Philadelphia College of Pharmacy Dean's Office

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy is dedicated to students’ acquisition and integration of the requisite knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that enable them to become educated and responsible citizens, competent healthcare, and scientific professionals, life-long learners, and leaders. Its educational philosophy is learner-centered and developmental, building knowledge, skills, and self-confidence in an incremental manner, with a focus on “learning and knowing by doing.” The objectives of this approach are accomplished by the use of active learning techniques within the classroom, the development of analytical and problem-solving skills through individualized and integrated application exercises, as well as extensive practice and research experiences that allow the application of learned knowledge in and out of the classroom. Students are also engaged via co-curricular activities, including college and professional organizations, and interactions in a  formalized faculty and peer mentor program. 

You can enter the PharmD program in the following ways:

Direct-entry/6-Year PharmD: Enter as a first-year student to earn a BS in pharmaceutical and healthcare studies and a PharmD in just six years.

Transfer: Enter the pre-professional phase (Year 1 or 2) of the six-year BS/PharmD program or the professional phase (Year 3), depending on the prerequisites you've completed.

Post-graduate student: Enter the professional phase of the program if you have a bachelor's degree and have completed all admission requirements. — no PCAT or GRE required. We also offer pathways for students who do not hold a bachelor's degree.

Direct Entry students will transition seamlessly to the professional phase of the program and start their four years of fully integrated, competency-driven coursework by meeting all progression requirements. The curriculum builds on foundational knowledge and skills, encouraging proficiency in a range of subjects, from human disease and pharmacology to pharmaceutics, therapeutics and pharmacoeconomics. You’ll also gain hands-on experience through our more than 400 clinical affiliation partner sites across the country — including some of the most renowned hospitals, medical centers, pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies. Transfer students may also enter the program at this phase if they’ve completed all required prerequisites. 

PCP Program Entry and Technical Standards 

The most common route for entry into either the Doctor of Pharmacy program or one of the BS  programs is directly from high school. Admission evaluations are handled by the University Admissions Department in consultation with program directors and, for the PharmD program, the Assistant Dean for PCP Student Affairs and Admissions. The University Admissions Department also handles admissions of transfer students into the first undergraduate year, the second undergraduate year, or first professional year of the PharmD program, as well as into all years of the BS programs. Students who are accepted into the PharmD program must affirm that they have reviewed and agree that they are capable of meeting the College of Pharmacy’s technical standards with or without accommodations. The most current technical standards can be found on the University web page.  Technical standards are reviewed and re-affirmed each academic year. Prior to matriculation into the PharmD program, students from all entry pathways must complete a PharmCAS application.

Residency Requirements  

Direct-entry PharmD students have up to 8 semesters to complete pre-professional coursework (excluding summer sessions or intersessions).  Students admitted into the first professional year (P1) of the Doctor of Pharmacy Program must be enrolled for at least four years (i.e., 8 semesters of at least 12 credits/semester) in residency at PCP,  regardless of the extent or nature of previous academic experience. Such students entering into P1 will receive transfer credit for those basic sciences and general education courses that are considered equivalent in content and semester credit to similar courses included in the pharmacy curriculum as long as they receive a grade of “C” or better.  

To earn an undergraduate degree from PCP, per the SJU Catalog, a student must successfully complete at least 60 credits of eligible coursework offered by the University, with the final 30 credits of the degree completed at SJU. Eligible coursework results in a letter grade that contributes to a student’s calculated grade point average (GPA). Catalog year for transfer students will be backdated to the Catalog Year when they would have started attending the University as a first-year student. 

The maximum amount of time to complete all requirements to earn a BS degree in PCP is six years from entry as a freshman to Saint Joseph’s University. If residency exceeds 6 years to earn a BS degree in PCP, then a student’s educational plan may be adjusted to reflect current University educational requirements. For the PharmD program, students have a maximum of six years from entry into the first professional year (P1) of the program to complete all degree requirements. The inability to complete all degree requirements in the allotted time frame will result in the student being withdrawn from the program. Approved leaves of absence are not counted as part of the maximum time to degree.  

Pharmacy Student to Student Pharmacist transition: pre-professional to professional phase  

For direct entry PharmD students, automatic progression from undergraduate status into P1 (first  professional year) occurs when the following criteria are met: 

1. Completion of all required pre-professional and undergraduate coursework resulting in a  minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 and a minimum natural science/math GPA of 2.50. These GPA requirements must be met by the end of the spring semester prior to the fall semester in which the student expects to matriculate.

2. .Successful completion of the Professional Education Readiness Competency (PERC) interview. 

3. Completed PharmCAS application.

Students who do not meet these criteria will be withdrawn from the program; if their cumulative GPA is above 2.50 at the end of the spring semester prior to the fall in which the student expects to matriculate, these students will be reviewed for readmission into the program by the PCP Admissions Committee.

PERC Interview

The PERC interview is a standardized, behavioral-based interview to assess students’ readiness for professional education, and is mandated for compliance with accreditation standards. It is separate and distinct from the academic standards for automatic progression into the professional component of the  Doctor of Pharmacy program. The standardized interview is a confidential, thirty-minute “conversation with a purpose”, between the student and two PCP faculty/professional staff members. Candidates are required to complete a confidentiality agreement. If the student is unsuccessful in their first attempt, a success plan with suggested readings and activities to improve the student’s knowledge base, confidence, and ability to communicate their perspectives will be provided to the student. A second and final opportunity to successfully complete the PERC interview will be provided in the spring semester. If, after two opportunities, the student does not successfully complete the PERC interview, the student will be withdrawn from the PharmD program even if the other criteria for progression into the professional years are met. If such an event should occur, the student may opt to apply for a change of major to other PCP or University programs. Further information about the PERC interview process is communicated to students through class meetings and through the PCP Dean’s Office.  

Students who are withdrawn from the PharmD program may apply to other programs at the University. 

The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas¹:

1. Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
2. Ethics Intensive
3. Writing Intensive, and
4. Diversity

¹

Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements

General Education Signature Courses

See this page about Signature courses. 

General Education Variable Courses

See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses

General Education Overlays

See this page about Overlays.

General Education Integrative Learning Component

See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:

Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program prepares students for successful careers in pharmacy. Our four-year PharmD degree features a competency-driven professional curriculum that mirrors the complex realities of modern practice. This includes a unique experiential learning component that offers the opportunity to work alongside pharmacists in real-world practice settings starting the first month of your first year.