Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has been committed to advancing the fields of medicine and health care with a deep-rooted history dating back to 1881. The College’s two campuses are both unique in their own respect—the Albany, New York campus being the most established of its kind in the state, and the Colchester, Vermont campus being the only college of pharmacy in all of Vermont. The Albany campus offers its flagship Doctor of Pharmacy program, as well as five Master of Science degree options, while the Vermont campus is home to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, along with the M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Students may seek professional licensure through the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, M.S. in Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology, or M.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Students looking to expand their research in one of our thesis-based programs may do so through our M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, M.S. in Molecular Biosciences, or M.S. in Health Outcomes & Informatics. All programs provide excellent preparation for graduates to seek employment, continue on to a Ph.D., or explore professional and medical school opportunities.

Programs

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)

As the leading health care authorities on medication, pharmacists play essential roles in many aspects of patient care, including counseling patients, providing immunizations, and consulting with other members of the health care team.

Whether you attend classes on the Albany Campus or the Vermont Campus, the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at ACPHS prepares you to work in a range of health care settings, giving you the ability to connect your professional and personal interests into a rewarding career.

One of the things that makes our Pharm.D. program special is the breadth and depth of our faculty. The faculty at the College specialize in areas that include oncology, pediatrics, nutrition, psychiatrics, infectious disease, geriatrics, health outcomes, nephrology, cardiology, and more. Whatever your interest in pharmacy, there is a good chance we have a faculty member who is an expert in that area. 

Clinical Laboratory Sciences

Focuses on the analysis of patient specimens to diagnose and monitor diseases

2-year program; first year coursework, second year clinical rotations

Capstone project required

We have had a 100% pass rate on the licensure exam as well as a 100% placement rate for jobs for the last 4 years.

Offered on Albany, NY campus only

Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology

Uses microscopy to detect changes in cellular preparations from all body sites for early diagnosis of cancer, precancerous changes and infections

18-month program; first year and first summer session coursework, second summer and final semester clinical rotations

Capstone project required

We have had a 100% pass rate on licensure exam as well as a 100% placement rate for jobs for the last 4 years.

Offered on Albany, NY campus only

Health Outcomes & Informatic

Trains students for evaluating economic, clinical and humanistic outcomes of patient healthcare

2-year program; 36 credits; students may pursue a thesis or non-thesis option

Offered on Albany, NY campus only

Molecular Biosciences

Trains scientists in the molecular mechanisms of human biology and disease

2-year program; 36 credits

Thesis required

Offered on Albany, NY campus only

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Educates students in the scientific disciplines for discovery, development and evaluation of drugs and pharmaceutical products

2-year program; 33 credits

Thesis or non-thesis option

Offered on Albany, NY and Colchester, VT campuses

Admission and Financial Aid

Students applying to the Cytotechnology and Molecular Cytology or Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs may do so via AHCAS. To apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy, students must use the PharmCAS application.  Molecular Biosciences, Health Outcomes & Informatics and Pharmaceutical Sciences programs must use the PharmGrad application. Students looking to apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy program must meet the pre-requisite coursework and are required have taken or be scheduled to take the PCAT. Students seeking entry to the M.S. programs should have a minimum of a B.A. or B.S. in an appropriate discipline and are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges attended, official GRE scores (general test only), a personal essay, and a minimum of two letters of recommendation. International students must also submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores and official WES or ECE evaluations of all non-U.S. transcripts. Deadlines to apply vary by program and may be found at www.acphs.edu/apply. MS degree seeking students should contact the Office of Graduate Studies for more information at: 518-694-7130 or graduate@acphs.edu.  Doctor of Pharmacy applicants should contact the Office of Admissions at 518-694-7221 or admissions@acphs.edu.   

ACPHS offers graduate students a number of different ways to help pay for their education and invest in their future. Students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program may benefit from scholarships, grants, and loans, while MS degree students may earn tuition scholarships, teaching assistantships, or support from research graduate faculty through research contracts. Graduate students should consult with their thesis advisors to determine if such funding is available. International students are eligible for all awards unless research funding specifically requires U.S. citizenship. All awards are based on academic merit. The Office of Financial Aid may be contacted at (518) 694-7256 or financial_aid@acphs.edu.

Experiential Education, Research and Clinical Affiliates

With both campuses located in or around health care neighborhoods, students have ample opportunities to complete their experiential education locally or, if they choose, nationally and internationally.

Students in research-based programs work directly with faculty research mentors on projects of mutual interest in well-equipped, modern labs and, because of our small size, are able to get the time and attention needed for in-depth experimentation and modeling.

We work with nearly 40 different sites around the country in order to offer the students in our clinical programs a wide range of opportunities for their hands-on clinical training. Some of our partners include Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners, Duke University Hospital Laboratory, Baystate Medical Center, Yale University Medical Center, and Long Island Jewish Hospital, along with sites in both Colorado and California.

Alumni

With over 7,000 alumni currently in the profession, we are proud of the generations of graduates responsible for advancing the fields of medicine and health care. Many students continue their studies in doctoral programs at universities such as Tufts University, Albany Medical College, University of Iowa, Rutgers University, and the University of Colorado at Denver. Students also find employment at companies like Bristol-Myers Squibb, Regeneron, and Albany Molecular Research Inc.; agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Forensics Division of the New York State Police; and hospitals and labs, including Northeast Health, Southeast Georgia Health Systems, Cleveland Clinic, and Bassett Healthcare Network.