Welcome to  South College School of Pharmacy!

We offer an accelerated three year Pharm.D. in beautiful Knoxville,Tennessee.

Each class of student pharmacists start once a year in the summer each June.

South College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian academic institution that has been part of the fabric of Knoxville since 1882. We embrace the higher education mission of teaching, scholarly contribution, and service. Consistant with its long history, South College places primary emphasis on providing quality undergraduate and graduate educational opportunities for the intellectual, social, and professional development of diverse student body. A major strength is our small college environment where individualized attention to student need is provided with a focus on growth, direction, and excellence.

Consistant with the history of South College, the School of Pharmacy Mission is to educate pharmacy students to be highly qualified pharmacy practitioners who will provide competent pharmacy care with advocacy and compassion in order to meet the healthcare needs of individuals and diverse population. In support of this Mission we provide an environment that fosters excellence among pharmacy students and faculty.

The School of Pharmacy campus is in West Knoxville that is equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms and advanced instructional technology tools. Our faculty members are nationally recognized experts in teaching, research and practicing pharmacy. Also supporting our success is the Knoxville area and its robust healthcare institutions and pharmacies where students learn alongside dedicated healthcare professionals.

Admission Requirements

South College School of Pharmacy

• The applicant preferred minimum PharmCAS cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (with a grade of “C” or higher in each course) in the following prerequisite courses at a college or university that is accredited by a regional accreditation agency that is recognized by the United States Department of Education.

General Biology with Lab                       8 semester or 12 quarter hours

Anatomy and Physiology with Lab         8 semester or 12 quarter hours

General Chemistry with Lab                  8 semester or 12 quarter hours

Organic Chemistry with Lab                  8 semester or 12 quarter hours

Microbiology with Lab                            4 semester or 6   quarter hours

Physics with Lab                                    4 semester or 6   quarter hours

Calculus                                                   3 semester or 4   quarter hours

Statistics                                                  3 semester or 4   quarter hours

English Composition                                6 semester or 8   quarter hours

Speech Communication                           3 semester or 4   quarter hours

Economics                                                3 semester or 4   quarter hours

Electives in Humanities¹                         9 semester or 12 quarter hours

Electives in Social/Behavior                   6 semester or 8   quarter hours

                        Sciences²

Total                                                         73 semester or 104 quarter hours

¹  Electives in Humanities include fine arts, literature, philosophy, religious studies, and foreign language.

²  Electives in Social/Behavior Sciences include psychology, history, sociology, anthropology, and political science.

South College School of Pharmacy will not accept as elective courses subjects such as intramural sports, band, and computer sciences.

Additional Studies: Although not required for admission, students may benefit from additional courses in the sciences. The recommended areas of study are Immunology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Medical Terminology, and Pathophysiology

• The applicant must complete the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) within 5 years of application. www.pcatweb.info

.     Applicants whose first language is not English, must demonstrate proficiency in English

      Language by scoring a minimum composite of 80, but 100 or higher is preferred, on the

      Computer based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).

• The applicant must submit three Letters Of Recommendation. One letter must be submitted by the applicant’s pre-professional adviser at the college or university where the applicant completed the pre-pharmacy curriculum or by a faculty member who taught the applicant in the pre-pharmacy curriculum. It is preferred that one letter be submitted by a pharmacist who supervised the applicant in an employee or volunteer capacity. One letter may be submitted by any person chosen by the applicant, except that the letter may not be from a member of the applicant’s family, whether related by blood or marriage.

• The applicant must submit an application for admission through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) conducted by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The applicant must also submit the Supplemental Application containing a series of questions designed to provide the Admissions Committee with a more comprehensive view of the applicant by gathering information that is not contained in the PharmCAS application. The applicant must pay the fees associated with filing of the PharmCAS application and the supplemental application. www.pharmcas.org
• Foreign Applicants MUST be U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents or have an F-1 Visa.

       The applicant must meet the following technical requirements for admission. The technical requirements set forth the non-academic abilities that are considered imperative for students to progress at the level of competence required by the faculty and by ACPE.

▪     Observation. The applicant must possess the ability to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand. Observation requires a functioning level of use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation which is enhanced and supported by a functioning level of use of the other senses.

▪     Communication. The applicant must possess the ability to effectively communicate in both oral and written form and the ability to interpret forms of nonverbal communication.

▪     Motor skill. The applicant must possess the ability to effectively coordinate both gross and fine muscular movement, sustain equilibrium, and have intact functioning of all of the senses. The applicant must possess the ability to maintain postural control and neuromuscular control and possess a level of eye-to-hand coordination that is essential to competently performing pharmacy-based practice skills and tasks.

▪     Intellect. The applicant must be able to think critically and analytically, solve problems, demonstrate reasoning and analysis, and synthesize information in an appropriate manner.

▪     Behavior. The applicant must possess the level of emotion necessary to demonstrate the applicant’s academic abilities, exercise judgment, and complete activities. The applicant must recognize how behavior affects performance and relationships. The applicant must possess the ability to endure the time commitment and stress associated with the pharmacy curriculum and adapt to change. Personal attributes and characteristics, including but not limited to, compassion, empathy, and motivation are essential. Integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, and interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.

▪     Professionalism. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to act with professionalism and integrity in all aspects of the admissions process, and if admitted to the School of Pharmacy, throughout matriculation in the curriculum leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

• The applicant must participate (at the applicant’s expense) in an on-campus interview with representatives of the Admissions Committee of the South College School of Pharmacy. Only those applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission will be granted an invitation to interview, and the interview is not an indication that the applicant will be accepted. Invitations to interview will be determined by the Executive Associate Dean and the Admissions Committee. The process for extending invitations to interview will be from those applicants judged most qualified (based on cumulative grade point average, PCAT score and other measures) to those judged less qualified until the class is admitted. A result of this process is that some applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission may not be extended an invitation to interview. Whether a particular applicant will be invited to interview will be affected by how a particular applicant compares to the other applicants in the pool in each annual admissions cycle. The interview will include an evaluation of verbal communication skills, understanding of the pharmacy profession, and commitment to patient care, among other areas of importance to the School of Pharmacy. 

If the applicant is granted admission to the South College School of Pharmacy, the admission is contingent on the applicant completing the following.

• Provide certification that the applicant has complied with all requirements for admission. Any applicant uncertain as to compliance with all requirements must contact the Executive Associate Dean to verify that compliance has been achieved, or in the alternative, what steps must be taken to achieve compliance.
• Provide all documents that may be required to complete the process for admission to the South College School of Pharmacy.
• Agree to submit fingerprints if requested and necessary information for purposes of completion of a criminal background check.
• Submit deposits by the dates designated. The entire amount is applied toward the tuition for the first quarter, but is forfeited if the student decides to not attend.
• Because PharmCAS does not provide transcripts to the South College School of Pharmacy, the applicant shall request official final transcripts from all college coursework not verifed by PharmCAS.
• Complete a medical file, including a physical examination, obtaining required immunizations and submit proof of medical insurance coverage.
• Sign the Notice of Accreditation Status of the South College School of Pharmacy.
• Sign the authorization form to allow the South College School of Pharmacy to use academic information for assessment and quality improvement.
• Sign the authorization form to allow the South College School of Pharmacy to access national licensing examination scores for assessment and quality improvement.

Failure to comply with any of the above requirements will result in the applicant forfeiting the applicant’s place in the class.

ACCREDITATION

ACPE accreditation status - FULL ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredits Doctor of Pharmacy programs offered by Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy in the United States.

Please refer to www.acpe-accredit.org for more information.