Doctor of Pharmacy FAQ

Students successfully completing the program will earn the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Students also have the option to apply for several dual degree programs.  Explore our dual degree options here.

The program admits a maximum of 75 students to begin the professional phase of the program each fall.

The professional phase of the pharmacy curriculum takes four years to complete.

Yes, students admitted into the Doctor of Pharmacy program must enroll as full-time students.

No, students can only begin the professional phase of the program in the fall.

Yes. Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences' Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100, Chicago, IL 60503, 312/664-3575; FAX 312/664-4652, web site www.acpe-accredit.org.

Students may live on campus for all four years of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. While the University does not presently offer housing specifically for married students or those with domestic partners, housing is available in Gateway Village, where PharmD and JD students reside.

The Center for the Sciences and Pharmacy boasts state-of-the-art technology and is equipped with a ''demonstration pharmacy'' which is utilized to train students in community care pharmacy. The Center is designed to ensure a close learning environment that facilitates faculty-student interactions and small group activities. A robust and innovative technology plan is included in tuition and fees, and includes student tablet computing devices, human simulation mannequins, lecture capture, learning management systems, interactive classroom technology, online testing, and electronic portfolios.

Prerequisite coursework may be completed at any accredited college or university.

You must complete ALL prerequisite courses with a grade of 'C-' or higher before matriculating into the Doctor of Pharmacy program. All academic updates are due to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in August prior to orientation for the professional program.

When you apply via PharmCAS, you are required to list the courses that you are taking in the fall semester, as well as the courses that you plan to take in the following Spring and Summer semesters. You should post an academic update with PharmCAS in January, after you receive fall grades. Spring and summer semester updates should be sent directly to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences if you are accepted into the program.

No, qualified applicants will be selected for an interview by the Admissions Committee based on their application materials.

Interview days are conducted both on campus and in-person.  You will be notified of the interview options available to you within your interview invitation.

During on campus interview days, applicants will receive programmatic information from the Dean and Assistant/Associate Deans through several brief presentations, interview with two Pharmacy faculty members or alumni, complete an on-site writing sample, tour our pharmacy facilities, and meet with students currently enrolled in our program. In-person interview day activities last for approximately four hours.

During online interview days, applicants will interview with two Pharmacy faculty members, or alumni, speak with an admissions representative, and complete a writing sample.

Applications to the Doctor of Pharmacy program are handled through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). The PharmCAS application cycle opens in mid- July for entry into the program the following fall. Applications to the Western New England University Doctor of Pharmacy and Health Sciences can be submitted to PharmCAS through June 1.

Applicants seeking accommodations should contact the University Office of Student Accessibility Services at (413) 782-1258 to inquire about the documentation required for disability certification. In order to ensure that accommodation requests can be reviewed and administered in a timely fashion, it is strongly recommended that requests and supporting documentation be submitted to the Office of Student Accessibility Services no later than 5 days prior to the interview date. For requests that extend beyond the standard testing accommodations (extended time, distraction reduced environment, etc.), a two week notice is recommended.

The preferred GPA for prerequisite coursework is 3.0, however we will review applications with a prerequisite GPA as low as 2.70.

Yes, applicants who designate WNE as their first choice should submit their application by the priority deadline of October 3. 

PharmCAS calculates an applicant's overall GPA using all coursework completed. The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will calculate an applicant's prerequisite GPA based only on the courses required by the Western New England University Doctor of Pharmacy program.

No, the PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) is not required.

Two letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted on an applicant's behalf directly to PharmCAS; one of these letters must be from a teacher or professor unless the applicant has been out of school for the past three years or more. We prefer the other letter to be from a health care practitioner (preferably a pharmacist). Up to two additional recommendations may be provided by individuals who can attest to an applicant's abilities and potential to succeed in a Doctor of Pharmacy program. Do not have letters of recommendation or other materials sent directly to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; these materials will not be included in your application file, unless there are special circumstances.

English language testing (TOEFL or IELTS) is required for all applicants who: (a) Completed the pre-requisite coursework in a country where English is not the primary language of instruction, OR (b) Are non-native English speakers who have resided in a country, where English is the primary language, for less than 10 years, UNLESS the applicant has earned or is degree pending (will have earned by anticipated matriculation date) a bachelor's degree or graduate degree following three or more years of campus-based post-secondary instruction in the United States. Additional information can be found here.

Work in a pharmacy is not required, however, qualified applicants with pharmacy work experience are preferred for admission. If you do not have pharmacy work experience, you may want to consider volunteering at a free clinic or hospital, shadowing a pharmacist, and/or participating in a pharmacy internship.

To learn more, please contact Lori Berg, Director of Admissions, Health Professions at (413) 796-2073 or lori.berg@wne.edu or Paula Geddis, Assistant Director of Admissions for Health Professional Programs at (413) 796-2528 or paula.geddis@wne.edu.