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WesternU College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony

Requirements

Please note that many of our programs have made exceptions to the application process and admissions requirements due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Additionally, references to in-person campus visits, events, lab work, or classroom interactions should be read in light of current campus health and safety guidelines, which continue to evolve in response to changing conditions. More information can be found on WesternU’s COVID-19 Information page. Please contact us if you have any questions or need further information.

  • Application Requirements

    All prerequisite courses completed as outlined below in the “Prerequisite Courses” section

    60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of coursework from a regionally accredited U.S. institution at the time of application

    Preferred overall and science GPA of 2.50

    Although not required, pharmacy experience (volunteer work) is strongly recommended

    Preference is given to those who have earned a Bachelor’s Degree (in any field), but is not required

    Access to a computer meeting the minimum technical standards

    Proof of Legal US Residency – If Required

    • International applicants, or any other applicants who are not U.S. citizens and who are living in the U.S., must provide proof of legal U.S. residency prior to matriculation.

    Test of English language proficiency – If Required
    Required for all applicants submitting coursework from foreign schools.TOEFL scores are valid for two years and must be submitted by June 1, prior to matriculation.

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score
      • Internet-Based test (IBT) minimum score: 79
      • Computer Based test minimum score: 213
    • The test of English language proficiency will be waived if you meet one of the following criteria:
      • You are a permanent and temporary residents of the United States and have completed the English and Speech prerequisite from an accredited U.S. institution
      • English courses taken from foreign countries whose native language is English will be accepted (e.g. Canada, Australia, Great Britain)
  • Prerequisite Courses

    ALERT: If you have a pre-requisite laboratory that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, please notify your admissions counselor immediately.

    Non-science prerequisites and electives will be waived with a confirmed U.S. baccalaureate degree at the time of application (does not include Calculus).

    Required: 1 semester

    College English

    • ​May not be an English as a Second Language (ESL) course or Literature course
    • Must be taken from the English Department
    • May be taken outside the U.S. in countries whose native language is English (e.g. Canada, Australia, Great Britain)

    English Composition

    • ​May not be an English as a Second Language (ESL) course or Literature course
    • Must be taken from the English Department
    • May be taken outside the U.S. in countries who’s native language is English (e.g. Canada, Australia, Great Britain)

    Speech Communication

    • ​Must be a public speaking course
    • May not be an interpersonal communication course

    Calculus

    • Must have two (2) or more quarter courses if taken in the quarter system

    Required: 1 semester
    May not be introductory courses

    Human Physiology with lab (lab optional)

    • If anatomy and physiology are combined we will accept a minimum of five (5) semester units
    • Must be taken out of the Anatomy & Physiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Biology or Zoology Department

    General Biology (lab optional)

    Biochemistry, Molecular Biology or Cell Biology

    • Genetics and general biology courses are not acceptable for molecular biology (see previous bullet)

    Required: 2 semester
    May not be introductory courses

    General Chemistry with Lab

    • Must be a full year sequence of lecture and lab

    Organic Chemistry with Lab

    • ​Must be a full year sequence of lecture and lab

    Required: 2 semesters
    No two electives can be taken from the same department

    Elective 1 (1 must be completed from this category): Economics, Anatomy, Statistics, Physics, or other Upper Science Division courses

    Elective 2 (1 must be completed from this category): Public Speaking or Social Sciences courses

     

    ALL ​PREREQUISITES:

    • Must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. institution (exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis) or its equivalent abroad
    • It is preferred to have all Science courses and AP Credit Test Scores completed no more than ten years prior to planned date of matriculation
    • Must be completed with a grade of “C” or better (a grade of “C-” or lower is not acceptable)
    • Must be completed by the end of the spring term (May/June)prior to matriculation
    • Will not be substituted or waived regardless of your educational level
    • May not be taken on a pass/no pass or credit/no credit basis
    • Transfer of credit, CLEP and credit for experiential learning will not be accepted
    • AP credit must be reported by subject and credit, and must be received directly from your institution or testing service
    • Pre-pharmacy courses taken from vocational or technical schools are not accepted
    • A baccalaureate degree obtained from an educational institution that confers degrees solely based on acquiring prior community or other college credits (or a majority thereof) may not be accepted
    • All coursework taken from non-US institutions (including Canada) must be submitted to an approved service for evaluation
  • Prerequisite Database

    Not sure if your course qualifies? If you’d like to find out whether the courses you’ve taken or plan to take will satisfy WesternU’s PharmD prerequisites you may:

    1. Search the prerequisite database by institution
    2. If you don’t see your courses listed in the database and you have a few courses in question, you may submit a prerequisite verification form
    3. If your courses are not listed in the database and you have numerous in question, or simply wish to lay out your coursework, you may instead print and submit an academic worksheet. Note: academic worksheets are reviewed May 1st through September 30th
  • Application Process

    Step 1: Prerequisites And Application Requirement

    The first step in the admissions process is to ensure you are on track to complete both the course prerequisites and application requirements in time to apply for your preferred year of entry.

    International Students: We do not require a separate application or fee, and you should be prepared to meet all of the prerequisite and application requirements as outlined. If you need assistance with immigration (I-20 form, F-1 visa, SEVIS, etc.), our International Student Services (ISS) staff are available to help you. Visit the ISS website to learn more.

    Step 2: Make Yourself A Competitive Candidate

    Admission to the program is competitive so you should strive to not only meet, but exceed the minimum requirements. To get a feel for the competitiveness of the applicant pool we recommend that you view our class statistics page.

    Step 3: Preparing And Submitting Your Application

    The apply now page will provide you with step-by-step instructions as well as an application checklist. There are a number of supporting materials that make up your completed application and it is essential that you print and carefully follow the checklist to ensure that you properly submit these pieces by the deadline.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you navigate through the application process, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions