The Pharm.D. is a graduate degree program which requires specific preparation at the undergraduate level herein cited as pre-professional course work. Thus the admission process may be construed as two-tiered in that students must complete specific pre-professional course work and may apply to the Pharm.D. program prior to their senior year. One such route into the Pharm.D. program is by way of the B.H.S. pharmaceutical sciences concentration.

Pre-professional Admission (Pharm. D.)

Admission requirements: The pre-professional program is taken in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for which admission requirements are satisfied by the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University. Counselors are available in the Office of Admissions for personal conferences to aid the prospective student.

Recommended High School Preparation: Fifteen units of high school work are required for admission. The following units are recommended:

English: 4 units
Foreign Language: 1-2 units
Mathematics: 4 units
Laboratory Science: 3 units
Social Studies and History: 2 units

Students will find it advantageous to have had at least one year each of algebra, biology, chemistry, and physics. English, mathematics, and science are strongly recommended.

Applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy the University's English proficiency requirements. If coursework was completed at a non-US institution, transcripts must be evaluated by a WSU approved evaluation service (WES). The official course-by-course evaluation must be sent to PharmCAS.

Pre-professional Course Requirements

The undergraduate pre-professional preparation for admission to the Pharm.D. degree program is cited in the B.H.S. with a concentration in pharmaceutical sciences section of this bulletin. These courses (or their equivalents) may be taken at Wayne State University, another university, or a community college. All prerequisite courses and General Education Requirements should be completed prior to admission to the pharmacy curriculum. All such courses (or their equivalents) must be completed with the grade of C (2.0 g.p.a.) or better. Grades of C-minus or below, or numerical grades below 2.0 g.p.a., are not acceptable.

Because of rapid changes in technology, pre-professional science credits must be completed within six years prior to admission to the professional program.

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

The PCAT is required for admission for applicants with a prerequisite g.p.a. lower than 3.0. This standardized examination is offered in major cities multiple times per year and must be completed no later than the year prior to admission. PCAT exam scores within 5 years of the application deadline are accepted.

Professional Program Admission

Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy Curriculum is granted only for the Fall semester. Enrollment in this curriculum is limited to applicants who have met the general University admissions requirements by the stipulated deadline, who satisfy the admission criteria stated below, and who present evidence of professional admissibility and promise of academic and professional competence in pharmacy.

Application: Admission applications to the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum are available through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). 

Application Deadline: Deadline for submission of complete application materials to PharmCAS is November 1.

Admission Criteria: Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum is competitive and the following criteria are used to evaluate applications from prospective students. Admission decisions are made by the Admissions Committee of the College.

1. Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (g.p.a.) of 2.75 as calculated by PharmCAS. Completion of prerequisites with minimum grades does not guarantee admission.
2. Minimum prerequisite grade point average (g.p.a.) of 2.75 (4-point system) calculated on the final grades earned in the required pre-professional courses as calculated by the Wayne State University pharmacy admissions committee. No less than a ‘C’ grade (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) in any prerequisite course. Completion of prerequisites with minimum grades does not guarantee admission.
3. Promise of success in a professional curriculum. Transcripts are evaluated for continued success in a full-time, science-based curriculum. Patterns of course repetition and excessive withdrawals are considered. It is recommended that applicants have repeated not more than two mathematics and science courses in order to improve grades.
4. Two completed professional recommendations must accompany the completed application form. The applicant is encouraged to solicit the recommendations from two faculty members or one faculty member and one employer.
5. Applicants must include a personal resume, outlining community or vocational activities, honors, employment, extracurricular and volunteer activities.
6. Applicants with a prerequisite g.p.a. lower than 3.0  must take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). A composite score of 50th percentile or higher is preferred. Additionally, 50th percentile or higher in each of the following sections: chemical processes, biological processes and quantitative reasoning, and 25th percentile or higher in and the critical reading section is preferred.
7. Applicants whose first language is not English must satisfy the University's English proficiency requirements.
8. A personal interview is required.
9. Students who are offered admission to the Pharm.D. program will have a Criminal Background Check. This will be performed by Certiphi, Inc through PharmCAS. Matriculation into the program will depend on the results of that check.

Further information concerning the Doctor of Pharmacy Program can be found in the Wayne State University Graduate Bulletin.