and evaluate a viable solution.
3.2. Education (Educator) – Educate all audiences by determining the most effective and enduring ways to impart information and assess learning.
3.3. Patient Advocacy (Advocate) – Represent the patient’s best interests.
3.4. Interprofessional collaboration (Collaborator) – Actively participate and engage as a healthcare team member by demonstrating mutual respect, understanding, and values to meet patient care needs.
3.5. Cultural sensitivity (Includer) – Recognize social determinants of health to diminish disparities and inequities in access to quality care.
3.6. Communication (Communicator) – Effectively communicate verbally and nonverbally when interacting with individuals, groups, and organizations.
Personal and Professional Development
The program imparts to the graduate the knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to demonstrate self-awareness, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, and professionalism.
4.1. Self-awareness (Self-aware) – Examine and reflect on personal knowledge, skills, abilities, beliefs, biases, motivation, and emotions that could enhance or limit personal and professional growth.
4.2. Leadership (Leader) – Demonstrate responsibility for creating and achieving shared goals, regardless of position.
4.3. Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Innovator) – Engage in innovative activities by using creative thinking to envision better ways of accomplishing professional goals.
4.4. Professionalism (Professional) – Exhibit behaviors and values that are consistent with the trust given to the profession by patients, other healthcare providers, and society.
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