About
The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences offers a graduate-level pharmacy program culminating in the professional degree of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). This program prepares graduates with the professional competencies for entry-level pharmacy practice in any setting; to ensure optimal medication therapy outcomes, patient safety, and patient-centered team-based care; and satisfies the educational requirements for licensure as a pharmacist. Binghamton University’s PharmD program develops caring professionals with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required for the ethical and effective practice of pharmacy. The PharmD program has three objectives:
- to educate skilled pharmacists to serve their communities with competence and compassion and in an ethical manner
- to promote public health by educating pharmacists to provide drug information and education
- to develop skills in pharmacy management, medication distribution and control, and in counseling of patients on medications.
The Binghamton University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences PharmD program has been granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 2850, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-664-3575; FAX 866-228-2631; www.acpe-accredit.org.
On Dec. 13, 2016, the New York State Board of Regents authorized Binghamton University to award the PharmD degree. The NYS Education Department reviewed the program and registered it for professional purposes on Feb. 6, 2017. The program’s registration was renewed by the NYS Education Department on June 25, 2018. The renewed registration remains in effect until Sept. 1, 2019, after which date registration was extended annually until the department’s next review and a class had graduated. A review was conducted in spring 2021, and the school graduated its first class in May 2021. The school was awarded accreditation in June 2021.
The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences also offers a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in pharmaceutical sciences.
The Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences will train students in the use, development and implementation of emerging technologies to advance research in the fields of pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences. Students in the program will gain the essential strategic, intellectual and technical skills necessary to enter careers in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies and academia in New York State and beyond. The program will educate the next generation of scientists to be well-versed in emerging areas of drug target discovery, drug testing and drug delivery, and will prepare graduates for careers in a variety of scientific fields and healthcare leadership positions. The MS program is focused on foundational and technical knowledge to prepare students with workforce-ready skills. The final semester of the one-and-a-half year MS program allows for a research project, internship and/or elective coursework, depending on the availability of placements and students’ interests. The PhD program is interdisciplinary with strong research and resource capabilities, where students can learn from laboratories and faculty members in many different areas. It consists of foundational courses in the first year followed by more specialized teaching in the second year. The remaining years of the program are dedicated to mentored research, culminating in a doctoral dissertation. Specific training in experimental design and scientific communication takes place throughout the PhD program duration, which typically takes five years for completion.
Admissions
PharmD Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program is via the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS; http://pharmcas.org). Applicants must complete at least two years of study at a regionally accredited college or university (or an equivalent institution) to enroll. All prerequisite courses (see below) must be completed by the time of matriculation, with grades of “C-” or better prior to enrollment. Prerequisites must be completed within seven years preceding matriculation. Exceptions may be considered upon review of an applicant’s full application. There is no overall minimum GPA. A preferred minimum GPA of 2.75 is recommended for all prerequisite courses.
The admission process is holistic and will consider a variety of factors including academic record, intellectual achievements, extracurricular activities and personal background rather than be solely based on GPA. Attendance at an interview on-site or remotely is required. Additional consideration will be given to those with community service, patient care, pharmacy, and/or military experience. The Admissions Committee consisting of faculty and current students makes all admissions decisions after reviewing the candidate’s application materials and interviewer feedback. The school focuses on maintaining a culturally diverse student population.
The PharmCAS application for admission includes the following:
- PharmCAS application fee
- Biographical data
- Post-secondary institutions attended
- Academic course history
- Work experience
- Extracurricular activities
- Personal statement
- Official transcripts from all accredited United States institutions attended and
- WES transcripts from foreign institutions of higher education
- Two letters of recommendation
MS and PhD Requirements
All students entering the graduate programs in pharmaceutical sciences must satisfy the general conditions and procedures for admission to the Graduate School as stated in the Admission section of this publication
Although each applicant is considered on an individual basis, the general admissions criteria are:
- All students applying to the pharmaceutical sciences graduate programs are to submit their application materials through the Graduate School, including an application form, transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores (as applicable), two letters of recommendation and a personal statement.
- Students must hold a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) before they may enter the MS or PhD graduate program.
- Degree must have been earned from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university 12 or more credits in higher level chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physiology, pharmacology or related areas. All students need to have basic introductory coursework in chemistry.
- Students are expected to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, with a science GPA being 3.0 or above.
- Cumulative verbal and quantitative GRE scores are not required. However, students are free to submit GRE scores if they feel it would be beneficial to their application (good scores are expected to be above 300).
- International students must submit one of the following proof of English proficiency scores to be considered for admission: TOEFL (≥ 100) or IELTS (≥ 6.5) or PTE (≥ 53) or Academic/Duolingo (≥ 105).
- The Pharmaceutical Sciences Admission Committee, composed of 5 faculty including a chair, will conduct on-site interviews for pre-selected Binghamton and regional MS and PhD applicants, and remote interviews for national and international applicants.
Below is information for all of the School of academic programs.