School of Pharmacy Domestic Admissions

MUSOP Preferred Decision: October 1, 2024
General Decision: June 1, 2024

Pre-Pharmacy

Marshall University currently provides a four-year PharmD degree with didactic classes in session from August to May each academic year. The Marshall University Pharm.D. program does not require a Bachelor’s degree for admission. Students can complete the necessary prerequisite coursework for pharmacy school in as few as two years from any regionally accredited institution.

Pre-Pharmacy Prerequisite Coursework (Fall 2024)

Admission to the Marshall University School of Pharmacy Pharm. D. program is competitive. In order to be successfully considered for admission, applicants should meet the following requirements:

• A recommended minimum 2.5 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale,
• A recommended minimum 2.75 prerequisite coursework GPA on a 4.0 scale, and
• Successful completion of the following pre-pharmacy prerequisite coursework. Successful completion is defined as receiving a “C” or better in the indicated course.
• As of Fall 2020: Marshall University School of Pharmacy no longer requires the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) for applicants.

Total minimum credit hours: 55 hours

Download a helpful Prerequisite Digital Worksheet to help keep track of your coursework.

If you have questions regarding substitutions for prerequisite coursework, please email pharmacy@marshall.edu and include the following: name of college/university, course description, and course syllabus.

Other Circumstances

Students are encouraged to reapply if previously not admitted into the School of Pharmacy. Students can use their PharmCAS application from the previous year, which will include all data entered (which cannot be changed, only added to). Students will still need to submit new transcripts, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Students interested in re-applying to the PharmD program are welcome to speak with the Office of Student Affairs to discuss suggestions for improving their pharmacy application.

To speak with an individual regarding reapplying or transferring, contact 304-696-7354 or email pharmacy@marshall.edu.

Step 1

Students must complete an application for admission via the PharmCAS website. Applications must be completed and submitted electronically by the appropriate application deadline.

MUSOP Preferred Decision: October 2, 2023

General Decision: June 1, 2024

As part of the PharmCAS application, you will be expected to:

• Submit an official College/University transcript to PharmCAS from each previously attended college. Advise the Registrar’s Office to enclose the PharmCAS Transcript Request Form with your official sealed transcript and mail it directly to PharmCAS. If the form is not included with your transcript, PharmCAS may have difficulty matching your transcript to your application and it may be delayed. PharmCAS will also accept official electronic transcripts from each attended college. For additional information, please visit http://www.pharmcas.org/preparing-to-apply/what-youll-need-to-apply/transcripts/.
• Secure three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are key in the initial review for interview consideration. Highest consideration of recommendations are allotted to those who can attest to your academic success in the program, such as an academic advisor or faculty member.

Step 2

After submission and verification of the PharmCAS application, the Admissions Committee will invite selected students for an on-site interview. Applications will be considered in the order they are received. Upon completion of the interview, candidates selected for admission will generally receive an offer within 7-10 business days.

If you are admitted to the Marshall University School of Pharmacy, you will be notified via phone and postal mail. Students are required to pay a non-refundable $500 enrollment deposit to save a seat in the class. The deadline for deposit submission will be clearly identified on the acceptance letter.

Once you sign and return your deposit, than you can officially declare yourself as a member of the Herd and the newest member of our “pharmily”!

Please contact the Office of Student Affairs at 304-696-7354 or pharmacy@marshall.edu with any questions.

Step 3

Marshall University School of Pharmacy requires newly admitted students to complete the online Graduate College application. This application requires a $40 non-refundable application fee for domestic students and $150 for international students. For additional information, please contact the Graduate Admissions office at 304-464-9418 or graduateadmissions@marshall.edu. Upon admittance to the Marshall University Graduate College, students will be enrolled for the fall semester.

Step 4

Apply for the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after October 1. The FAFSA determines student eligibility for federal and state financial aid. For additional information, please visit Marshall University’s Student Financial Assistance website.

Marshall University School of Pharmacy offers a variety of student scholarships. Please visit the Scholarship section below for more information on available opportunities.

The deadline for all scholarship applications is March 15th of each year. Questions pertaining to scholarships should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs at 304-696-7354 or MUSOPScholarships@marshall.edu.

As an additional value, Marshall University School of Pharmacy covers the cost for 3 national APhA (American Pharmacists Association) certifications:

• APhA – Medication Therapy Management
• APhA – Immunization Delivery
• APhA – The Pharmacist & Patient-Centered Diabetes Care

Additional Requirements (Upon Matriculation)

• Student Health Insurance
  • All PharmD students are required to have high-quality health insurance coverage due to inherent risks associated with possible exposures at experiential sites.
  • Students will be required to provide proof of insurance coverage annually and at times of any qualifying event such as age, marital status, etc.
• Transportation
  • Students attending Marshall University School of Pharmacy will need to have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license to complete rotation requirements.
• Immunizations
  • Students will be required to obtain certain immunizations to be eligible for rotations. Please contact the Office of Experiential Learning for a full list of requirements.
• Internet Access
  • To participate in online technologies, students will need to have access to reliable internet throughout the academic year.

Access Through Affordability

Marshall University School of Pharmacy prides itself on its affordability for students, offering the lowest pharmacy program tuition and fees package in the state, and one of the lowest in the country! Our affordability, in turn, provides a diverse atmosphere across race, ethnicity, geographical location, and gender.

View program-specific tuition and fees here.

For questions about financial aid, please email pharmsfa@marshall.edu, or schedule a virtual visit with a financial aid representative.

Marshall University School of Pharmacy offers a variety of student scholarships which recognize characteristics such as academic performance, commitment to diversity, leadership, and financial need, and we continue to cultivate additional awards. In fact, we are pleased to announce a new series of Metro Scholarships for students living in surrounding metro counties. Donors represent pharmacy professionals and corporations, community leaders, and local philanthropists. Our faculty and staff believe so strongly in supporting your education, that we also have several employees funded scholarships.

Incoming and current students fill out one scholarship application to be considered for all eligible scholarships. The Office of Student Affairs works with the Student Affairs Committee to determine scholarship eligibility based on the information provided in the application. The deadline for all institutional scholarship applications is March 1 of each year.

Students currently enrolled in PharmD courses will receive notification of scholarships at the Awards Ceremony in April of each year.

Newly admitted students who will begin the program in the next Fall semester do not need to complete a scholarship application. These students will be notified of scholarships as awarded and will be formally recognized at the White Coat Ceremony.

Questions should be submitted to the MU School of Pharmacy Scholarship email at MUSOPScholarships@marshall.edu.

Current Listing of MUSOP Scholarships

• Advantage Toyota Scholarship
• CVS Bilingual Scholarship Award
• CVS Pharmacy Scholarship Award
• D. Joanne and F. Gordon Yingling Scholarship
• Early Decision Scholarship
• Fruth Pharmacy Scholarship for the Marshall University School of Pharmacy
• Gateway Scholarship
• HSTA Scholarship
• John and Donna Underwood Scholarship
• Marshall University School of Pharmacy Dean’s Scholarship Award
• Marshall University School of Pharmacy Diversity Scholarship Award
• Marshall University School of Pharmacy Don Perdue Award
• Marshall University School of Pharmacy Leadership Scholarship Award
• Marshall School of Pharmacy Metro Scholarships
• School of Pharmacy Scholarship Award
• Marshall University School of Pharmacy Stephen J. Kopp Academic Excellence Award
• Mary H. and Churchill Hodges Scholarship
• Mary H. Hodges School of Pharmacy Scholarship
• Pharmily Scholarship
• Pioneer in Pharmacy Scholarship
• Professional Development Scholarship
• Rural Health Pharmacy Practice Scholarship
• Trivillian’s Scholarship
• Walgreens Diversity Scholarship
• W. B. “Bart” and Doris Andrews Scholarship for the Marshall University School of Pharmacy

NOTE: Not all scholarships may be available each academic year based on renewal criteria and availability of funds.
Additional scholarship information, including the application process, student eligibility, renewal status, and award amount.

Metro Scholarships

The Marshall University School of Pharmacy is excited to announce new scholarships available to students living in surrounding metro counties!

Students living in the following counties are eligible for these scholarships:

Ohio: Adams, Athens, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton and Washington.

Kentucky (Fall): Bath, Bourbon, Boyd, Bracken, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Greenup, Harrison, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Robertson, Rowan and Wolfe.

MUSOP Dean’s Metro Scholarship

• Eligible Graduating Class: 2027
• Recipients must live in one of the metro counties listed
• Recipient must have a 3.5 minimum GPA
• Scholarship is renewable for students with a 3.5 GPA
• $9,000 annual scholarship ($4,500 per semester)

MU School of Pharmacy Metro Scholarship

• Eligible Graduating Class: 2027
• Recipients must live in one of the metro counties listed
• Recipient must have a 3.25 minimum GPA
• Scholarship is renewable for students with a 3.25 GPA
• $7,000 annual scholarship ($3,500 per semester)

Pharmily Metro Scholarship

• Eligible Graduating Class: 2027
• Recipients must live in one of the metro counties listed
• Recipient must have a 3.0 minimum GPA
• Scholarship is renewable for students with a 3.0 GPA
• $5,000 annual scholarship ($2,500 per semester)

NOTE: No additional application is required for these scholarships. They will be awarded based on the PharmCAS and graduate school information provided for admission to the PharmD degree program.

External Scholarship Opportunities

The Marshall University School of Pharmacy (MUSOP) is committed to assisting our students both academically and financially.

Following is a list of external scholarships for students who are currently enrolled in an accredited pharmacy school. It’s important to note that these scholarships may be subject to changes by the organizations offering them and students should verify the details independently.

These scholarships are not managed by Marshall University School of Pharmacy, please contact the awarding organization for more information. This is not an exhaustive list, please conduct your own research for scholarship opportunities as well.

AFPE First Year Graduate School Fellowships

The American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE) First Year Graduate School Fellowships are targeted for students who are members of Kappa Epsilon, Phi Lambda Sigma, and Rho Chi who plan to pursue a PhD in pharmaceutical science. To be eligible, you must be a pharmacy student in your final year who is a member of one of the aforementioned organizations, as well as plan to pursue full-time graduate (PhD) study in the year the award is made.

The award consists of $7500 that may be used for any purpose decided by the awardee and faculty sponsor.

Application information may be accessed at http://afpepharm.org/index.php/contact/grants-scholarships-and-awards/

American Pharmacists Association Foundation Student Scholarship Program

The APhA Foundation Student Scholarship Program recognizes students who choose to invest their time in their school’s APhA – ASP chapter to help shape the future of the profession while managing the demands of a full-time pharmacy curriculum. Applicants will be evaluated on their potential to become leaders for the profession of pharmacy, as demonstrated by involvement in school and community activities and academic performance.

For more information go to: http://www.aphafoundation.org/student-scholarship-program

American Society of Health System Pharmacists Student Leadership Awards

The ASHP Student Leadership Award Program recognizes students with an interest in pharmacy practice in health-systems who have demonstrated leadership ability. This program recognizes and celebrates the contributions of students who represent the very best attributes and accomplishments of ASHP student members. ASHP offers up to twelve awards annually. Pharmacy students in the second through fourth professional years are eligible to apply.

For more information go to: https://www.ashp.org/about-ashp/awards/student-awards/ashp-student-leadership-award

Express Scripts Scholars

The Express Scripts Scholars program provides four (4) $10,000 scholarships to enrolled dual degree students. The program gives special consideration to low socioeconomic status students, as well as those who are underrepresented minorities.

For more information, visit https://www.aacp.org/resource/express-scripts-scholars-program

Health Professions Scholarship Program

The HPSP is available for students who are commissioned officers pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, psychiatric nursing, optometry or psychology

For more information go to: http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/education/hpsp.html

National Community Pharmacists Association Foundation Scholarships

For more information: http://www.ncpafoundation.org/scholarships/pip.shtml

Tylenol Future Care Scholarships

Sponsored by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, these scholarships are for undergraduates and graduate students in medicine and health care. They recognize academic excellence, leadership and community involvement. To apply, you must be a resident of the U.S.; enrolled in a health care related field at an accredited college or university, graduate school or vocational/technical school; and have one year remaining in your program.

For more information go to: http://www.tylenol.com/news/scholarship

• Marshall University College of Science Pre-Pharmacy 2+4 Accelerated PharmD Pathway

• Marshall University College of Science Chemistry Major 3+4 Accelerated BS-to-PharmD Pathway
• Marshall University College of Science Biology Major 3+4 Accelerated BS-to-PharmD Pathway
• Marshall University College of Health Professions Health Sciences Major 3+4 Accelerated BS-to-PharmD Pathway
• Marshall University School of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences Major 3+4 Accelerated BS-to-PharmD Pathway

Marshall University School of Pharmacy (MUSOP) offers an early assurance program known as the Pharmacy Early Assurance Scholars Program. The program is designed for outstanding high school students who are committed to pursuing pharmacy as a career upon graduation. The program is intended to recognize outstanding high school seniors with provisional early assurance to the MUSOP PharmD program. Students who are admitted into this program are expected to meet all requirements to successfully matriculate into the MUSOP PharmD Program.

Program Requirements

• Student must enroll as a freshman directly from high school.
• Student must indicate pre-pharmacy as their intended concentration upon entry to Marshall University. Note: Students have the choice of pursuing the 2+4 accelerated pathway or one of the 3+4 accelerated pathways. If pursuing the 3+4 accelerated pathway, the student should choose Biology, Chemistry, Health Sciences, or Pharmaceutical Sciences as their major. For more information about accelerated pathway options, visit the previous tab.
• All prerequisite coursework must be completed at Marshall University or at approved partner institution (waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis for exceptional circumstances). All coursework taken off campus must be obtained from an accredited U.S. institution for a letter grade. pass/fail, online/distance learning and foreign courses are not accepted.
• Student must maintain continuous full-time university enrollment (excluding summer terms).

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the Early Assurance Pharmacy Program is highly selective.
• 3.4 unweighted high school GPA. An adjusted GPA resulting from participation in advanced placement or honors courses will be used if provided by a high school official.
• Students who do not demonstrate this proficiency will not be eligible for admission through the Early Assurance program. Prerequisite courses may be completed prior to high school graduation through AP or IB exam credit articulation.

Note: The Marshall School of Pharmacy Early Assurance Scholars Program does not have an ACT score requirement; however, some undergraduate prerequisite courses may require certain ACT scores for enrollment in the course.

Program Pathway & Expectations

• Candidates must complete the Marshall School of Pharmacy prerequisite courses.
• Successful candidates must earn a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA upon application to the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
• Students are not required to take the PCAT. Students who wish to take the PCAT to supplement their application must do so no later than the January date prior to fall entry in the first professional year of the PharmD program. 

Note: Some scholarships may require a PCAT for consideration. Please contact the MUSOP Office of Student Affairs for additional information.

Additional Program Requirements

• All Marshall University prerequisite undergraduate courses must be completed with a grade equal to or greater than C, regardless of cumulative GPA.
• Repeat grades will not be used in computing the Early Assurance GPA, but an average of the original and repeated course.
• All Early Assurance pathway students will receive academic advising by the pre-professional academic advisor in the College of Science. Additionally, students will be granted full admission to the pre-pharmacy club with access to members-only networking events, exclusive merchandise, and all associated fees covered by the School of Pharmacy.
• Students who have less than the indicated GPA or grade requirements will no longer be eligible for Early Assurance, but will be re-designated as “pre-pharmacy” and encouraged to apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy program as a regular candidate.
• Early Assurance candidates must apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy program by September 15 of their application year. Candidates must successfully fulfill all requirements for admission including successful completion of an interview in accordance with the American Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) Guidelines.

Note: All admission offers are contingent upon completion of remaining coursework and matriculation requirements.

How to Apply

To be considered for Early Assurance, qualified students must complete the following:

1. Submit all items for general undergraduate admission to Marshall University as required the Office of Admissions. Applicants must indicate their concentration as “pre-pharmacy”.
2. Students must submit the Early Assurance Scholars Program Application to the Marshall University School of Pharmacy Office of Student Affairs no later than June 1 of their high school graduation year.

Final decisions regarding admission to the Early Assurance Program will be communicated no later than July 1.

Note: Offer contingent on meeting minimum admissions and program requirements.

Questions? Please contact us at pharmacy@marshall.edu or 304-696-7352.

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and incorporating the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Marshall University School of Pharmacy (MUSOP) has adopted minimal technical standards for the professional degree (Doctor of Pharmacy) program.

These standards represent the essential non-academic requirements that a student must demonstrate to successfully participate in the Doctor of Pharmacy degree program and meet the professional competency requirements. These standards are set forth by MUSOP to establish the expectations and requisite abilities considered essential for students admitted to its educational and training program to achieve the levels of competency stipulated by MUSOP, its accrediting agency (the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education), and the Higher Educational Policy Commission of the State of West Virginia.

Applicants for admission to MUSOP who are invited for an on-campus interview are required to certify on the day of their interview that they understand and are able to meet the technical standards described herein with or without reasonable accommodations. A description of any actual disability and the need for accommodations should not be disclosed at any time.

An accepted student who has a disability and needs accommodations should initiate discussions with the Office of Disability Services as soon as the offer of admissions is received and accepted. It is the responsibility of an accepted student to provide current information documenting the general nature and extent of his/her disability and the functional limitations proposed to be accommodated. The student must recertify that he/she is able to meet the technical standards with their specific accommodations. The School of Pharmacy reserves the right to request new or additional information.

Reasonable accommodations can be made for students with appropriately documented disabilities. An accommodation is not reasonable if it fundamentally alters the nature of the program by posing a direct threat to the health or safety of self or others, if making it requires a substantial modification in an essential element of the curriculum, if it lowers academic standards or poses an undue administrative or financial burden for the School of Pharmacy. The use by the candidate of a trained intermediary to perform any of the functions described in the Technical Standards would constitute an unacceptable modification as that candidate’s judgment would be mediated by someone else’s power of selection and observation.

Deficiencies in knowledge base, judgment, integrity, character, or professional attitude or demeanor, which may jeopardize patient care, may be grounds for course/rotation failure and possible dismissal. It is the policy of MUSOP that no person shall be denied admission, progression, or graduation on the basis of any disability, provided that the individual demonstrates ability to meet the minimum technical standards set forth herein. Each student must possess aptitude, abilities, and skills in the areas of: 1) observation; 2) communication; 3) sensory and motor function; 4) analysis and synthesis, and 5) professional conduct. MUSOP faculty will monitor maintenance of these standards. Students must be able to perform independently all described functions.

Technical Standards

Observation:

• Must have the ability to independently observe and evaluate materials and processes demonstrated through a variety of activities such as demonstrations, experiments, physical assessments, and professional and clinical practice, in classrooms, laboratories, and patient care areas.

Communication Skills:

• Must have the ability to communicate fluently in oral and written English, be cognizant of nonverbal communications, and to have the ability to work with faculty, peers, patients, and other members of the health care team.

Sensory and Motor Function:

• Must exhibit the appropriate motor function to prepare pharmaceuticals, prepare compound and dispense medications, prepare sterile dosage forms, and perform important aspects of patient assessment.
• Must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide or direct the general care and emergency treatment to patients. Such motor actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

Analysis and Synthesis:

• Students must have the ability to identify, analyze, and synthesize and apply relevant information and information technologies in independent professional and health care team contexts that are increasingly realistic and culminate in being able to provide patient care in a variety of professional practice settings.

Professional Conduct:

• Students must have the ability to demonstrate responsible professional and ethical behavior and demonstrate compassion, integrity, and respect for their patients and colleagues, and for the privacy of health care information.

If health care is team-based, why isn’t the classroom?

That’s a question Marshall asked as the institution began the venture into pharmacy education. There has to be a style of learning that better parallels health care while also curing the issues of the drab, traditional classroom, right?

The remedy: Active Learning.

Active Learning, defined

Active Learning (n.) the process whereby students engage as an active participant in their education via activities, such as reading, writing, discussion, or problem solving that promote analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of class content.

Active learning is not passively listening to a professor lecture and completing homework independently at home. Active learning is collaborative. It’s face-to-face discussions, debates, case studies, games, role playing and simulations. It’s made for the new generation of students – those who are visual, hands-on, and social.

• Studies show that in STEM classrooms that utilize Active Learning, students earn 6 percentage points higher and are 50 percent more likely to succeed than in the traditional classroom.

The Flipped Classroom

To better help facilitate this style of learning, Marshall first needed to develop an innovative classroom space. Enter, the studio classroom. The studio classroom facilitates team-based learning by seating students in groups of 6 at rectangular tables.

The “flipped classroom” concept places special emphasis on the social aspect of learning, by moving the information in advance of class time and making the face-to-face sessions a way of enhancing understanding and building new knowledge through interaction with peers and professors. Gone are the days in which collaboration on homework in the classroom is discouraged. In our environment peer learning is not only encouraged, it’s expected.

How it Works

Pre-Work: Students receive “pre-work” which may include study guides, presentations, videos, audio, parts of chapters from pharmaceutical textbooks, journal articles, previously recorded lectures and screencasts which will need to be studied prior to class time.

IRAT & GRAT: Once students arrive to class, their knowledge learned from pre-work is explored via an IRAT (Individual Readiness Assessment Test) in which their individual comprehension of the material is assessed. Afterwards, students complete, in a team, a GRAT (Group Readiness Assessment Test) identical to their individual assessment which allows them to utilize their unified team brain power to answer the questions correctly. Both the individual quiz scores and team quiz scores count toward a student’s final grade.

Class time: Class time is then used, rather than for a lecture, to emphasize and focus on specific information from the pre-work, answer questions regarding concepts that may not have been clear, and work together to implement the ideas learned via case studies, games, instant recall, etc. This large group conversation largely replaces the lecture the instructor would historically have given in a traditional environment. It is used to reinforce and clarify the pre-work rather than strictly disseminate information. Classes are recorded, allowing students to later revisit conversations, questions and materials mentioned in-class that they otherwise may have forgotten.

Interprofessional Experiences

Marshall also facilitates interprofessional education experiences (IPEs) via case studies in this same type of environment. Because health care requires constant communication with multiple health care professions, students in the School of Pharmacy, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the School of Physical Therapy, and College of Health Professions learn the contributions of one another through unique peer learning activities throughout the year.

Simulation Environments

“I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember, I do, and I understand.” – Confucius

When you apply information, rather than simply hear it or read it, your brain is more likely to remember and recall it. Thus, Marshall provides a variety of hands-on mock environments to allow our students repetitive experiences in realistic pharmacy settings within the walls of the School of Pharmacy.

• The skills alcoves and the compounding lab serve as areas where students learn realistic clinical skills under supervision of their professors. The School of Pharmacy also utilizes standardized patients to aid in their counseling skills and help model a real-life pharmacy environment.
• By working in these simulated environments, students earn 3 certifications upon graduation in Immunizations, Medication Therapy Management, and Diabetes Management.

Early Practice Experience

Students apply what they learn through IPPEs (Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences) which are often introduced at most institutions in their P2 or P3 years. At Marshall, we want our students involved from their first year.

• Students are certified and in the field by their second semester. At the end of four years, our students will have nearly four years worth of pharmacy practice experience rather than two or three.
• Plus, because of Marshall’s unique geographic location, Marshall students receive a student intern license in 3 states (Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia) rather than one! They will then be prepared to sit for each state’s license exam upon graduation.

• Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
• American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• American Pharmacists Association
• West Virginia Board of Pharmacy
• Kentucky Board of Pharmacy
• Ohio Board of Pharmacy

Marshall University School of Pharmacy Accreditation Status
We are pleased to announce that Marshall University’s Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted Accredited status by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 2850 Chicago, Illinois 60603-3410, Phone: 312-664-3575, Fax 866-228-2631, email info@acpe-accredit.org, website www.acpe-accredit.org.

Accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States and selected non-US sites. For a Doctor of Pharmacy program offered by a new College or School of Pharmacy, ACPE accreditation involves three steps: Precandidate accreditation status, Candidate accreditation status, and Full accreditation status. Precandidate accreditation status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period. Precandidate accreditation status is awarded to a new program of a College or School of Pharmacy that has not yet enrolled students in the professional program and authorizes the college or school to admit its first class. Candidate accreditation status is awarded to a Doctor of Pharmacy program that is currently recognized by ACPE with Precandidate status and has students enrolled but has not yet had a graduating class. Full accreditation status is awarded to a program that has met all ACPE standards for accreditation and has graduated its first class. Graduates of a class designated as having Candidate accreditation status have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from a fully accredited program, generally including eligibility for licensure. ACPE conveys its decisions to the various boards of pharmacy and makes recommendations in accord with its decisions. It should be noted, however, that decisions concerning eligibility for licensure by examination or reciprocity reside with the respective state boards of pharmacy in accordance with their state statutes and administrative rules.

Should the School enroll and begin instruction of its inaugural class without first achieving Precandidate accreditation status, fail to achieve Candidate accreditation status, or fail to advance to Full accreditation status within five years following the submission of the initial application, any graduates would be considered to have graduated from an unaccredited Doctor of Pharmacy program. It is unlikely that graduates of an unaccredited Doctor of Pharmacy program will meet licensing requirements in any U.S. jurisdiction.

For more information on the ACPE accreditation process, please contact the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60603, 312/644-3575; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.

Regional Accreditation
Marshall University is accredited as an institution of higher learning by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) . HLC has approved the institution’s request to award the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

Higher Learning Commission Letter

Disclosure of Program Outcomes

• 2021 on-time graduation rate – 87%
• 2020 NAPLEX first attempt pass rate – 86%
• 2020 graduate job placement at time of graduation –83%
• 2020 second trimester NAPLEX first attempt pass rate – 86%
• 2020 second trimester MPJE first attempt pass rate – 82%

A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is the required degree necessary to practice pharmacy in the United States. It is an intensive doctoral program similar to that of a Doctor of Medicine (MD).

PharmD programs include extensive didactic clinical preparation, hands-on clinical practice experience in a wide array of health care settings, and an emphasis on clinical pharmacy practice. Requirements in the US to becoming a pharmacist include: graduating from a Doctor of Pharmacy from an ACPE accredited program, conducting a specified number of hours in internship under a licensed pharmacist, passing the NAPLEX, and passing a Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE).

Residency is an option that is typically one to two years in length post-graduation allowing a student to specialize in a specific area of pharmacy, such as oncology or pediatrics.

No. The Marshall PharmD is available only at Marshall as a full-time program.

During the 2016-17 application cycle, we received approximately 300 applicants to fulfill 80 seats in the class. We interview approximately 120-150 to fill those seats.

The School of Pharmacy follows a semester calendar. The Fall semester begins approximately the third week of August and continues through the second week of December. The Spring semester begins during the first week of January and continues until the first or second week in May. The School observes all national holidays, such as Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas / New Years, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as well as Spring Break (1 week) and Thanksgiving Break (1 week).

Similar to what you may have experienced as a high school senior, you will apply to pharmacy school the fall before the year you plan to enroll. You must submit each of the application requirements before the admissions committee will assess your application for an interview. After the interview, the admissions committee will make a decision on your admission status and will provide you with a notice within two to three weeks.

No. Students can complete their pharmacy prerequisites in as few as two years. However, many students prefer to complete them in three years or continue on to earn their bachelor’s degree. Students with a bachelor’s degree receive a few bonus points in the admissions process for demonstrating their ability to complete a program, but they do not receive priority over students who have only completed the minimum prerequisites.

Marshall does not require you to complete the PCAT. If you choose to take the PCAT, we recommend doing so early, but will accept scores from July – January.

Not at all! We expect that you will still have many courses left to complete when you apply.

The pharmacy school application process is very similar to what you may have experienced in high school. You will apply the fall of the year prior to enrolling, then make your decision after you have been admitted. However, we expect you will still be working towards completing the coursework you need.

Marshall allows you to continue your coursework through the summer prior to matriculation. Once you complete your last course, you will submit your final transcripts to the Marshall School of Pharmacy to finalize your admission. You must receive a C or better in each of the prerequisite courses for the course to count towards your application requirements. Marshall does not recognize “minus” or “plus” grades, thus a C- will count toward successful completion. All coursework must be completed prior to arrival at orientation in the fall.

Yes. Marshall began admitting international students in Fall 2014. However, standards are very rigorous. Students must complete the admissions requirements as expected of all students, however, they must also submit TOEFL scores. We require a minimum TOEFL score of 80. Students must submit foreign transcripts through PharmCAS and use a foreign transcript evaluation service (World Education Services is preferred). Additional documentation, such as course descriptions and syllabi, may need to be submitted on a case-by-case basis.

We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation. Each recommendation is evaluated and scored. The recommendations with the highest scores are allocated to professors and academic advisors who can attest to your academic success in the program. Next preferred are supervisors. Fewest points are allocated to clergy, politicians, family and friends.

Work experience is not required for admission, but it can show commitment to the field of pharmacy and demonstrate the work ethic of an applicant. Thus, if you have work experience, please note it in your application. It will not count against you, however, if you do not have any.

Yes. However, instead of one semester of each individually, you will need two semesters of A&P (I and II) to meet the requirements.

No, we utilize the standard PharmCAS GPA. If you had multiple attempts of the same prerequisite course, we would average the courses together. For example, if you received a D in Calculus, but retook the course and received a B, you would receive a C.

Yes, as long as the AP course was accepted at your home undergraduate institution. For example, if you attend Marshall undergraduate school, and Marshall undergrad accepts AP scores of 4 and above, than we will accept it as well. If your undergraduate institution accept AP scores of 3 and above, and you received a 2, we will not count the course as a prerequisite because your home institution did not.

The interview process is unlike many others. It is a half day, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rather than rush you in, bombard you with questions and push you out the door, we want to get to know you. The interview has three main parts:

The Standard Behavioral Interview

This is your storytelling time. You will be asked prompts that will require you to tell specific stories.

Ex: “Tell us about a time you had to show initiative on a project.

The Critical Thinking Test

Are you a critical thinker? Don’t expect to be asked about chemical functions, but rather, questions regarding reasoning. (Ex:

Ex: “If A = B, and B = C, does A = C?”

The Group Dilemma

Because our classrooms require a team-mentality, we want to see you in action with others. You and several “teammates” will receive a dilemma and will be expected to find a solution and present your findings.

Remember, our students, staff, and faculty will be assessing you throughout the process, so be attentive! From lunch to chit chatting while you try on your Marshall white coat, it’s all game.

Dress for interview day is considered business attire. What would you wear to a job interview? That’s what we expect on interview day. Appearance is made note of during the process.

MUSOP offers virtual interviews for applicants from outside of the Tri-State area and other applicants for whom visiting our campus could be a challenge. The availability of virtual interviews is limited and face to face interviews are preferred.

We don’t like to keep you waiting! Each Friday, our admissions committee will gather to determine who will be admitted from the previous weeks’ interviews. You should hear back from us within two weeks maximum. This gives us time to make a decision, construct your admission letter, and send it through mail.

Instead of a waitlist, the School of Pharmacy maintains a “hold list.” Each admissions cycle, the hold list of individuals are re-assessed each week by the committee, as if they just interviewed, with the most recent set of reviewable students. This keeps the hold list individuals fresh in the minds of the committee, and allows them to be potentially admitted throughout the admissions cycle – rather than waiting for admission at the end of the cycle, like a traditional waitlist.

Absolutely. The Office of Student Affairs is always available to meet with students to outline a strategy for a successful admission. Each year, many re-applicants are successful in gaining admission.

Marshall’s tuition and fees are incredibly competitive. In fact, our out-of-state tuition is often less expensive than in-state tuition in other states, such as Kentucky, Ohio and Maryland. Current tuition and fees for the academic year can be found on the university’s graduate tuition page.

Yes. State and federal grants, loans and scholarships are available. More information about available financial aid for students can be found on the Financial Aid page. For detailed information on financing your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, please contact Jean Ann Bevans, Assistant Director of Student Financial Assistance, by phone at 304-696-2279.

Potentially. The first two years of the Marshall program is financially considered undergraduate, while the second two years is considered graduate. If you are a West Virginia resident and have remaining time for state awards (i.e. West Virginia Promise Scholarship), you may use that in your first year of the program. (If you have two years left, you can use it your first two years.) If you are out-of-state, you cannot transfer state awards to West Virginia. However, if you are either an in-state or out-of-state student and receive federal awards, such as grants (i.e. Pell Grant) or loans, you can use these awards toward your first and/or second year of pharmacy school, depending on your remaining years of eligibility. For more information about the School of Pharmacy’s financial aid, contact Jean Ann Bevans in the Financial Aid Office.

Yes. A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation are required to successfully complete the PharmD program, as is the expectation of most PharmD programs. One benefit of the Marshall School of Pharmacy is the ability for students to experience pharmacy in multiple states. This means, however, IPPE sites can/will be located in an approximate 60 mile radius in Kentucky, Ohio, and/or West Virginia, while APPE locations could be located at sites outside this radius. Local transportation, such as the bus system, cannot reach all experiential sites, and thus should not be relied upon to do so. Students who feel like they cannot meet this requirement are recommended to reconsider application to the program.

Yes. It is expected that you will complete most exams and major assessments via your personal computer. If you do not have a personal laptop, money is built in to the “cost of attendance” for purchase of one.

Pharmacy school is a full-time doctoral program and thus is very intensive and challenging. But, it can be done. We do have students who work up to 20 hours per week to supplement their income. We recommend you adjust to the program in the early stages and speaking with students in the program before you make any commitments outside of the program.

Unlike most pharmacy schools in the region, we do not have traditional block exams (which is like having a mini-finals week, over the course of two or three days, several times per semester). Instead, we encourage long term retention and recall through the use of designated exam times throughout the week.  We call them “exam blocks,” not to be confused with “block exams.”

There are several opportunities for housing in and around the School of Pharmacy, including our new graduate student housing at The Landing.

Temporary parking is currently available for students, faculty, and staff in the fenced parking lot across Hal Greer Boulevard from Stephen J. Kopp Hall. Information on permanent parking will be updated as received.