Early Acceptance Program Between Viterbo University and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Pharmacy

This agreement is a unique partnership between the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and Viterbo University that provides a direct route for full-time Viterbo students to gain direct admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy program at LECOM. The Early Acceptance Program (EAP) is designed to facilitate the admission of Viterbo students into LECOM’s School of Pharmacy.

The EAP is offered at Viterbo in two tracks: the 4+ track and the 3+ track.

Early Acceptance Doctor of Pharmacy Program (4+)

The 4+ track is the recommended track for most students. It is comprised of two phases. Phase I consists of four years of undergraduate education at Viterbo. Phase II consists of three years of pharmacy school education at LECOM’s Erie campus or four years of pharmacy school education at the Bradenton campus and their associated clinical training sites.

A student interested in the 4+ track may apply to enroll as part of their application to Viterbo University but must be enrolled in the program and interviewed prior to starting their third year of study at Viterbo University.

General requirements for 4+ track and early admission

• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 in all courses taken at Viterbo
• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in all science courses taken at Viterbo
• Earn a C or better in all courses taken at Viterbo
• Successful interview with LECOM admissions personnel while enrolled at Viterbo
• Satisfy all remaining requirements outlined by the Viterbo Pre-health Committee and LECOM admissions

Early Acceptance Doctor of Pharmacy Program (3+)

The 3+ track allows students to obtain a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in biology or biochemistry  from Viterbo and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Pharm.D. from LECOM in seven years (3+4). It is comprised of two phases. Phase I consists of three years of undergraduate education at Viterbo. Phase II consists of three years of pharmacy school education at LECOM’s Erie campus or four years of pharmacy school education at the Bradenton campus and their associated clinical training sites. This is accomplished through “reverse transfer” of LECOM coursework to fulfill some requirements for the B.S. degree at Viterbo. See sample four-year academic plans.

A student interested in the 3+ track should apply to enroll in the program as part of their application to Viterbo University but must be enrolled in the program and interviewed prior to starting their second year at Viterbo.

General requirements for 3+ track and early admission

• Major in biology or biochemistry
• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4 in all courses taken at Viterbo
• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in all science courses taken at Viterbo
• Earn a C or better in all courses taken at Viterbo
• Successful interview with LECOM admissions personnel while enrolled at Viterbo
• Satisfy all remaining requirements outlined by the Viterbo Pre-health Committee and LECOM admissions

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.