Body
Unit Policy
Title
Eshelman School of Pharmacy: Prerequisite Policy
Introduction
Purpose
This policy establishes the required undergraduate prerequisite coursework for entry into the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy’s PharmD program to ensure that all incoming students are adequately prepared for the curriculum. It also outlines students’ responsibility for tracking and completing prerequisites and the process for confirming fulfillment prior to enrollment.
Scope
This policy applies to all prospective PharmD students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, including both degreed and non-degreed students, who must complete specified prerequisite coursework prior to enrollment.
Policy
Background
Undergraduate prerequisite coursework establishes the foundation for study within the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. The School recognizes that its students come from many different colleges and universities, so this policy has been established to ensure each student is fully equipped to successfully begin the PharmD course of study upon enrollment. This policy intends to allow students to carefully monitor the fulfillment of required prerequisites, as this process is ultimately a responsibility of the student. As always, if questions arise, students are encouraged to contact the admissions office for assistance.
Prerequisites for Degreed and Non-Degreed Students
Students who have completed a bachelor's degree (degreed students) upon entry into the PharmD program are required to complete all math and science prerequisite courses. Students who have not completed a bachelor's degree (non-degreed students) upon entry into the PharmD program must complete all math and science prerequisite courses as well as all general education prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses can be found on the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy website: https://pharmacy.unc.edu/. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better. Pass/fail is only acceptable for courses taken in spring 2020 and fall 2020 at institutions that put special grading accommodations in place due to COVID-19.
Determining Remaining Prerequisites
Students are encouraged to use the transfer equivalency resources provided through the admissions website to determine if they have taken the correct courses. Students should review the prerequisite course list and determine if any prerequisite courses are incomplete. Students will be informed at their interview if they are missing prerequisite courses.
If a student is missing prerequisite courses, the student should contact the admissions office and provide a detailed plan explaining how they will fulfill those prerequisite courses. The student should provide this plan in writing via email to pharmacy_admissions@unc.edu two weeks after an offer of admission. The plan should provide information regarding the institution where they will take the remaining prerequisite(s), the course number(s), and in which semester the coursework will be completed. Upon completion of the course(s), the student should provide an official transcript to the admissions office.
Prerequisite Timeline Requirements
- For students who are entering the program with a completed bachelor's degree, all math and science prerequisite courses must be completed by the spring semester before entry into the program.
- For students who are entering the program without a completed bachelor's degree, all math, science, and general education prerequisite courses must be completed by the spring semester before entry into the program.
- Failure to complete prerequisite courses by the established timeline could prevent students from successfully enrolling in the program.
Related Requirements
External Regulations (if applicable)
- Is this Policy connected to any Policies, Laws (federal, state, local, regulations), and/or Accreditation requirements?
- Are there any related UNC System-wide Policies?
- Is this Policy connected to any UNC-Chapel Hill Policies, Procedures, or Standards?
- Are there any other resources or materials readers of this Policy might likely refer to or need to follow or understand this Policy?
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures (if applicable)
- Is this Policy connected to any other Unit Policies, Procedures, or Standards?
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Heather Azzu, Director of Admissions
Telephone: 919-445-4913
Email: hazzu@email.unc.edu
Publication Details
- Issuing Officer: Wendy Cox, Associate Dean Admissions and Accreditation
- Effective Date: 2025
- Next Review Date: 2027