Requirements for Pharm.D. On-Campus
Admission Requirements from High School
Preparing for a career in pharmacy during high school means taking a well-rounded series of classes with an emphasis on science, math, and communication. High performance in these courses is important, as grade point average is an important consideration for admission into the program. Duquesne University offers test optional admissions. If you gave SAT/ACT/CLT scores, we encourage you to submit them as part of your application. Qualified high school students are admitted into the pre-professional phase of the Pharm.D. program of study.
Admissions Requirements for Undergraduate Applicants:
Prerequisite Courses (64 credits)
These courses must be taken at an accredited 4-year college/university or 2-year community
college. Grades of "C" or better are required.
Science Credits: 30
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Biology I W/Lab | 4 |
| Intro to Microbiology W/Lab | 4 |
| General Chemistry I W/Lab | 4 |
| General Chemistry II W/Lab | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology I and II | 6 |
| Organic Chemistry I W/Lab | 4 |
| Organic Chemistry II W/Lab | 4 |
Math Credits: 6-7
| Calculus | 3-4 |
|
Statistics |
3 |
English Credits: 6
| English Composition I | 3 |
| English Composition II or Literature Course | 3 |
Humanities Credits: 21
| Humanities Credits (must include one Ethics course) | 21 |
Total Prerequisite Credits: 63-64
Additional Prerequisites:
- Complete a background check conducted by the School of Pharmacy through an approved vendor prior to matriculation.
Admission Requirements for Applicants with a Bachelor's Degree:
Prerequisite Courses (37 credits)
These courses must be taken at an accredited 4-year college/university or 2-year community
college. Grades of "C" or better are required.
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Biology W/Lab | 4 |
| Intro to Microbiology W/Lab | 4 |
| General Chemistry I W/Lab | 4 |
| General Chemistry II W/Lab | 4 |
| Anatomy and Physiology I and II | 6 |
| Organic Chemistry I W/Lab | 4 |
| Organic Chemistry II W/Lab | 4 |
| Calculus I | 4 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Total Prerequisite Credits | 37 |
Completion of background check conducted by the School of Pharmacy through an approved vendor is required prior to matriculation.
Selected applicants will be invited to interview.
Prerequisites for Professional Phase
Accepted applicants will be required to have a background check conducted by an approved School of Pharmacy vendor prior to matriculating to the School of Pharmacy. Students may view our Criminal Background Policy on the School of Pharmacy website, or by requesting one from the School of Pharmacy.
All applications will be invited to interview prior to entering the professional phase.
Student Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
- Scientific Thinking – Seek, analyze, integrate, and apply foundational knowledge of medications and pharmacy practice (biomedical; pharmaceutical; social, behavioral, and administrative; and clinical sciences; drug classes; and digital health).
Skills
- Problem Solving Process – Use problem solving and critical thinking skills, along with an innovative mindset, to address challenges and to promote positive change.
- Communication – Actively engage, listen, and communicate verbally, nonverbally, and in writing, when educating or interacting with an individual, group, or organization.
- Cultural and Structural Humility – Mitigate health disparities by considering, recognizing, and navigating cultural and structural factors (e.g., social determinants of health, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) to improve access and health outcomes.
- Person-Centered Care – Provide whole person care and comprehensive medication management to individuals as the medication specialist using the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process.
- Advocacy – Promote the best interests of patients and/or the pharmacy profession within healthcare settings and at the community, state, or national level.
- Medication-Use Process Stewardship – Optimize patient healthcare outcomes using human, financial, technological, and physical resources to improve the safety, efficacy, and environmental impact of medication use systems.
- Interprofessional Collaboration – Actively engage and contribute as a healthcare team member by demonstrating core interprofessional competencies.
- Population Health and Wellness – Assess factors that influence the health and wellness of a population and develop strategies to address those factors.
- Leadership – Demonstrate the ability to influence and support the achievement of shared goals, regardless of one’s role.
Attitudes
- Self-Awareness – Examine, reflect on, and address personal and professional attributes (e.g., knowledge, metacognition, skills, abilities, beliefs, biases, motivation, help-seeking strategies, and emotional intelligence) that could enhance or limit growth, development, and professional identity formation.
- Professionalism – Exhibit attitudes and behaviors that embody a commitment to building and maintaining trust with patients, other health care providers, and society.
212 Credits
Pre-Professional Phase (Years 1 & 2)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| BIOL 111/111L | Biology I W/Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 203/204 | Intro Microbiology W/Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 207/209 | Anatomy & Physiology | 6 |
| CHEM 121/121L/121R/122/122L/122R | General Chemistry I & II W/Lab & Recitation | 10 |
| CHEM 211/212 | Organic Chemistry I & II W/Lab | 8 |
| MATH 115 | Calculus I | 4 |
| BRDG 101 | Writing & Analysis | 3 |
| BRDG 102 | Writing & Literature | 3 |
| THEO ### | Theology-Based Course | 3 |
| BRDG 105 | Intro To Ethical Reasoning | 3 |
| BRDG ### | Essential Questions Seminar | 3 |
| BRDG ### | Communication: Creative Expression*** | 0/3 |
| BRDG ### | Business/Critical Thinking | 3 |
| BRDG ### | Cultural Fluency & Responsiveness*** | 0/3 |
| PHIL ### | Philosophy-Based Course | 3 |
| BRDG 103 | IPE Health Research Statistics | 1 |
| MATH 225 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 3 |
| PSYC 101 or SOCI 101 |
Introduction to Psychology or Survey of Sociology | 3 |
| PHAR 101 | Pre-Professional Seminar (101) | 0 |
| PHAR 102 | Pre-Professional Seminar (102) | 0 |
| PHAR 103 | Pre-Professional Seminar (103) | 0 |
| PHAR 104 | Pre-Professional Seminar (104) | 0 |
| Pre-Professional Phase | Total Credits | 67/70 |
Professional Pharmacy Curriculum##
PY1 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHPR 300 | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 1 |
| PHBM 350 | Biochemistry I – Peptides and Carbohydrate Metabolism | 3 |
| PHBM 330 | Clinical Pathophysiology | 4 |
| PHCE 360/360R | Pharmaceutics I/Recitation | 3/0 |
| PHBA 340W | Pharmaceutical Law and Ethics | 2 |
| PHPR 341W | Pharmacy Practice I: Patient Care Skills I | 2 |
| PHBA 310 | The American Health Care System | 2 |
| PHIN 321 | Ability-Based Laboratory Experience (ABLE) I | 0.5 |
| PHEX 301 | Continuous Professional Development (CPD) I | 0.5 |
| PY1 Fall | Total Credits |
18 |
PY1 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHPR 444 | Pharmacy Practice III: Self-Care in Pharmacy Practice | 2 |
| PHBM 351 | Biochemistry II – Metabolism, Protein Synthesis and Nucleic Acids | 3 |
| PHBM 331 | Basic and Applied Immunology | 3 |
| PHCE 361/361R | Pharmaceutics II/Recitation | 3/0 |
| PHBM 352 | Foundations in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
| PHPR 342W | Pharmacy Practice II: Patient Care Skills II | 1 |
| PHBA 311 | Public Health and Epidemiology | 2 |
| PHIN 322 | ABLE II | 0.5 |
| PHEX 302 | CPD II | 0.5 |
| PY1 Spring | Total Credits |
18 |
PY1 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHEX 372 | Intro Experiential Education I | 0.5 |
| PY1 Summer | Total Credits |
0.5 |
PY1 Total Credits: 36.5
PY2 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHBM 432 | Biomedical Sciences and Therapeutics (BMST): Cardiology | 5 |
| PHBM 418 | BMST: Infectious Disease I | 3 |
| PHBM 439 | BMST: Respiratory Disorders | 3 |
| PHBM 401 | Patient Care Scenarios I | 0 |
| PHCE 430 | Biopharmaceutics | 3 |
| PHPR 448 | Pharmacy Practice IV: Drug Literature Evaluations | 2 |
| PHPR 498 | Pharmaceutical Science and Practice of Immunization | 1 |
| PHIN 423 | ABLE III | 0.5 |
| PHEX 403 | CPD III | 0.5 |
| PY2 Fall | Total Credits |
18 |
PY2 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHBM 431 | BMST: Psychiatry and Neurology | 4 |
| PHBM 419 | BMST: Infectious Disease II | 3 |
| PHBM 435 | BMST: Pain, Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders | 2 |
| PHBM 445 | BMST: Endocrine I | 2 |
| PHBM 446 | BMST: Endocrine II | 2 |
| PHBM 402 | Patient Care Scenarios II | 1 |
| PHCE 431 | Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| PHIN 424 | ABLE IV | 0.5 |
| PHEX 404 | CPD IV | 0.5 |
| PY2 Spring | Total Credits |
18 |
PY2 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHEX 468 | Intro Experiential Education II | 0.5 |
| PY2 Summer |
Total Credits |
0.5 |
PY2 Total Credits: 36.5
PY3 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHPR 443 | Pharmacy Practive V: Physical and Clinical Assessment | 3 |
| PHPR 442 | Pharmacy Practice VI: Innovative Pharmacy Services and Strategies for Health Outcomes | 3 |
| PHBA 411 | Pharmacy Management Concepts | 2 |
| PHBM 441 | BMST: Principles of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation | 3 |
| PHBM 442 | BMST: Gastroenterology | 3 |
| PHBM 403 | Patient Case Scenarios III | 0 |
| PHIN 469 | Community Engaged Learning: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Management | NS - 1 |
| PHIN 425 | ABLE V | 0.5 |
| PHEX 405 | CPD V | 0.5 |
| Elective(s) | Elective Class | 3 |
| PY3 Fall | Total Credits |
18 - 19 |
PY3 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHBA 413W | Management Theory and Application | 1 |
| PHBA 412W | Advanced Law and Ethics Applications | 1 |
| PHBM 443 | BMST: Therapeutics Across the Lifespan | 4 |
| PHBM 444 | BMST: Therapeutics in the Critically Ill | 3 |
| PHIN 490 | Personalized Therapeutics: Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmaceutics | 2 |
| PHBM 404 | Patient Case Scenarios IV | 1 |
| PHIN 469 | Community Engaged Learning: Health Promotion/Disease Prevention & Management | NS - 1 |
| PHIN 426 | ABLE VI | 0.5 |
| PHEX 406 | CPD VI | 0.5 |
| Elective(s) | Elective Credits | 5 |
| PY3 Spring | Total Credits |
18 - 19 |
PY3 Total Credits: 37
PY4 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHPR 50X |
Required Certificate Training**# - Select One (1) Option:
|
0.5 |
| PHEX 482W, 483W | Option to Take Advanced Experiential Education (I, II) | 4-8 |
| PY4 Summer | Total Credits |
4.5-8.5 |
PY4 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHEX 482W, 483W, 484W, 485W, 486W, 487W, 488W |
Advanced Experiential Education (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) | 8-16 |
| PHEX 407 | CPD VII | 1 |
| PY4 Fall | Total Credits | 9-17 |
PY4 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| PHEX 482W, 483W, 484W, 485W, 486W, 487W, 488W |
Advanced Experiential Education (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) | 8-16 |
| PHEX 408 | CPD VIII | 1 |
| PY4 Spring | Total Credits |
9-17 |
PY4 Total Credits: 32
*Students are required to take seven Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. These are: PHEX 482-488 - Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) - 4 credits each for a total of 28 credits. These may begin in the Summer Term following the PY3 year. There are a variety of ways in which APPE's may be scheduled. Students should be aware that they must carry at least 4.5 credits in order to be considered a part-time graduate student in the PY4 year and be eligible for financial aid.
**Not all certificate training may be scheduled each year.
***Pre-Professional courses often meet more than one Bridges requirement at a time. If all Bridges requirements are not met in 67 credits, students are required to take additional coursework to meet those requirements and to progress to the Professional Phase. For more information about the Bridges curriculum, please refer to the Bridges curriculum guide.
#PY3 students may take certificate courses provided that they have successfully completed the prerequisites listed for the individual courses.