... FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.
As the need for compounding products has decreased over the years, pharmacists have moved from a drug focus to a patient-centered approach in healthcare. The West Virginia University School of Pharmacy has evolved to meet the current and future roles of pharmacists. We provide student pharmacists with critical thinking and problem-solving skills; hands-on learning to apply new knowledge based on cutting-edge pharmaceutical, social and clinical research; and collaboration with other health professionals to optimize patient care.
Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals. They provide patients with safe, effective medications and expertise on how to use them for optimal health and well-being. Pharmacy is a diverse and gratifying profession with opportunities for patient care, scientific research and innovation. It is consistently ranked as one of the most financially rewarding careers.
$128,570
Average annual salary for 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Pharmacy Careers
Community Pharmacy
Hospital Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Veterinary Pharmacy
Nuclear Pharmacy
Academia
Home Healthcare Pharmacy
Long-Term Care Pharmacy
Government / Federal Pharmacy
Mail Service Pharmacy
Managed Care Pharmacy
Specialty Pharmacy
OUR LEGACY
For more than 107 years, WVU has been the leader in pharmacy education in West Virginia. Our PharmD Program and faculty are renowned for their innovation in clinical practice and research.
We are TOP RANKED by U.S. News & World Report.
#1 in West Virginia
Among the TOP 25% of pharmacy schools in the country.
National AWARDWINNING FACULTY
and students
7:1 student-to-faculty ratio
Ranked in the TOP 10% of U.S. pharmacy schools for residency placement
91% FIRSTTIME NAPLEX PASS RATE (three-year average)
More than 95% ON-TIME GRADUATION RATE annually ONE OF ONLY 24 schools of pharmacy with a comprehensive academic health sciences center and an integrated health center
$190,000+ AWARDED in School of Pharmacy scholarships each year
printer to create a customized medication for patients who have trouble swallowing multiple tablets or capsules. Her passion for research earned her first place in the WVU Launch Lab Women’s Pitch Competition.
used a
PharmD student Courtney Burgazli 3DYOUR PATH TO A PHARMD
Direct Admit Pathway (DAP)
is an early assurance program for high-achieving high school students who wish to pursue their PharmD*.
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
The WVU SOP has a “2+4” program with at least two years of prerequisite coursework focused in the sciences required for admission to the four-year PharmD.
REQUIREMENTS
High school graduating GPA ≥3.5
ACT math score ≥ 26 or SAT math score ≥ 610
-orALEKS placement in Math 150, 153 and 154, or 155 and Chem 115 or transferable math credit for College Calculus 1
Apply to WVU as a pre-pharmacy major
*Students who do not meet these requirements may pursue their prerequisites through the Healthcare Pathways with Pharmacy Interest major.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisite coursework
PharmCAS application
Personal statement
Three letters of recommendation (one from a faculty instructor plus two others)
PCAT optional
ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM
Interview invitation upon competitive application evaluation
Notification of admission 5-10 days post-interview
REQUIRED PREREQUISITE COURSES
Biochemistry
Calculus I
English Composition I
English Composition 2
General Biology I and Lab
General Biology II and Lab
General Chemistry I and Lab
General Chemistry II and Lab
Microbiology
Microeconomics
Organic Chemistry I and Lab
Organic Chemistry II and Lab
Physiology
Public Speaking Statistics
University Orientation
GEF #5: Human Inquiry & The Past
GEF #6: The Arts & Creativity
GEF #7: Global Studies & Diversity
AREAS OF EMPHASIS
Areas of emphasis allow pharmacy students to tailor their interests to their degree and increase their marketability.
COLLEGE TEACHING IN PHARMACY
TRANSLATIONAL PHARMACY RESEARCH
GLOBAL HEALTH FOR PHARMACY
GERIATRIC PHARMACY
ADVANCED CLINICAL PHARMACY
PHARMD/MBA DUAL DEGREE
AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS
225 Students Enrolled
44% Non-Resident Students
MICHELLE GROSE, P3 STUDENT
Grose received the 2022 Gateway to Research award for her depression research. She is one of 29 students in the country to receive the award. Customizing her PharmD experience with an Area of Emphasis in Translational Pharmacy Research allows Grose to explore a specialized area of pharmacy that interests her without adding additional coursework or semesters.
MIRANDA MOSER, P4 STUDENT
Moser is one of four students in the country to receive the 2022 American Pharmacists Association - Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP)
Student Leadership Award. The award, established in 1983, recognizes outstanding academic achievement and leadership ability in APhA-ASP at the local, regional and national levels of students who are in their next-to-last year of pharmacy school.
56% West Virginians
12 Professional Student Organizations
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
INTRODUCTORY PHARMACY PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (IPPE)
IPPEs allow pharmacy students to begin exploring the profession during the three didactic years of the curriculum.
IPPE Year 1 Focus - Career Exploration +
Community Practice
IPPE Year 2 Focus - Community Outreach +
Institutional Pharmacy
IPPE Year 3 Focus - Acute + Ambulatory Care
ADVANCED PHARMACY PRACTICE EXPERIENCE (APPE)
APPEs are completed in the final year of pharmacy school and consist of eight five-week rotation blocks. Each block provides experience in a different type of pharmacy practice, including two electives.
“We were in Oman during Ramadan, so we learned about Muslim patients and fasting. It can be clinically challenging to help a patient who is following their religious beliefs. But I’m more confident in my ability to do so now.”
Emery Smith, PharmD, ’22APPE locations throughout West Virginia:
Pharmacy Northern Region Experiential Learning
Pharmacy Southern Region Experiential Learning
Rural Health — Alaska and Indian Health Services
National — varied locations
International — Oman, South Africa, Brazil and Thailand
Faculty: Making a Real-Life Impact
DR. MARINA GALVEZ-PARALTA
Dr. Galvez-Paralta developed and now leads a simulation that provides healthcare students an opportunity to experience the cultural realities, access barriers, stigmatization and other challenges that minority and marginalized American populations face when seeking care.
Dr. Capehart, a national awardwinning professor, led the efforts for the COVID vaccine rollout in West Virginia and appeared as a COVID expert in several publications in addition to national news broadcasts.
Dr. Garofoli is a certified pain educator and conducts presentations across the country about pain management, substance-use disorder, drug diversion and illicit substances. In January 2023, the Pharmacy Podcast Network named him one of the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy.
DR. WERNER GELDENHUYS
Dr. Geldenhuys’ research is focused on neuroscience and strives to discover new treatments to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke.
DR. KRISTA CAPEHART DR. MARK GAROFOLIPHARMACY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The Pharmacy Skills Development Center is 7,650 square feet of fully renovated space located on the third floor of the Health Sciences Center North. The Center serves as the handson, application-based learning core of the School.
Students receive certifications during the PharmD Program while applying practical skills in the classroom.
Immunization
Patient-Centered Diabetes Care
Medication Therapy Management
Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist
Student pharmacists learn blood glucose testing in the compounding lab.
Students learn to take blood pressure in the lab debrief room.
Our students are introduced to prescription verification and processing skills in the spring semester of their P1 year in the prescription processing/ telepharmacy room.
WVU SIMULATION CENTER
The David and Jo Ann Shaw Center for Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety (WV STEPS) offers students the ability to practice a variety of analytical, diagnostic and communication skills in a simulated environment with lifelike manikins that range from infancy to adulthood and real-life mock patients in the standardized patient program.
“Throughout our schooling, we are taught information about medications and how to communicate our knowledge to patients, but having the chance to work with standardized patients allows us to practice. We can put faces and lives to the concepts we learn, which is an important reminder that at the end of the day, we are rooted in patient care and doing all we can for real patients.”
Clara Lukomski Pharmacy StudentINTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION (IPE)
The WVU Health Sciences Center fosters growth and collaboration as a healthcare team and community from the time a student begins the PharmD Program.
Our expansive academic health center includes:
School of Pharmacy
School of Medicine
School of Nursing
School of Public Health
School of Dentistry
“Healthcare is a team approach. We are teaching our health profession students how they will work with each other to help their patients in the future. I enjoy working with our WVU Health Sciences students and creating programs that will make them successful practitioners.”
Dr. Gina Baugh Clinical Professor and Director of IPPEWVU MEDICINE J.W. RUBY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
COMPREHENSIVE, STATE-OF-THE-ART PHARMACY SERVICES
Acute care pharmacists integrated on over 35 inpatient medical teams
Ambulatory care pharmacists in outpatient clinics, including heart failure, internal medicine, cystic fibrosis, oncology, anticoagulation, infectious diseases and family medicine
Paid pharmacy internships available beginning summer before P1 year
Inpatient Pharmacy
Outpatient Pharmacy
20 pharmacy residency positions in
Ambulatory Care
Cardiology
Critical Care
Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Oncology
Longitudinal track APPE Rotations
Critical Care
Pediatrics
Oncology
Cardiology
Ambulatory Care
Pharmacy Administration
Retail and Specialty Pharmacy
Infectious Diseases
Organ Transplant
A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND LEARN.
Founded in 1867, WVU is a public landgrant university. WVU students hail from 112 nations and 49 states (plus D.C.) This blend of cultures and the great relationship between the University and the city of Morgantown help students discover new ideas and experience a sense of community.
R1 RESEARCH CAMPUS
The highest research category described by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
WEST VIRGINIA
Our region’s natural beauty is famous, and people around the world sing “take me home, country roads.” West Virginia is called the Mountain State for a reason — mountains are (literally) a big part of who we are. When we see a mountain, we start planning how to climb it.
Beautiful spots to enjoy camping, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding and world-class whitewater are nearby.
West Virginia boasts 35 state parks, 9 state forests, 3 national forests — plus New River Gorge, one of America’s newest national parks; the Gauley River National Recreation Area; and a portion of the Appalachian Trail.
Morgantown has miles of riverside trails for cycling, running or roller skating right by campus.
PROXIMITY TO MAJOR CITIES
DRIVING TIMES
Pittsburgh, PA — 1.5 hours
Columbus, OH — 3 hours
Washington, D.C. — 3.5 hours
Richmond, VA — 5 hours
Cincinnati, OH — 5 hours
Philadelphia, PA — 5 hours
Indianapolis, IN — 5.75 hours
New York, NY — 6 hours