Established in 1894, the UW School of Pharmacy is proud of its strong commitment to excellence and the recognition given to its faculty, students, and graduates for their outstanding educational, research, and service activities. The School's Dean's Office and three departments - Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, and Pharmacy - are located in the H-Wing and F-Wing of the Health Sciences Building. The School is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and its programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education.
The School of Pharmacy offers a four-year program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. The curriculum of the PharmD program is designed to provide students the scientific background and clinical skills necessary to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) to enter professional practice.
Limited class enrollment allows for individualized attention from instructors while students still enjoy the benefits of attending a large university. Instructional methods emphasize the critical thinking, problem-solving, and clinical skills necessary to provide rational drug therapy, reduce medication-related problems, promote healthy lifestyles and disease prevention, optimize health outcomes, enhance patient adherence, and render care in a changing health-care system. The School fosters a commitment to life-long learning and provides an environment where students develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills consistent with the profession's high standards.
The School of Pharmacy admits students for autumn quarter entrance only. Admission is competitive and is based on a number of factors including cumulative and prerequisite grade point averages (GPAs), written communication skills as demonstrated in application essays, and interview performance. The level of competition varies from year to year depending on the size and strength of the applicant pool.
On average, we receive approximately 400 applications for 105 available positions. Due to limits on enrollment, the School of Pharmacy cannot admit all qualified applicants. Admission is contingent upon satisfactory completion of all prerequisites, eligibility to become licensed as a Washington State pharmacy intern, and satisfactory results on the Criminal Background Check and Conviction/Criminal History Information Form. Admitted students are required to meet the University and Health Sciences immunization requirements.
All applicants are required to interview as part of the UW School of Pharmacy PharmD Admissions process. Only applicants who have completed the entirety of the PharmCAS application will be considered for interview and admission. Applications are initially assessed on their essays, recommendations, prerequisite and cumulative GPAs with the most qualified candidates invited to interview. Offers of interview are dependent upon the size and competitiveness of the applicant pool. Interviews for Priority Consideration applicants will be conducted in October. Standard admissions interviews will be conducted November through March.
Further information on admission requirements, application procedures, and program content is available on the School of Pharmacy PharmD admissions page: www.sop.washington.edu/pharmd/admissions/
Current degree requirements for entering classes are reflected in the graduating class of 2023 and later. (Graduating classes of 2022 and earlier have different course sequences as a result of this revision.) Below are the current degree requirements:
The goal of the accelerated concurrent degree program is to attract outstanding students who are committed to earning the PharmD degree and a PhD degree in either Pharmaceutics or Medicinal Chemistry or a PharmD degree and a MS degree in Pharmaceutical Outcomes, Research and Policy.
These students are equipped to enter academic careers that require competence in both teaching and research. Graduates of a concurrent degree program will possess the breadth and depth of knowledge necessary to work with colleagues across multiple disciplines essential to performing integrated and translational medical and pharmaceutical research.
Admission to the PharmD/PhD program is based on the recommendation of the admission committees of the professional degree program, the graduate program, and the PharmD/PhD program. For additional admission criteria, see respective programs.
Applicants must complete admission requirements of both the PharmD and PhD programs. Consideration for the PharmD/PhD program is contingent upon completion of a PharmD application, Graduate School application, and PharmD/PhD application (available at www.sop.washington.edu/pharmd/curriculum/concurrent-degree-info).
Financial support in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and fellowships may be available to prospective and continuing students. Availability of financial aid is limited, typically to the first and second academic year. Prospective students should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for more information on financial support.
For graduate program information, refer to the UW degree program catalog.