Dr. Michelle R. Easton, Assistant Dean
Office of Professional and Student Affairs
2300 MacCorkle Avenue SE
Charleston, West Virginia 23504
304- 357-4889

E-mail: pharmacy@ucwv.edu or michelleeaston@ucwv.edu
Website: www.pharmacy.ucwv.edu

PharmCAS 2009 Application and Transcript Deadline: February 2, 2009

Statistics for 2008 Entering Class Acceptees *

Number interviewed - 280
Number accepted - 75
Estimated entering class size - 75
Number of transfer students accepted - 55
Number of out-of-state students accepted - 40
Estimated male - 50%
Estimated female - 50%

* Data as of April, 2008

Application Criteria for 2009 Entering Class

Expected GPA of accepted students - 3.4
Minimum overall GPA considered - 2.75
Minimum prerequisite GPA considered - 2.75
Minimum composite PCAT considered - 50th percentile
Total number of new entrants expected - 75*
* Students who meet eligibility requirements for the program are considered without regard for in-state and/or out-of-state residency requirements

Accreditation Status: Candidate status
Type of Institution: Private
Participates in Early Decision Program: No
Open House Date: There will be 2 Open Houses coordinated during the 2008 – 09 academic year, 1 during the fall semester 2008 and 1 during the spring semester 2009.  Visit our website for the latest information, dates and registration form for the 2007-2008 School of Pharmacy.
www.pharmacy.ucwv.edu

PREREQUISITES

We require 66 semester hour credits (99 quarter hour credits) of college be completed prior to matriculation. Applicants must successfully complete ALL course prerequisites by the end of the Summer 2009 term.

Comments on above: Pre-pharmacy courses may be completed at any accredited university/college. All prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of “C” or better prior to entry into the professional program.  Please check our website, pharmacy@ucwv.edu for pre-requisite course equivalences for several colleges and universities in the area. All questions concerning admission or prerequisite courses should be directed to the Office of Professional and Student Affairs, (304) 357-4889. 

It is recommended that the student take two science courses and at least five courses (a minimum of 17 semester hours of credit) each semester to ensure appropriate preparation for the academic challenge of the School of Pharmacy.  One semester of Organic Chemistry and at least one of the math pre-requisite courses (excluding statistics) must be completed by the end of the fall term to be eligible for admission consideration.  Calculus and required science courses taken more than seven years before the fall semester of admission must be retaken for a grade unless the applicant's subsequent academic or work experiences relate directly to the coursework.  Applicants who have completed ALL prerequisite coursework will be given priority in the admission process.   Completion of all pre-requisites by the end of spring 2008 is preferred. Applicants who require less than two pre-pharmacy courses to be completed in the summer prior to matriculation are considered stronger applicants than those who require greater than 2 pre-pharmacy courses.   We do not waive any prerequisites coursework.

Other clarifying information: All science courses (chemistry, biology, microbiology, human anatomy, human physiology, and physics) must include a laboratory with each lecture.  Science courses for non-science majors are NOT acceptable. Physics coursework may be algebra-based and must include mechanics, heat, force and motion.

Human Anatomy – Combined Human Anatomy and Physiology courses are acceptable for completion of this pre-requisite requirement.  The total semester hours of instruction must total 8 semester hours.  *Acceptance of a 300 or 400 level biology course may be eligible for substitution for anatomy and physiology laboratory only if applicants home institution does not offer anatomy laboratory and/or physiology lab courses.  This is applicable only for anatomy and physiology pre-requisite requirements.  Request for this consideration must be submitted in writing using the official Pre-Requisite Course Substitution form found on our website (pharmacy.ucwv.edu).

Economics – The economics requirement may be fulfilled with either a macroeconomic or microeconomic course.
Ethics - A course in ethics offered for health care majors is strongly encouraged and preferred but not required (ex. medical ethics, bioethics).  A general ethics course is acceptable, legal ethics, business ethics, etc are acceptable substitutions.
Statistics - Must have a general statistics or biostatistics emphasis.

INSTITUTION-SPECIFIC ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTSAND DEADLINES FOR PHARM. D. DEGREE PROGRAM

2009 ENTERING CLASS

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The School of Pharmacy educates pharmacists with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care. Our primary mission is to:

• Provide a comprehensive educational program for the education of entry-level practitioners who will practice in community settings;
• Provide community service through leadership in addressing the health care needs of an increasingly diverse patient population; and to
• Continually add to the knowledge base of the profession of pharmacy

In order to fulfill our mission, our top priority is the creation of an environment and opportunities that stimulate our faculty, students and practitioners to learn, maintain and expand upon the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to meet the health care needs of the patients they serve.

The University of Charleston is a small private university located in Charleston, West Virginia, a community of approximately 200,000 people located in the south central part of the state. Our 40-acre campus rests amidst magnificent mountains, rivers, and the capital city. The city is alive with fun restaurants, shops, historic sites, a civic center, theaters, malls, a municipal auditorium, and plenty of outdoor recreation. The university has a rich history of learner-centered and outcomes-based education. The School of Pharmacy, which is housed in a new facility, will accept 75 professional students in its class for the 2008-09 academic year.  From our beautiful residence halls and spirited campus events to our diverse clubs and championship athletic teams, UC offers one of the most enjoyable educational experiences in the region.

Our campus is technology-rich where you will use your computer in the classroom and on the fly in a wireless environment: to chat with professors, seek input from classmates, do research, turn in assignments, access transcripts, track your graduation status and get direction from advisers. In addition to new science labs, residence halls, and on-line lecture halls, there are computerized classrooms and the Schoenbaum Library is completely electronic as well, giving you access to its rich selection of resources from the classroom and your residence hall room. 

Our Curriculum
Our competency-based curriculum will provide knowledge, teach models of care management, and allow students to demonstrate prior knowledge and current understanding through a variety of assessments. Our integrated model of teaching disease-state management will enable students to learn in an applied manner — a process that will help students understand how the complex elements of pharmacy fit together.

Experiencing the profession of pharmacy and how the classroom relates to the practice is fundamental to understanding the profession. Therefore, during the first three years of the program, experiential (practice site) opportunities will be threaded throughout the curriculum. The fourth year will be spent almost entirely in practice settings with students returning to campus approximately monthly to participate in specialty track offerings.  The profession of pharmacy is one in which the management and use of information is essential to patient care. Our program integrates technology and information utilization throughout the professional program in a technology-rich learning environment.

Admissions Requirements
The University of Charleston School of Pharmacy is committed to developing effective pharmacists who have not only the skills and ability to practice pharmacy, but the desire and intent on being a leader in their future practice environment and in the profession of pharmacy.  Our admissions process is designed to obtain a global view of the total applicant and their ability in both cognitive and non-cognitive domains.  Additionally, the potential for success in the Doctor of Pharmacy program and the aptitude to become a good steward and professional citizen in the profession of pharmacy are very important measures assessed in the admissions process.   Each applicant’s academic background and achievement, Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) scores, letters of recommendation, and record of participation in advocacy, leadership, and extra-curricular activities are reviewed to determine the granting of an invitation for an on-campus interview.   In addition to these areas, the Admissions Committee places emphasis on personal merit, leadership, maturity, citizenship, moral reasoning, communication skills, previous pharmacy experience, and dedication to professional goals. Each applicant must complete a minimum of 66 semester hours of coursework prior to entry into the professional curriculum. All pre-professional academic work must be done in an accredited college or university. A minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in pre-pharmacy courses will be considered for admission to the Pharm.D. program. A supplemental application and fee of $50 is required.

Candidates are selected using a modified rolling admissions procedure. Qualified applicants are admitted to the School of Pharmacy on an ongoing basis beginning in February until the class is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required admissions documents early in the academic year to maximize their admissions/acceptance potential.   Please visit our website at pharmacy.ucwv.edu for additional information.