Early Assurance Admission Requirements

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Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisite science and math courses must be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to fall matriculation.

Course  
General Chemistry I and II with Laboratory Choose from:
CHE 101 + CHE 113 and CHE 102 + CHE 114 
or 
CHE 105 and CHE 106
Organic Chemistry I and II with Laboratory

Choose from:
CHE 201 and CHE 202 
or 
CHE 251 and CHE 252
or 
CHE 203 + CHE 205 and CHE 204 + CHE 206
Introductory Biology I and II with Laboratory Required:
BIO 200 and BIO 201 + BIO 211
Microbiology with Laboratory Choose from:
MIC 301
or
MIC 401
Biochemistry Choose from:
BIO 305
or
BCH 403
Anatomy Choose from:
PAS 313 (formerly 113)
or
ES 207
Physiology Choose from:
PGY 300
or
PGY 451 and PGY 452
Calculus I Choose from:
MTH 121 or MTH 141
Statistics Choose one:
STA 119
PSY 207
SOC 294
NSG 295
UB Curriculum The UB Curriculum is a unique program of general education for all undergraduate students at UB. Serving as the core academic experience, it celebrates the joy of intellectual discovery and prepares students for life, career and citizenship in a diverse and dynamic world. Students must complete UB Curriculum prior to fall matriculation in the (P1) first professional year of the PharmD program. UB Curriculum courses may be completed during the summer prior to fall entry into the PharmD.

Where to complete prerequisites
 The following prerequisite courses may be completed prior to high school graduation through AP or IB exam credit articulation: Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, Statistics, and/or UB Curriculum Requirements. Courses may be completed at another SUNY campus or other four-year college or university once enrolled at UB. Non-UB courses must be articulated through UB’s Course Equivalencies Guide.

All first-term EA candidates will also be enrolled in the elective course PHM 101: Pharmacy Is Right for Me.

GPA and Grades

Revised GPA Requirement: PharmD Early Assurance Program

Our PharmD Early Assurance Program required math and science prerequisite GPA is now 3.0. 

This change aligns with the UB SPPS New Path for Academic Success: Honors/Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading System which will emphasize learning, improve student knowledge and empower students to become the next generation of pharmacy leaders.

  • All science and math prerequisites are included in the EA GPA, including college courses permitted outside UB. 
  • Earn a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in all science and math prerequisites by the end of each of your second, third and fourth semesters (spring of first year, fall and spring of second year).
  • Complete all enrolled courses with a grade equal to or greater than C.
  • Appeals may be considered.

Additional EA Program Requirements and Recommendations

  • High School Coursework
     To best prepare for our pre-pharmacy curriculum, high school students should take math courses and science courses including calculus, biology, chemistry and physics.
  • Communication Skills
    It is critical all students possess the ability to communicate effectively using both the oral and written English language. Written communication skills will also be assessed in a standardized manner. 
  • Interview Preparation
    Qualified candidates will be invited to interview spring of freshman year in accordance with the American Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) Guidelines. The purpose is to evaluate verbal and written communication skills while determining understanding of the pharmacy profession as well as commitment to patient care. In preparation for the interview, candidates are advised to pursue activities beyond the classroom and prerequisite coursework (pharmacy-specific exposure is encouraged, though not required). Candidates are encouraged to take advantage of the UB Career Design Center's interview resources.
  • Academic Integrity
     All UB students are expected to uphold standards of academic integrity. As a result, students are responsible for knowing what constitutes an act of dishonesty, and a lack of awareness is not considered an excuse. At UB, academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: https://www.buffalo.edu/academic-integrity/about/violations.html. PharmCAS applicants must adhere to the Applicant Code of Conduct. The Admissions Committee reserves the right to rescind a PharmD offer of admission if students do not uphold standards of academic integrity. Students who do not demonstrate these proficiencies and attributes will not be eligible for admission.
  • Technical Standards
    Review our Personal Attributes and Capabilities Essential for Admission, Progression and Graduation for our PharmD degree.
  • Licensing Requirements
    See important information on student intern permits and pharmacy practice licensing requirements.
  • Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure
     See important information on Mandatory Professional Licensure Disclosure.
  • Non-Discrimination Policy
    UB SPPS is committed to a nondiscriminatory admission policy and philosophy. Review our Non-Discrimination Policy.
  • Transportation Policy
     As a student, you will be responsible for providing your own transportation throughout professional years 2, 3 and 4. Students are made aware of this policy pre and post admission through SPPS websites. Transportation to and from experiential sites is the responsibility of the student. The school cannot guarantee that students will be placed in clinical rotation sites accessible from UB transportation. The City of Buffalo does have public transportation but it does not cover the entire 90 mile radius allocated for Experiential Education training sites. The Experiential Education Office cannot give site preferences to students who lack transportation. Therefore, a personally owned vehicle is the preferred mode of transportation for all students.  There are transportation alternatives, but due to distances they may be expensive and the student should budget appropriately.

Students who do not demonstrate these proficiencies and attributes will not be eligible for admission through the EA Program.

All admissions requirements are subject to revision and review by the SPPS Admissions Committee and may be revised without extensive notice. As a competitive program, admission can be on a space available basis.