Mary Hildebrand, Coordinator
Phone: (540) 568-6652
Email: pph@jmu.edu
Declaring Pre-Pharmacy (Admission Standards)
Incoming first year and transfer students can declare pre-pharmacy without verification from PPH Advising. After initial enrollment, current students can request to declare the pre-pharmacy minor through My Madison but will need approval for the request to be granted. If the student has completed fewer than 10 hours of foundational science credits in the pre-pharmacy minor, the request will be granted after verification of course work. If the student has completed 10 or more hours of foundational science credits, the request will be granted if the science GPA is 2.50 or greater.
Access to Pre-Pharmacy Advising (Progression Standards)
Once students have completed 10 hours of foundational biology, chemistry, and physics (BCP) science coursework, they become subject to twice yearly review of their academic progress. Performance queries will be conducted after summer and fall semester grades are posted. If the review indicates successful progress (meeting the standard of a 2.50 BCP GPA), they will be invited to participate in formal advising activities. Topics include learning about different pharmacy schools, strategies for fulfilling non-academic requirements and recommendations (shadowing, volunteering, research, and pharmacy tech certification).
Pre-pharmacy students who fall below the standard of a 2.50 BCP science GPA are at high risk of not being admitted to a pharmacy school. Targeted advising for these students focuses on strengthening academic skills as well as career exploration. If a student falls below the standard in a subsequent performance review, they will be administratively dropped from the pre-pharmacy minor. This action will not impede a student from applying to pharmacy schools, nor will it have an impact on a student’s degree program as the pre-pharmacy program is not a major.
Students who wish to re-enter the pre-pharmacy program may do so as long as they meet the science GPA standard (2.50 BCP science GPA).
Additional Information
Pre-professional health programs do not ensure that all prerequisites for admission to health professions schools are met. Students should inquire with pharmacy schools of interest to confirm details of admission requirement.
Return to: