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According to U.S. News & World Report, VCU School of Pharmacy is one of the Top 20 Pharm.D. programs in the United States. Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, we welcome students from all backgrounds and experiences. As one of 18 Health Science Centers in the United States, the school's location within the VCU Health System offers Pharm.D. students tremendous opportunities for interprofessional education and collaboration. In addition to our Pharm.D. program, we offer several dual degree programs with the VCU School of Medicine, VCU School of Business, VCU Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs and VCU College of Health Professions.
Why Students Choose VCU
Our Culture
At VCU, you can expect to learn from dynamic faculty in a welcoming and inclusive environment that will expose you to individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences and cultural backgrounds.Our Curriculum
Our curriculum offers students an exceptional balance of practice and community engagement alongside basic and applied pharmaceutical research.Our Results
We have the highest NAPLEX pass rate in the state of Virginia and second-highest NAPLEX pass rate when compared the Top 10 Schools of Pharmacy as reported by U.S. News & World Report.Career Exploration
Our program offers students an individualized and structured approach as we assist them in exploring the pharmacy profession.
- Our residency advisor program, continuous professional development course, mentorship program, fireside chats, career panels and student organizations are just a few of the ways we assist our students with charting their future in pharmacy.
- We believe preparing our students for the future of pharmacy. Our graduates can be found working in hospital practice, ambulatory care, industry, veterinary pharmacy, informatics, geriatrics, pediatrics, managed care and so much more!
- Click here to see what our alumni are doing.
Dual Degree Programs
Are you a highly motivated student interested in research or looking to obtain additional experience in business, public health, health innovation or gerontology? Our combined degree programs take advantage of efficiencies in both the professional and graduate programs while maintaining sufficient rigor, scope, and depth. Currently, the following combined degrees are offered jointly with the VCU School of Medicine, VCU School of Business, VCU College of Health Professions and VCU School of Nursing.
| Combined Degree Program | Program Website | Program Director |
| Doctor of (Pharm.D.)/Pharmaceutical Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) | Pharmaceutical Sciences | Dr. Elvin Price |
| Doctor of (Pharm.D.)/Business Administration, Master of (M.B.A.) | Business Administration | Dr. David Holford |
| Doctor of (Pharm.D.)/Public Health, Master of (M.P.H.) | Public Health | Dr. Elvin Price |
| Doctor of (Pharm.D.)/Aging Studies, Certificate in (Post-baccalaureate graduate certificate) | Aging Studies | Dr. Krista Donohoe |
| Pharm.D./Doctor of (Pharm.D.)/Clinical Research, Certificate in (Post-baccalaureate graduate certificate) | Clinical Research | Dr. Catherine Brown, CCRP |
| Pharm.D./Doctor of (Pharm.D.)/Healthcare Innovation, Certificate in (Post-baccalaureate graduate certificate) | Healthcare Innovation | Dr. Allison Schumacher |
Application Process
Step 1: Schedule an appointment to discuss your competitiveness (optional step)
Step 2: Complete and submit a PharmCAS Application with all supplemental materials
Step 3: After submission, the preliminary review of application begins
Step 4: Based on preliminary review, interview offers are extended
Step 5: Qualified applicants will be invited to complete the virtual interview and supplemental application process
Step 6: Admissions decision is made and sent to applicant
Application Requirements
- Complete PharmCAS online application with the following components
- Offical Transcript(s)
- Personal Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation
One letter should be from a faculty member, employer, and health care professional. If you are unable to secure a recommendation from a healthcare professional, a letter from a faculty member or volunteer coordinator is acceptable.
- Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
Completion of the PCAT is not required for the 2020-2021 cycle and remains optional. Students are encouraged to take the exam under the following conditions:
- Overall GPA below a 3.0
- Prerequisites taken 5+ years ago
- Less than 50 total credit hours taken at time of application
- Downward trend in academic history
If you are still unsure of what to do - don't worry, we are here for you. Please make an appointment here.
Application timeline
July 14, 2020
May 3, 2021
Pharm.D. Tuition & Fees (2020 - 2021)
VCU School of Pharmacy is dedicated to making a Pharm.D. degree more affordable for the pharmacists of tomorrow.
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In-state
$31,866 per year
Out-of-state
$45,194 per year
Are you an out-of-state student?
Be sure to ask us if you qualify for the Explore Virginia Tuition Initiative.
Connect with us!
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The VCU Health Sciences Pipeline features programs and initiatives to support students in their journey toward a healthcare career. VCU School of Pharmacy has several programs at the middle school, high school and college level for students interested in learning about pharmacy. Click the button below to learn more and find a program for you.
- Compromiso, Valores, Servicio
- Preview Day
- Pharmacy Explorers
- Pharmacy Summer Scholars
- Summer Academic Enrichment Program
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Virtual Information Sessions are designed with you in mind. An admissions representative will provide insights about the pharmacy profession and VCU School of Pharmacy. Interested in meeting some of our students? We can arrange that as well! If you have a class, club or group of individuals interested in learning more about VCU School of Pharmacy, feel free to request an information session.
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Open Houses are open to anyone interested in the Pharm.D. program at VCU School of Pharmacy. Attending an Open House gives you the opportunity to:
- Learn more about our Pharm.D. program
- Ask questions about the admissions process
- Virtually tour the MCV Campus
- Get a sense of student life from current Pharm.D. students
Currently, all Open House sessions are held virtually, please use the button below to schedule an Open House session. For more details, call (804) 828-3000.
Prerequisites
Applicants for the VCU School of Pharmacy must successfully complete ALL course prerequisites by the end of the summer term before fall classes begin in the year of their admission.
52
Total number of college semester hours that must be completed prior to matriculation
30
Total number of basic science college semester hours that must be completed prior to application consideration
45
Total number of college quarter hours that must be completed prior to matriculation:
Additional Information
*** Due to the importance of a strong biomedical science foundation in the doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program, some or all of these courses are highly recommended: genetics (3 SH), molecular biology (3 SH), immunology (3 SH) and cell biology (3 SH).
NOTE: AP (Advanced Placement tests of the College Board) and/or IB (International Baccalaureate) courses will not be accepted for science prerequisites other than physics, although higher-level courses in the same subject area may be substituted (e.g., physical chemistry for general chemistry). AP/IB credit in physics, calculus, statistics, and English will be accepted with a minimum score of 3 (AP) or 4 (IB).
| Course title | Sem. hrs | Qrt. hrs |
| Biology | ||
| General Biology Lecture | 6 | 9 |
| General Biology Lab | 2 | 3 |
| Human Anatomy Lecture (in addition, 1 SH of lab is preferred) | 3 | 4.5 |
| Human Physiology | 3 | 4.5 |
| Microbiology Lecture (in addition, 1 SH of lab is preferred) | 3 | 4.5 |
| Biochemistry Lecture | 3 | 4.5 |
| Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry or General Inorganic Chemistry Lecture | 6 | 9 |
| General Chemistry or General Inorganic Chemistry Lab | 2 | 3 |
| Organic Chemistry Lecture | 6 | 9 |
| Organic Chemistry Lab | 2 | 3 |
| Physics | ||
| Physics Lecture | 3 | 4.5 |
| Physics Lab | 1 | 1.5 |
| Math | ||
| Calculus | 3 | 4.5 |
| Statistics | 3 | 4.5 |
| Other | ||
| English | 6 | 9 |
| TOTAL | 52 | 78 |
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