Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy is proud to partner with Viterbo University to offer a Pharmacy Assurance Pathway into the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program at Concordia, giving Viterbo students a clear pathway through the PharmD application and admission process.

Pharmacy Assurance Pathway Requirements

Viterbo students who are on the Assurance Pathway and wish to pursue a PharmD degree are guaranteed an interview if they meet the following criteria:

• Majoring in biology or biochemistry at Viterbo University
• Successful completion (C or better) of pre-pharmacy coursework
• Minimum cumulative college GPA of 2.75
• Minimum cumulative composite PCAT score of 35
• Submission of the PharmCAS application no later than June 1

Concordia University will offer at least 10 seats each year to Viterbo students provided they are successful in the PharmD admissions process.

Pharmacy Assurance Pathway Benefits to Students

Viterbo students who pursue the Pharmacy Assurance Pathway to Concordia’s School of Pharmacy will benefit from:

• A course equivalency guide that provides easy navigation of pre-pharmacy coursework that can be completed at Viterbo
• An admission counselor at Concordia University who will work with Viterbo students to ensure they are competitive through the admission process
• Early consideration for admission through the early decision admission option*
• Preferred enrollment with an admission decision by October, if applying early decision*
• No tuition deposit required, if offered admission through early decision*

*Effective in the 2021–2022 admissions cycle, early decision will no longer be offered as an option in PharmCAS. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the admissions cycle to improve their chances for admission.

How Does It Work?

Viterbo students who wish to pursue the Pharmacy Assurance Pathway to Concordia’s PharmD program will declare this pathway with their Viterbo advisor. The advisor will notify Concordia of the student’s desire to pursue the Pharmacy Assurance Pathway, connecting the student with the School of Pharmacy’s admission counselor. The student will take all of the required pre-pharmacy courses at Viterbo to stay on track for admission eligibility.

• In the summer before beginning the application process to pharmacy school, the student will take the PCAT. Students must take the July PCAT to receive early decision consideration.
• In the fall one year prior to the intended year of enrollment, the student will apply via PharmCAS, selecting the “Early Decision” option to receive early consideration for admission. Example: students intending to enroll in pharmacy school in fall 2021 will begin the application process in fall 2020.
• Students who meet the Assurance Pathway requirements will be invited on campus for an interview.
• Qualified applicants who apply early decision will be offered preferred consideration with an admission decision by October, nearly one year before the student intends to enroll.

Viterbo Pre-Pharmacy Coursework

All accepted students must complete the 64 credits of pre-pharmacy requirements before starting the PharmD program. To also complete a Viterbo degree, students must earn a minimum of 120 credits and meet all major and university graduation requirements. Many applicants are completing the pre-pharmacy requirements during the application process. All pre-pharmacy requirements must be completed with a grade of C or better. Advanced Placement (AP) courses taken in high school may be used to fulfill pre-pharmacy requirements.

About Pharmacy

From the Viterbo University Pre-Health Advising handbook:
Pharmacists are an integral part of the primary health care system. They educate patients about different medications and serve to ensure safe administration of drugs. Pharmacists also serve to advise other healthcare providers about drug treatment plans, monitor drug therapy, and they may do research and clinical studies.  A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) completes a four-year program. A majority of graduates work in community pharmacy or in large retail pharmacy. However, pharmacists may also choose from many specialized fields and/or perform clinical research.  Most pharmacy schools require the PCAT for admission.  Typical admissions averages for pharmacy range greater by school than others and data on GPA and the PCAT can be found at AACP (see below).  However, typical admissions averages for high-quality programs in the Midwest include a mean overall GPA: ~3.4-3.5 and percentile scores on the PCAT of greater than 75%.  Other (often newer) programs may allow lower GPAs and PCAT scores. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that the profession will grow by 6% from 2016–2026. Updated job outlook data can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) provides information on application requirements, descriptions of careers, and programs in the U.S.