• This program emphasizes integrated basic science coursework, extensive clinical experiences taught by practice-based faculty, and problem solving and collaborative skill development.
• Graduates should have the ability to adapt their practice to the changing health care system and should be prepared to engage in a continuing program of professional development.
• During the Pharm.D. program, students complete 80 credits of required courses, 32 credits of experiential learning and a minimum of 20 elective credits for a total of at least 132 credits.
• Completion of the experiential learning rotations will be accepted by Boards of Pharmacy as meeting the 1600-hour internship requirements necessary for licensure.

The School seeks to enroll students with diversified backgrounds in order to make the educational experience more meaningful for each student.

Applicants must present evidence of having successfully completed, or plan to complete, the required preprofessional program outlined above.

In addition, applicants must take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and submit the test results with the other records required for admission.

An admissions subcommittee consisting of faculty members, alumni and students considers the applicant's academic achievement, scores on the PCAT, and personal characteristics determined by a mandatory interview.

Academic achievement and/or high PCAT scores do not in themselves ensure acceptance. Qualities, such as professional and social awareness, written and oral communication skills, problem-solving ability, maturity and motivation, are also considered. While a minimal GPA of 2.5 (A=4.0) is required for application consideration, the average GPA of entering students is typically about a 3.5.

Finally, only those applicants who have attended U.S. or Canadian accredited institutions for some of their preprofessional program are considered. Thus, international students should contact the School prior to submitting an application.

The University of Maryland participates in the PharmCAS national application process. The deadline for application materials is February 1. Please contact www.pharmcas.org for application information. In general, the School will accept any credit accepted by the accredited prepharmacy institution through the CEEB (Advanced Placement or College Level Examination Program).