The admission requirements for CCSP will be consistent with the standards established by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Students interested in a Doctorate of Pharmacy must select the appropriate classes at their undergraduate institution. Careful program planning is critical in order to select the appropriate classes and complete prepharmacy requirements in a timely manner. It is strongly recommended that students seek regular advising through their prepharmacy or major advisor, since requirements/standards at professional schools occasionally change. Please note that as the Central California School of Pharmacy and the faculty take shape, changes may be made to better serve the students, or in response to the needs of the community.

Accreditation requires approval by ACPE on a national level and regional accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).  

Entering class: The Pharmacy School will prepare 70 talented and eligible students for admission to and completion of a 3-year Pharmacy doctoral-degree program during the first year of operation. An additional 85 students will be enrolled in the second year. And an additional 120 students will be enrolled in the third year. By spring of 2014, CCSP will award between 120 and 210 Doctor of Pharmacy degrees, directly contributing to the local need for pharmacists as well as to the growing demand nationally. 

PREREQUISITES
A Bachelor’s Degree is not required for admission, but is highly recommended. An individual may enter our program after successful completion of the prerequisite courses; however, preference may be given to those candidates possessing a Baccalaureate Degree at the time of application.

In order to enroll in CCSP, applicants must have successfully completed at least 60 credit hours of pre-pharmacy course work from an accredited college or university in the United States or the equivalent. 

The following prerequisite core courses are required:

• General Chemistry with lab I and II with 4 semester hours each
• Organic Chemistry with lab I and II with 4 semester hours each
• Calculus I with 3 semester hours
• Human Anatomy with 3 semester hours
• Biology with 3 semester hours
• General Physics with lab I and II with 4 semester hours each
• English Composition I with 3 semester hours
• Speech with 3 semester hours
• Economics with 3 semester hours
• Statistics with 3 semester hours

Admission will be based on many factors, including an applicant’s cumulative GPA, course load, communication skills, extracurricular activities, community involvement, pharmacy or other health-care related experiences, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and personal interview. The applicant will be required to interview prior to admission. The personal interview is an important component of the admissions process. Click here to view Interview Schedule.

Pharmacy experience and prior degrees are not required, but may support the candidacy of the applicant. Biology and Chemistry are the most compatible majors with the pre-pharmacy requirements; however, any major is acceptable provided that the required prerequisite courses are completed. To learn more, visit the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy at www.aacp.org.

If you reside in the area California State University, Fresno offers a pre-pharmacy program.

Visit www.csufresno.edu/chemistry/undergrad/prepharm.shtml for more information.

SUCCESS
Success is defined as a minimum cumulative grade point of 2.75 or above on a 4-point scale to be eligible for admission. A grade of “C” or better in all prepharmacy courses is required. Reading and conversational English competency must be demonstrated with a “B” or “A” grade in English Composition or a score of 550 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be earned. The Pharmacy Admission Test (PCAT) is not required.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
CCSP requires specific immunizations, or proof of immunity, for all admitted students prior to their first term of enrollment. No student enrolled at CCSP will be allowed to begin classes unless they have provided verification that they meet the vaccination and immunity requirements of our school. All students will be required to purchase or maintain a health insurance policy for the duration of enrollment. For the safety of all students and for the safety of your patients, there will be no exceptions to these rules.