EDUCATING LEADERS IN PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES SINCE 1886
The University at Buffalo (UB) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS) is proud of its long-standing tradition of graduating clinically competent Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students. Our four-year, in-person PharmD program is ranked #1 in New York State and #19 nationally.
You will find the "UB PharmD Program Summary" letter below that is available for download. This letter describes our School, the PharmD program, grading system, curriculum and student engagement highlights.
Course percentages are averaged to calculate a CAP (cumulative average percent). CAP is a straight average of all required course final percentages. CAP is not weighted by course credit hours.
Per the Academic Success Policy, CAP may be shared with post-graduate training programs and will be noted on transcripts.
UB’s PharmD program has adopted an H/S/U grading model for all coursework—didactic, lab skills, and experiential—starting with students matriculating in Fall 2022. These grades appear on academic transcripts.
PharmD Course Grade Scheme:
Honors (H): ≥ 90% overall
Satisfactory (S): ≥ 70% overall
Unsatisfactory (U): < 70% overall (further defined as U1, U2, or U3 based on participation for financial aid compliance)
This model...
- Emphasizes learning and concept mastery over comparative grading
- Reduces unhealthy competition among students
- Aligns with best practices in health professional education
- Supports student well-being without diminishing academic rigor
Outside Electives and S/U or A-F Grading:
Elective courses taken outside the PharmD program that are applied toward the PharmD elective requirement may still use the standard A-F grading system.
Student pharmacists who enroll in outside electives may request S/U grading to the course instructor (note: H is not available). It is the instructor’s decision.
Regardless of the grading decision, approved elective credits will count toward the PharmD elective requirement.
The CAP shown on the transcript reflects all coursework completed through Spring 2025. Grades will be updated after fall term results are posted and reviewed in January.
Each student joins a Learning and Engagement Community (LEC) led by faculty advisors. With 25 professional organizations and a robust co-curriculum, students explore interests, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the profession.
We are confident our graduates are prepared to become outstanding pharmacists and future leaders. For more information, please email pharm-advise@buffalo.edu.