Doctor of Pharmacy

Established in 1859 and consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally, the UIC College of Pharmacy is renowned for seamless integration of its educational programs, pharmacy services, and research. With campuses in Chicago and Rockford, the college prepares the next generation of pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, and pharmacy leaders.

Doctor of Pharmacy Degree

Prior to entering the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree at UIC, a prospective student will have to complete the required pre-pharmacy prerequisite coursework at any regionally accredited college or university. After completing the prerequisite coursework, the PharmD degree can be earned by completing four years of professional education at the UIC College of Pharmacy.

Accreditation

The University of Illinois Chicago Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, Illinois 60603-3410, (312) 664-3575; fax: (312) 664-4652.

Admission

Admission to the college is selective and highly competitive. Admission criteria include demonstrated academic ability, good moral character, proficiency and clarity in both written and spoken English, strong potential for professional outlook and behavior, evidence of leadership and maturity, and complete mental and physical competence to perform all tasks regularly expected of a registered pharmacist.

Admission Pathways

The UIC College of Pharmacy offers various pathways prospective students can take for admission into the PharmD program offered in Chicago and Rockford. See the College of Pharmacy website for more information about each pathway.

• Regular Admissions—Apply for admission after completing the pre-pharmacy prerequisite coursework at any regionally accredited college or university.
• Transfer Admissions—Apply for admission if currently attending another ACPE-accredited pharmacy school and seeking to possibly transfer to UIC from that school.
• Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions (GPPA)—Apply directly from high school through UIC's Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions initiative.
• State Affiliate Programs with Illinois Universities or Colleges—Attend one of the UIC College of Pharmacy's state affiliate partner universities or colleges and apply to the State Affiliate Program.
• International Affiliate Programs—Apply for admission when associated with one of our International Affiliate Partnerships.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the PharmD Program, prospective students must:

1. Complete a minimum of 18 required pre-pharmacy courses (semester) with a C- grade or better by the end of the summer semester of the admission year. All required pre-pharmacy courses must be taken on a graded basis. Pre-pharmacy courses may be taken at the UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, see the Preprofessional Studies section of the catalog, or at any regionally accredited college or university and must be completed by the end of the summer semester the year the applicant wishes to matriculate. The required pre-pharmacy coursework is listed below.
2. Have cumulative, required pre-pharmacy coursework, and combined science/math coursework grade point averages of 2.50/4.00 or better. Repeated classes must be calculated into the cumulative and the combined science/math coursework grade point averages, but not the required pre-pharmacy coursework grade point average.
3. Complete a PharmCAS application.
4. If an International applicant, demonstrate English competency. (See the College of Pharmacy website for more information.)
5. If invited, complete a UIC Supplemental Application.
6. If selected, participate in an onsite admission interview and assessment of written and verbal communication skills.

If science courses were taken more than five years prior to admission application, students must have their transcripts evaluated by a College of Pharmacy admissions counselor.

Students completing an undergraduate degree at UIC must complete the General Education requirements. Students should consult the General Education section and their college/department sections of the catalog for more information on fulfilling these requirements.

Each course must be a minimum of 3 semester or 4 quarter credit hours.

Matriculation Requirements

If selected for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, prospective students must be willing:

1. To provide verification of immunity status as dictated by the university's immunization and clinical education requirements;
2. To be in possession of a valid Illinois pharmacy technician license in good standing at all times or such licenses as required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR);
3. To provide one’s own transportation to off-campus pharmacy practice experience sites;
4. To be in compliance with HIPAA requirements;
5. To agree to and abide by the college's policy on audio/video recordings of curricular content for distance education; and
6. To meet any other matriculation requirements, such as criminal background checks and drug screenings.

Failure to comply with the conditions above, and any other conditions set forth in the College of Pharmacy Matriculation and Continued Enrollment Policies, will result in refusal of further registration for coursework.

Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Requirements

To earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UIC, students need to satisfactorily complete didactic coursework , introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPE), and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE). These degree requirements are outlined below.

Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum Requirements