The UTEP Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree requires at least 2-years of pre-professional (undergraduate) coursework followed by a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program designed to prepare students to provide pharmacy practice and patient-centered care to an underserved US-Mexico border region with a critical need for increased public access to quality pharmaceutical care. The PharmD degree will prepare students to practice pharmacy in contemporary settings, such as community or hospital pharmacies, primary care clinics, long-term care facilities, and the pharmaceutical industry.  To prepare pharmacists to meet the health needs and challenges of a 21st century population, the PharmD curriculum aligns and integrates pharmaceutical sciences (e.g. medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics), patient care, pharmacy practice, pharmacy administration, social sciences, technical Spanish for the pharmacy professional, and an extensive experiential education program that will provide students with the necessary foundational knowledge and contemporary practice skills for pharmacists.

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Accreditation Status

The University of Texas as El Paso Doctor of Pharmacy program has been granted Candidate Status by 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.

Precandidate status denotes a developmental program that is expected to mature in accord with stated plans and within a defined time period.  Precandidate 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 school to admit its first class.  Candidate 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.  Accredited 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 status have the same rights and privileges of those graduates from an accredited program.  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.  

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are designed to ensure academic success in the professional Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.

• Preferred minimum overall GPA: 2.75
• Preferred minimum Math and Science GPA: 3.2
• Preferred PCAT Composite Score: 40%
• Prerequisite Coursework: It is highly recommended that applicants take required courses in science and math within seven years of applying for admission to pharmacy school.
• Summer courses before enrollment: All prerequisite courses should be completed by the end of the Summer semester prior to matriculation into the PharmD program.  All prerequisites must be completed with a C or better.  Submission of final official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended is required prior to enrollment.
• GPA Calculations: GPA for cumulative and science/math grades are calculated using a four-point scale.  An A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0.  Grades with pluses or minuses will be converted to the corresponding A, B, C or D letter grades.  Course grades indicating a failure, e.g., an F, no credit (NC), will be calculated as an “F” in the GPA calculations.   Repeated Coursework: Applicants may retake any prerequisite course. The SoP will calculate the most recent grade in a course, if it is repeated, towards the GPA. PCAT: Applicants should take the PCAT within the last 24 months of applying. Meet Professional Technical Standards for Admission, Matriculation, and Graduation: The Professional Technical Standards are established by the SOP based on the physical and mental attributes required of applicants to function competently as a pharmacist upon graduation..  Students with disabilities are welcome to apply and consult with the Director of Student Affairs and the Center for Accommodation and Support Services regarding accommodations that may be available to meet the Professional Technical Standards. 
• Eligibility for Admission to UTEP: Admission to the SOP is contingent on admission to UTEP.  For example, students that have been barred from applying to UTEP or who are ineligible for readmission to UTEP will not be considered for admission to the School of Pharmacy. 
• Official U.S. Transcripts: Must be submitted with application.
• Foreign transcripts: Transcripts not in English or Spanish must have an official evaluation by WES to be accepted. Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) letters of recommendation must be submitted along with the application. These letters should discuss the applicant’s professional career, communication skills, academic aptitude, and service/civic experiences.  Letters of recommendation from family members and friends should not be submitted. It is strongly suggested that at one letter be from a faculty member (all disciplines accepted, but a science faculty member is preferred), or healthcare professional. Supplemental Application (Personal Statement):  A supplemental personnel statement is submitted to PharmCAS.  The vision of the UTEP School of Pharmacy is to be a pioneer of excellence in pharmacy education for Innovation, Diversity, Engagement, Access, and Leadership (IDEAL). Students should tell how they meet the IDEAL through their education, in their professional involvement, and/or in their own personal life. The student should explain how they see themselves continuing, developing, and/or sharpening their IDEAL talents, skills, and service during the Doctor of Pharmacy education and as a graduate of the School of Pharmacy. This statement is the student’s opportunity to share more about themselves– to describe how their hopes, ambitions, life experiences, and/or inspirations have shaped them. They need to remember this personal statement is exactly that – personal. The personal story is an important component of the application and will help put the entire application in context.
• Additional Requirements: Accepted students must comply with all requirements regarding health insurance, Texas State immunization mandates and CDC immunization requirements for healthcare providers, background checks and drug screens prior to enrollment.  Failure to submit any required items for enrollment by the deadline may result in the offer of admission being rescinded.

Recommended Attributes for Application

Competitive candidates, in addition to the required minimum requirements, are recommended to have the following attributes that meet our IDEAL (Innovation, Diversity, Engagement, Access, and Leadership):

• Extracurricular participation and/or leadership
• Experience in health-related fields
• On-going community engagement/service
• Ability to work with diverse populations
• Demonstrated leadership

In a holistic review, other attributes, skills, and experiences may also be considered (for example: research experience, understanding of pharmacy profession, life experiences, empathy, teamwork, work experience).  All applicants are required to have completed at least a semester’s worth of college-level Spanish or equivalent (e.g., coursework, AP credit, UTEP Spanish placement exam). Please note, fulfillment of these recommendations does not guarantee admission into the SOP.

Required Prerequisite Pre-Pharmacy Coursework​​​

See bottom of this page of the School of Pharmacy website for prerequisite list.

Transfer Students

A transfer student is any student who has been enrolled in a professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree program at another college or school of pharmacy.  If a student wishes to transfer into the UTEP School of Pharmacy four-year PharmD degree program from an Accreditation Council of Pharmacy Education accredited pharmacy college or school, the transferring applicant must send a letter of intent to transfer to the Director of Student Affairs of the UTEP School of Pharmacy.  In addition, the transferring applicant must submit a complete PharmCAS application including PCAT scores.  The Director of Student Affairs must also receive a letter from the transferring applicant’s Dean’s Office at the college or school granting approval of the transfer which states that the student is in Good Standing and is eligible to continue or return.

Transfer students must satisfy UTEP School of Pharmacy pre-pharmacy course requirements and admission standards in order to be considered for transfer.  An on campus interview will be required.  If the transfer applicant meets the requirements, after the interview, the Director of Student Affairs will make a recommendation to the Admission Committee for final action.

Because curricula are different between colleges and schools, some credit may not be transferred.  Students may not be eligible for professional year placement/advancement equivalent to their current institution.  In addition, the possibility of transfer depends on the space availability.

Academic Integrity

The University of Texas at El Paso prides itself on its standards of academic excellence.  In all matters of intellectual pursuit, UTEP faculty and students must strive to achieve excellence based on the quality of work produced by the individual.  In the classroom and in all other academic activities, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.  Any form of scholastic dishonesty is an affront to the pursuit of knowledge and jeopardizes the quality of the degree awarded to all graduates of UTEP.  It is imperative, therefore, that the members of this academic community understand the regulations pertaining to academic integrity and that all faculty members insist on adherence to these standards.
Any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is subject to discipline.  Scholastic dishonesty includes is not limited to cheating; plagiarism; collusion; the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for another person; and any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.  Proven violations of the detailed regulations, as printed in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) and available in the UTEP Office of Student Life and the homepage of the Office of Student Life, can result in sanctions ranging from disciplinary probation, to failing a grade on the work in question, to a failing grade in the course, to suspension or dismissal, among others. (See the UTEP School of Pharmacy Student Handbook for further details on academic policies such as remediation and attendance).