Doctor of Pharmacy

Application Requirements

Please review the application requirements below to ensure you have submitted all the necessary information.

References

We require submission of three (3) reference forms found in the PharmCAS application.

Transcripts

Applicants must have official transcripts sent directly to PharmCAS from all colleges you have attended. The institution must be entered in the Colleges Attended section before the transcript can be matched to your PharmCAS application. Electronic transcripts are preferred. PharmCAS only accepts official electronic transcripts through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse.  Please visit https://www.pharmcas.org/application-instructions/transcripts to learn more about requesting transcripts. Applicants requesting paper transcripts must enter the college(s) attended and click the Download Transcript Request Form button. Each PDF form is unique to you and that particular college or university. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the file. 

For completed Fall 2023 coursework, it is important you request the institution you are attending to send an official transcript to PharmCAS as soon as they are available and update the PharmCAS "Academic Update" window. To accelerate the receipt of ONLY Fall 2023 coursework, applicants may request an official transcript to be sent directly to MUSC Admissions once your fall grades are posted. Electronic transcripts can typically be delivered in a few days if your institution offers an electronic option. Please have these sent to oesadmis@musc.edu. You may also request your institution mail official transcripts to the Office of Enrollment Management at

MUSC Office of Enrollment Management

45 Courtenay Drive, MSC 203

Charleston, SC 29425-2030

Interviews

Applicants must submit both a PharmCAS and supplemental application for interview consideration. 

Submission of the application materials does not guarantee that an interview will be granted.

Information Updates

Notify Enrollment Management immediately of any change to:

• preferred mailing address
• email address or telephone number
• legal name change
• courses you are planning to take
• revocation or suspension of any professional licensure
• withdrawal of application to the MUSC College of Pharmacy for admission consideration
• new and/or additional arrests, convictions, tickets or citations or academic integrity violations obtained after application submission

Technical Standards of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy

One of the primary missions of the College of Pharmacy is to prepare outstanding pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists to meet the health care needs of the state and society and to enhance the delivery of essential pharmacy services for all citizens. The faculty of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy (MUSC COP) strives to deliver an education that will, through the graduates of the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, attain the highest levels of this goal.

The professional program leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree and eligibility for pharmacist licensure requires a certain level of cognitive, behavioral and technical skill and ability inherent in a professional education. These principles and standards hold for admission, progression, retention and completion of the program. The primary role of the pharmacist is to provide safe and effective health care to the patients served. Patient safety must be considered in the selection and education of student pharmacists. In order to foster patient safety, the MUSC COP requires all student pharmacists to demonstrate the ability to meet the minimum standards set forth herein. Standards are developed as criteria to achieve the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in preparation for licensure as a practicing pharmacist and for postgraduate professional training and education in any of the varied fields of pharmacy.

Student pharmacists must reasonably contribute to a safe environment through their personal physical and mental health and social behavior. Students must complete the academic program in a reasonable length of time, must be able to acquire a pharmacist intern license by their first semester in the College and maintain the pharmacist intern license during their educational program, and must be eligible for a pharmacist license after they complete the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

All students are expected to successfully fulfill the same core educational requirements. Reasonable education-related accommodations will be provided, where possible and within the guidelines of the MUSC COP.

The five standards listed below describe the essential functions students must demonstrate in order to fulfill the requirements of a general pharmacy education, and thus are prerequisites for entrance to, continuation in, and graduation from the MUSC COP. A student must meet or exceed the required aptitude, abilities, and skills outlined below. Certain chronic or recurrent illnesses and problems may interfere with didactic studies, delivering or providing patient care or compromise patient safety and may be incompatible with pharmacy training or practice.

Technical Standards

Observation: Observation necessitates the functional use of visual, auditory and somatic senses. Students must have the ability to observe and evaluate, in classrooms and patient care areas, demonstrations, experiments and patients, including performing physical assessments. Observation of the technical quality of pre-manufactured as well as compounded medications is essential.

Communication Skills: As appropriate for each stage of their education, student pharmacists must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English, to hear, and to listen to patients in order to elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive verbal as well as non-verbal communications. Students must also communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English, to hear, and to listen to faculty, staff, other health care professionals, and preceptors. Communication includes not only speech, but also reading, writing, hearing, and computer literacy. They must be capable of completing professional communication activities in a timely manner.

Motor: Student pharmacists must have the coordination of muscular movement with accommodation if necessary to undertake the preparation of all routine forms of medication orders, the use of diagnostic equipment for patient assessment, and the direct delivery of patient therapies. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movement, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: As appropriate for each stage of their education, student pharmacists must demonstrate a fundamental and continuing ability to use analytical reasoning to independently and in collaboration with a health care team synthesize knowledge, solve problems and explain health care situations. Information must be obtained, retrieved, evaluated and delivered in an efficient and timely manner. Students must be able to demonstrate good judgment in patient care and assessment and have the ability to incorporate new and changing information obtained from the practice environment.

Behavioral And Social Attributes: Student pharmacists must demonstrate professional and ethical demeanor appropriate to their educational level. Students must be able to function within the regulatory and institutional limits of the educational environment and modify behaviors based on criticism. Students must demonstrate compassion and integrity and a concern for others. This requires responsibility for personal action and emotional stability under the stressful conditions that may come from their professional education.

Individuals with questions or concerns about their ability to meet these standards are encouraged to contact the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.