Build the Bridge to Your Future in Pharmacy

Whether you’re an undergraduate student in the pre-professional phase or have already completed your bachelor’s degree and are progressing toward your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, you'll achieve your bigger goals faster and more affordably with our transfer pathways.

Explore your way to a Pharm.D. degree and pharmacy licensure at Duquesne. Learn how to prepare for transferring into our pharmacy school, including requirements, prerequisites, and essential dates and deadlines.

Start Your Application

Why Transfer to Duquesne's Pharm.D. Programs?

  • Rigorous Pharmacy Curriculum: Complete your professional phase (four years) online or on campus
  • Affordable Tuition: Undergraduate merit scholarship and 15% discount for graduate students
  • Seamless Credit Transfer: Articulation agreements with 20 colleges and universities in PA, NY and OH

Ready to continue your pharmacy education at Duquesne?

Take a look at the applications requirements and complete our inquiry form to receive additional information and get connected to an Admissions Coordinator.

By The Numbers

#1U.S. News & World Report

Among Catholic Schools Of Pharmacy

#2NIH Funding

Among Catholic Schools Of Pharmacy

4-YearPharm.D.

Professional Phase

Why Choose Us?

Duquesne’s support stays with you long after graduation and throughout your professional life. Our Pharm.D. program immerses you in an environment brimming with collaboration and connects you to other ambitious students and experienced faculty. Upon graduation, you join a thriving alumni community of more than 7,400 active professionals, scholars, and world-changers and forge a professional path filled with purpose.
Pharmacists are the most accessible health care professionals with many responsibilities and expansive roles, including educators, medical counselors, and health care advocates. Since 2012, the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy has been the only pharmacy school in the country to require participation in a professional development and advocacy course.
Over the years, we have fostered long-standing academic partnerships with eight sites in the Pittsburgh area, including sites in the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center (UPMC) Health System, Allegheny Health Network, and Alliance Rx Walgreens Pharmacy. These community partnerships play an integral part in your professional development. They allow you to step into the pharmacist role and work in diverse clinical settings to refine your expertise and build your skill set, preparing you to excel in the health care field.
Duquesne University is proud to hold articulation agreements with 20 colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. Through these agreements, many undergraduate students enjoy a streamlined transfer process into the professional phase of our Pharm.D. program.

Duquesne University has active articulation agreements with the following colleges and universities:
  • Bucks County Community College
  • Butler County Community College
  • Carlow University
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville
  • Gannon University
  • Jamestown Community College
  • Juniata College
  • Lock Haven University
  • Lorain County Community College
  • Mount Aloysius College
  • Neumann University
  • PennWest Edinboro University
  • Saint Francis University
  • Saint Vincent College
  • Slippery Rock University
  • Susquehanna University
  • Ursuline College
  • Waynesburg University
  • Westminster College
  • Westmoreland County Community College

Pharm.D. Transfer Pathways

A current undergraduate student who has completed four semesters and a minimum of 64 credits (including required prerequisite courses) can transfer directly into the professional phase of our on-campus Pharm.D. program.

Students with a bachelor’s degree can also transfer into the on-campus Pharm.D. program. They must have earned the science and math credits within the pre-professional phase.

To learn more about continuing your education as a graduate student, please contact the Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention,
Jason Stack, to discuss your specific situation.

The Online Doctor of Pharmacy program invites eligible undergraduate students to continue their studies at Duquesne. The first three years of our online program consist primarily of online learning but require students to come to our Pittsburgh campus four to five times a year to complete the curriculum's laboratory and professional development components. We also hold three to four weeks of introductory experiential learning in the summer semester. In the final year, students focus on their practicums, working in various clinical settings. 

To be considered for the online program, transfer applicants must have completed four semesters and at least 64 credits, including the prerequisite courses.

How to Apply as a Transfer Student

To qualify for admission into Duquesne’s Pharm.D. programs, you must have:

  • Maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5. Our admissions committee considers a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale to be competitive.
  • Completed 64 credit hours of prerequisite courses, earning at least a “C” or above. 

If you have already earned your bachelor’s degree, you must apply as a graduate student. If you do not have a degree, you will submit your application as an undergraduate transfer student.

Once accepted, you will be required to complete a background check conducted by CastleBranch prior to matriculating to the School of Pharmacy.

Duquesne's Pharm.D. programs begin in August; you may not apply for entry to a specific semester. The class functions as a cohort, going year-round for four years.

Our rolling admissions cycle for the online Pharm.D. application begins August 1. Our Admissions Committee evaluates your application on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transfer applicants must have completed the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent from an accredited two-year or four-year U.S. college or university:

General Biology I & Lab 4 cr,
Human Anatomy & Physiology I 3 cr.
Human Anatomy & Physiology II 3 cr.
Microbiology 3 cr.
General Chemistry I & Lab 4 cr.
General Chemistry II & Lab 4 cr.
Organic Chemistry I & Lab 4 cr.
Organic Chemistry II & Lab 4 cr.
Calculus I 4 cr.
Statistics 3 cr.
English (Composition & Literature) 6 cr.
Humanities 21 cr.


If applicants have obtained a grade lower than a "C" in a prerequisite course, they must retake it and get a grade of "C" or above.

As a transfer-friendly university, we strive to streamline the process and ensure that your hard work and previous academic experiences count toward your DU education. If you have questions about transferring your credits, we encourage you to contact your admissions counselor. If you haven't met them yet, just email the Admissions%20Team to set up an appointment and start planning for your transfer.

Learn more by reviewing our transfer of credits policies.

As a pharmacy student at Duquesne, you will be responsible for fees and expenditures, in addition to tuition, once you enter the professional phase and clinical rotations.  These fees support your involvement in pharmacy student organizations and help you get the clearances and vaccines required for rotations, preparing you to reach your bigger goals in becoming an empowered pharmacist.  All fees are subject to change.

All Transfer Students

Item Fee
Student Activity Fee ~$289/Semester
Experiential Education – PA Intern License (including FBI Fingerprint) ~$85 (one-time fee)
Experiential Education – Clearances (Child Abuse, FBI Fingerprint) ~$38/year
Experiential Education - Health Requirements (physical, titers, Two Step TB Test) ~$280 (one-time fee)
Experiential Education – Flu Vaccine and TB Skin Test ~$20+ (dependent on insurance co-pay)/year
Experiential Education – Rotation Specific Requirements Costs vary and could include additional background checks, drug screening, housing, parking, travel costs, etc.
Student Professional Liability Insurance ~$43/year
EHR Go ~$365/total
NAPLEX Preparation Materials ~$175 (one-time fee)
Licensure/Board Exams (Fees can be paid before or after graduation) ~$1,070
Graduation Regalia ~$200
Health Insurance If students do not have health insurance, they will need to enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).

On-Campus Pathway Transfer Students

Item Fee
Housing/Food/Campus Parking Varies based on student preference and availability.
Electronic Devices ~$649 iPad

Online Pathway and Extended Pathway Transfer Students

Item Fee
On-Campus Requirements at Duquesne University Varies depending on the student's location.  The average number of required days on-campus can range between 15-20 days over the courses of professional years 1-3.

The University partners with a local hotel (within walking distance of campus) for a discoutned nightly fee if needed (~$150/night - subject to change).

All travel costs associated with getting to and from Pittsburgh are the responsibility of the student.

While some meals may be provided by the school, students should anticipate dining costs while visiting campus.
Electronic Devices ~$1499 Laptop

Depending on the program in which you enroll, you may be eligible for different financial assistance. For example, students accepted as undergraduates qualify for a merit scholarship that is applied annually over the duration of the program. Or, if you are accepted as a graduate student, you may receive a 15% tuition discount award to help cover your educational expenses.  Learn about Duquesne's tuition rates.

Affording Your Pharm.D. Degree

We understand that you may be entering Duquesne University's Pharm.D. Program at a different academic status than your peers. That's why we deliver a  high-value education that's accessible and affordable to all, no matter where you're at in your journey. Enrolling in the professional phase of the Pharm.D. program with a bachelor's degree makes you eligible for different financial assistance compared to joining the program without a bachelor's degree. 

Applying as an undergraduate student will enable you to receive a merit scholarship for the entirety of the program. Or, if you are accepted as an undergraduate student, you may receive a 15% tuition award to help cover your educational expenses. Find out more about Duquesne’s tuition rates.

Contact The Admissions Team!

Jason Stack, Ed.D., MBA

Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management and Retention

Hear from Duquesne's Future Pharmacists

PJ McMahon headshot

Coming from a college that had much larger class sizes, I found that the smaller class sizes at Duquesne promoted my ability to learn and succeed in my studies and found that the faculty were always supportive and easy to contact with any questions I had.

PJ McMahon Pharm.D. Candidate, 2027
Natalia Diaz Sainz headshot

I'm a transfer student with a previous degree in chemistry, and I chose Duquesne because it gave me the chance to bring together my background in chemistry and my passion for pharmacy.

Natalia Diaz Sainz Pharm.D. Candidate, 2028

Begin Your Transfer Application Today


No matter where your education began, you can continue learning at Duquesne University.  

Step into your future as a pharmacist by transferring to our on-campus or online Doctor of Pharmacy program. Both graduate programs offer high-quality pharmaceutical education that enriches your expertise and helps you build a successful career in the health care field.

Submit Your Application

Accreditation

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www.acpe-accredit.org

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