Close This Window

University of Tennessee

College of Pharmacy

Stephanie Weathers, Coordinator of Student Services
Knoxville campus
1924 Alcoa Highway, Box 117
Knoxville, Tennessee 37920
865-974-2283

E-mail: pharmadmiss@utmem.edu

Jeff Bogue, Coordinator of Student Services
Memphis campus
847 Monroe Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee 38163
901-448-7172
E-mail:
pharmadmiss@utmem.edu

Website: http://pharmacy.utmem.edu

PharmCAS 2009 Application and Transcript Deadline: February 2, 2009

Statistics for 2008 Entering Class Acceptees *

Number interviewed - 400
Number accepted - 200
Estimated entering class size -200

Estimated male - 34%
Estimated female - 66%

Estimated number out-of-state - 40

* Data as of April 2008

Application Criteria for 2009 Entering Class

Estimated average GPA of accepted students - 3.5
Expected GPA of accepted students - 3.0
Minimum overall GPA considered - 2.5 (3.0 out-of-state)
Minimum prerequisite GPA considered - 2.5 (3.0 out-of-state)
Minimum composite PCAT considered - 40th percentile composite, and 25th percentile on each individual section (the average score of accepted students is 80th percentile)
Number of in-state seats available - 160
Number of out-of-state seats available - 40
Number of transfer seats available - variable
Total number of new entrants expected - 200

Accreditation Status: Full accreditation status
Type of Institution:
Public
Main Campus*: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
Satellite Campus:
UT medical center, Knoxville, TN
Participates in Early Decision Program: No
Special Programs Offered: Dual Pharm.D./Ph.D. program - For more information visit the website under "Future Students" or contact Dr. Ryan Yates (cyates4@utmem.edu)
Open House: Tours available upon request

* The UT College of Pharmacy admits 200 students per class; 75 students per class complete their final 3 years of the Pharm.D. program in the Knoxville area. Students indicate their campus preference on the supplemental application. Campus assignments are based on two factors: (1) the overall strength of the applicant, including GPA, PCAT scores, recommendation letters, etc. and (2) the order of admission of the student (students accepted earliest will receive their choice of campus). Campus preference of the applicant is not a criterion for admission and will not be used in selecting candidates for admission.

PREREQUISITES

Applicants must successfully complete 6 semesters of college coursework to be completed prior to matriculation.  Applicants must successfully complete ALL course requirements by the end of the Summer 2009 term.

General Chemistry I & II
8 semester hours
Organic Chemistry I & II
8 semester hours
Biochemistry I & II
6 semester hours
General Biology or Zoology I & II
8 semester hours
Anatomy & Physiology I & II
8 semester hours
Microbiology
3 semester hours
Immunology
3 semester hours
General Physics
4 semester hours
Calculus
3 semester hours
Statistics
3 semester hours
English Composition
6 semester hours
Communications or speech
3 semester hours
Humanities electives (literature, language, history, philosophy, arts) 6 semester hours
Social Sciences electives (psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics)
6 semester hours
General electives
15 semester hours

Other clarifying information:
All sciences except biochemistry & immunology should include a laboratory component. If an institution only offers one biochemistry course, genetics or cell biology will satisfy the biochemistry II requirement.  

Comments on above:  All prepharmacy work must be completed with a grade of C or better prior to entry into the program. Review will focus on required GPA vs composite GPA; upper level science courses; completeness of transcript, and academic trends. 

INSTITUTION-SPECIFIC ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES FOR PHARM. D. DEGREE PROGRAM

2009 ENTERING CLASS

ALL APPLICANTS

REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

OTHER INFORMATION
Filing your PharmCAS application references and transcripts February 2, 2009 PharmCAS application, letters of reference and all official transcripts must be received at PharmCAS by this date.
Supplemental application
Not applicable The College requires that all accepted students complete a supplemental application. A link to the application and information on its submission will be emailed to students along with their acceptance letter.
Supplemental application fee Not applicable $75.00
PCAT Required A minimum 40th percentile composite and a minimum 25th percentile on each individual section are required for admission. The average for 2008 accepts was 80th percentile composite.

Select PharmCAS code 104
Oldest PCAT considered 2007 scores (2 years old)  
Pharmacy-related experience Not required, but recommended  
Other review criteria  

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, with emphasis in participation in community service activities, examples of leadership, and personal interests (well-rounded and balanced). 

WORK EXPERIENCE is valuable but not required.  Students should shadow pharmacists in various settings if they have not had work experience.

Proof of State residency

Not required, preference is given to state residents. If a conflict regarding residency status exists, students will be sent a residency application.
Non-U.S. citizens Eligible to apply* * Foreign students MUST hold a BS pharmacy degree and apply for advanced
standing for our Doctor of Pharmacy program (advanced standing foreign students will have to complete the final 3 academic years of the UT
program).

Foreign students MUST also have a faculty appointment at a College of Pharmacy or affiliated institution in their home country, supported by a
letter from the Dean of that College.

In addition, foreign applicants must attain the following:
1. Minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) on
the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
2. Minimum score of 50 on the TSE (Test of Spoken English)
3. Minimum cumulative score of 1600 on the GRE (Graduate Record
Exam)

Foreign transcripts Send foreign transcripts to evaluation service for course-by-course report. Send completed report directly to PharmCAS by February 2, 2009 College requires evaluations from accredited credentialing services such as WES or ECE.
Letter(s) of Reference (recommendations/
evaluations)

Three (3) letters of reference should be completed on the Letters of Reference form included in your PharmCAS application and must be submitted to PharmCAS by the institutional deadline of February 2, 2009.



See the Letters of Reference page on this website for a list of possible evaluators.

This institution REQUIRES:
At least one letter of reference should be completed by either a science faculty or pre-health advisory faculty committee. At least one letter of reference should be completed by a supervisor, organization advisor, or pharmacist with whom you have worked. The third letter may be from either category. Letters from family members will not be accepted.



Interview Required

The interview will focus on oral and written communication skills, motivation for pharmacy, commitment to care for patients, character, and interpersonal relationships (people skills).

Dates during which interviews are generally held
November through March Interviews are required and include a tour of campus and student presentations.  Interviews are by invitation only, based on the strength of the applicant's GPA and PCAT scores.  Interviews may be conducted in Memphis or Knoxville, based on your campus preference.  Letters of invitation will specify date & place.  Each applicant will be interviewed by 2 members of the admissions committee.
ACCEPTED CANDIDATES
REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
OTHER INFORMATION
Acceptance letters for regular applicants First letters mailed the first week following the interview  

Acceptee's response to acceptance offer

Two (2) weeks after receipt of acceptance letter  
Deposit to hold place in class Two (2) weeks after receipt of acceptance letter $200.00 deposit,
non-refundable
Date of new student orientation August 13-14, 2009
 
Date of first day of classes and/or matriculation August 17, 2009
 
Requests for deferred entrance  

Deferred acceptance to following year permitted with notification based on completion of a degree, inability to complete pre-requisites, or personal issues

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy is to graduate students with the Doctor of Pharmacy degree who serve the evolving healthcare needs of Tennesseans by delivering pharmaceutical care. The College provides graduate and post-graduate education programs; conducts basic, clinical, and translational research; and provides health services in a variety of settings. The College of Pharmacy offers continuing education for pharmacists. The College maintains excellence and diversity among its students, faculty, staff, and programs.

UT College of Pharmacy was founded in 1898 and has been a national leader in education, research, community service and patient care. The primary campus is located on the Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee and a new campus was established in 2006 at the UT Medical Center in Knoxville. Clinical education centers are also located in Nashville, Kingsport, Chattanooga, and Jackson to facilitate students' clinical rotations during the last year and a half of the curriculum.

All 200 P1 students attend classes at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis, then 75 students of each class will move to Knoxville for their final 3 years. State-of-the-art telecommunications equipment provides synchronous lectures to students on both campuses, in addition to live lectures with faculty present. The College has focused on increasing minority enrollment over the past 15 years, and currently enrolls 24% minorities, which includes 17% African-American students. 

UT College of Pharmacy offers a diverse and progressive curriculum. The first year (2 semesters) of the professional curriculum builds upon the pre-pharmacy education and focuses on pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, non-prescription drugs, and basic clinical and communication skills. The next 3 semesters of the second and third professional year consist of therapeutics, pathophysiology, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, clinical literature retrieval and evaluation, pharmacy practice management, and introductory clinical experiences. The final 3 semesters of the third and fourth year curriculum consists of clinical rotations in a large variety of settings. Students spend a minimum of 12 months applying their skills with pharmacy practice experiences in community or hospital practice and advanced clinical sites such as internal medicine, family practice, critical care, cardiology, parenteral nutrition, mental health, pediatrics, geriatrics, transplant, oncology, home infusion, substance abuse or other specialty areas.