Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Beginning with the Class of 2019, students admitted to the University of South Carolina (USC) College of Pharmacy (COP) who completed pharmacy prerequisites but have not yet received a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline prior to entering the professional Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program may be eligible for the Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. A total of 128 hours (66 hours of undergraduate and 62 hours of professional program courses) are required for completion of the Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences; a combination of undergraduate courses, Carolina Core course requirements, and first- and second-year professional COP Pharm.D. courses comprise this degree. 

Doctor of Pharmacy

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree is offered as a full-time degree program requiring four professional level academic years, which includes introductory pharmacy practice experiences and some advanced pharmacy practice experiences that must be completed during the summer semesters. A total of 221 hours (66 hours of pharmacy prerequisites and 155 hours of professional program courses) are required for completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

The maximum length of time that will be allowed for a student to complete the four-year College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy professional degree program will be six consecutive academic years from the date of their original entry into the professional program. Any student who wishes to extend the time allowed for completion of the program beyond the six-year limitation will be required to submit a petition request to the College of Pharmacy Scholastic Standing and Petitions Committee; the petition will be reviewed and a decision for a time extension will be based on the individual student circumstances.

Important Information About Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Program and Licensure

Each state has its own pharmacy licensing board with its own state specific licensing requirements.  The University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy professional degree program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), making its graduates eligible to sit for pharmacist licensure exams (e.g., NAPLEX and MPJE).  Some states may have specific requirements that applicants for licensure must meet in addition to graduating from an ACPE-accredited program.  The following link provides National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) information regarding individual state boards of pharmacy and licensure specific to individual states throughout the U.S. where a student may wish to become licensed following graduation:  https://nabp.pharmacy/boards-of-pharmacy/.  Additional information may be found at the Academic Programs Professional Licensure website.

Combination Degree Programs

The College of Pharmacy offers a variety of combination degree programs with the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Options include:

• Pharm.D./Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Pharm.D./Master of Health Information Technology (MHIT)

For more information on these programs, please visit the USC College of Pharmacy website. Annual information sessions are provided to expose interested students to the various options.

Optional Academic Track Programs

The College of Pharmacy offers three optional academic tracks within the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. These include the: 

• Kennedy Pharmacy and Innovation Center (KPIC) Business and Entrepreneurship Track
• Pre-Residency Track
• Rural Health Education and Career Enhancement Track

The tracks allow students to focus on co-curricular concepts outside of required professional courses to assist with skills and employment in particular pharmacy settings. The tracks provide activities that students can participate in outside the classroom (networking, seminar programs, research projects, etc.) that will further develop professional skills applicable in these practice settings. If a student begins the Business and Entrepreneurship, Rural Health Education and Career Enhancement or Pre-Residency track programs, they are not obligated to complete the track and may discontinue their participation at any time.

Additionally, the College of Pharmacy offers the Walker Leadership Scholars (WLS) program which seeks to develop and empower leaders who will make substantial contributions to the profession of pharmacy and transform healthcare. The program requires students to apply, interview, be selected and continue in the program during their second, third, and fourth professional years. Students selected for the WLS program are provided with co-curricular opportunities including monthly lunch-and-learns with local and national leaders; travel stipends to attend national pharmacy organization meetings; a week-long trip to Washington, DC to gain exposure to policy, advocacy, and legislative processes; and individual mentoring experiences.