Doctor of Pharmacy

Admission

We’re looking for driven students who are passionate about healthcare and ready to make a difference. Whether you’re entering from high school, or transferring from URI or another college, or looking to advance your career, we’re thrilled to have you consider joining our community.  

Our candidates come from diverse academic backgrounds, typically with an interest in science and mathematics, and a passion for engaging in transformative healthcare practices. Regardless of your background, we are here to support you through the process and help you succeed in our program. We have two entry paths:

  1. High School Admission: Start as a freshman, complete the first two years of pre-professional study, and transition directly into the Professional Years of our Pharm.D. program. Applicants to the PharmD program must complete 18 units of high school preparatory work, including English, math, science, history, and foreign language courses. The Admissions Office considers academic performance, standardized test scores, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. During the sophomore year, students must complete a formal interview to assess their commitment to the pharmacy profession. We encourage you to submit your application materials by the Early Action deadline. The Admission Office makes every effort to notify pharmacy applicants of their admission status by January 31.
  2. Enter the First Professional Program Year: Professional applicants may seek direct admission to our Professional Program if you:
  • Already have a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. accredited institution.
  • Have completed, or have in progress, the required coursework at another university.
  • Are interested in applying as a transfer applicant from another University of Rhode Island college.

We strongly encourage you to complete your application by March 1 to ensure you have time for interviews. The official deadline is June 1. We utilize the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)—a centralized application system. You can learn more about our program requirements on our PharmCAS Directory page.

In addition to the academic requirements, students must be able to meet the requirements for a pharmacy intern license and certain introductory and advanced practice sites also require you to undergo a criminal background check and submit to drug testing. Students are expected to meet the technical standards and adhere to the professional standards of behavior.

Ready to Take the Next Step?
Contact Denise Gorenski, Assistant Dean, to start your URI journey today.