California Northstate University College of Pharmacy

Overview 

The pre-pharmacy requirements are constructed to ensure that applicants have the primary academic background necessary to undertake a rigorous professional curriculum, as well as adequate exposure to a broad range of academic coursework.

• The application period for PharmCAS begins in June and the cycle ends March 1, 2013.  PharmCAS applications cannot be e*submitted to our College after this date.
• A conferred bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or equivalent) is required prior to orientation.  No exceptions.
• A supplemental application and supplemental application fee (non-refundable) is required.  There are no fee waivers at this time.
• Science and mathematics prerequisite courses must be designed for science majors.
• Science courses requiring a lab taken online or through distance learning will not be accepted.
• Acceptance of online or distance learning coursework will be determined by Admissions. 
Science courses more than 9 years old may be required to be retaken. This will be determined by Admissions.
• The minimum GPA for CNUCOP is 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.  A 3.0 overall and prerequisite GPA is highly recommended.
• Advanced placement credit is accepted, as long as such credit appears on the undergraduate transcript and indicates either specific subject credit (e.g. Physics - 4 units) or specific course credit (e.g. Physics 101 - 4 units). General advanced placement credit without such specifications is not accepted. The AP credit score must be a 4 or higher.
• All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
• Admissions reserves the right of final decision with regard to acceptable coursework and alternatives.
All course and bachelor degree prerequisites and other conditions for attendance must be completed no later than three (3) weeks before the first day of classroom instruction.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to carry full course loads during undergraduate study.
Two letters of recommendation are required; (1) from a pharmacist or other health care provider, (1) from a professor or other faculty member.  All other letters are optional.  Letters should be sent directly to PharmCAS.

Course Equivalency Chart
     * Course must have lab component or lab equivalent.
   ** AP is acceptable.  
 *** 1 year of combined Anatomy & Physiology is acceptable.
**** Course must have lab component or lab equivalent. AP is acceptable.

Recommended

• Volunteer or work experience in a healthcare setting for a minimum of 40 hours is encouraged.  It is strongly recommended that applicants complete this experience in a pharmacy setting.
• One additional Physiology Course
• Leadership experience
• Experience in a community service organization or volunteer experience helping the less fortunate and /or helping to promote the profession of pharmacy. 

Foreign Graduates

California Northstate University College of Pharmacy accepts applications from graduates of foreign institutions provided they hold either US Citizenship or US Permanent Resident Status at the time of application. We are currently unable to provide any student visa service for applicants who do not hold one of the above.

In addition, the College of Pharmacy will not accept foreign transcripts prior to being accepted. Transcripts and coursework from foreign institutions must be evaluated by either WES, ECE or IERF. Evaluations must be sent directly to PharmCAS and must include semester units and letter grades for each course, as well as a cumulative GPA and, if possible, a science GPA.  If accepted, you must provide an official copy of your transcript directly to the Office of Admission.  If a copy of your official transcript is not received, prior to the start of school,   the offer of admission will be revoked and the seat will be offered to another candidate.

Applicants who receive their degree from a non-English speaking country may be requested to submit scores from the TOEFL Examination or the TSE. This will not apply, if an additional degree is obtained at a U.S. institution.

If there is a question about the level of English Proficiency, you may be requested to submit scores from the TOEFL Examination or the TSE.
Minimum TOEFL score:  Paper " 550, CBT " 213
Minimum TSE: 50

Foreign students who do not have a Bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution must complete a year of English Composition, and the public speaking, economics, and psychology prerequisite courses at a U.S. college or university.  

All items listed in the previous "Overview" and "Recommended" sections apply to Foreign graduates.

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