Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

General Information
One of the nation’s leading pharmacy schools, the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, offers a rigorous six-year pharmacy program at a major research university centrally located in the Northeast metropolitan corridor. Students enjoy challenging academics, close mentorship from a faculty of top scientists and practitioners, and a dynamic clinical experience program. The school ranks among the top 15% of pharmacy schools in NIH research funding, giving students the opportunity to study in an exciting atmosphere of discovery and innovation.
The Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy is one of eight schools making up the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) unit. RBHS is NJ’s largest and most influential constellation of academic institutions devoted to medicine, dentistry, advanced health-related sciences, pharmacy, public health, nursing, and the full spectrum of health careers.
A prime location in central NJ puts the school in the heart of the state’s strong pharmaceutical industry and within one hour of New York and Philadelphia. New Jersey is home to leading teaching hospitals and clinical care centers as well as 15 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, making the state a great place to launch a pharmacy career. New Brunswick is a health care hub, hosting the world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson, two major teaching hospitals, and the nation’s largest health sciences university, among other facilities. The school maintains strong connections within the state’s pharmaceutical industry and health care community, leading to academic and clinical opportunities for students.
Mission/Vision
The Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy is a fully accredited, research-intensive school with a strong academic faculty who conduct clinical and basic science research while educating professional pharmacy students and graduate students. The school’s primary mission is to prepare highly proficient pharmacy professionals for leadership roles in our challenging and fast-evolving discipline. The school is also committed to better human health through research that advances understanding of the molecular basis of disease; its pharmacological control; and the development, delivery, and disposition of drugs. To maximize these efforts, the school vigorously pursues multidisciplinary collaborations with Rutgers colleagues in such areas as cancer biology, toxicology, biomedical engineering, health economics, and many others. In addition, as part of Rutgers, New Jersey’s state university, the school serves the state and its citizens as a nexus of pharmaceutical education, science, practice, and policy.
Curriculum
Our six-year professional program leads to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and is grounded in the basic and clinical sciences with an emphasis on patient-centered care. The program comprises two years of preprofessional study followed by four years of professional pharmacy school. Preprofessional courses in the biological, physical, and social sciences and the humanities prepare students to enter 21st-century pharmacy practice as informed, well-rounded citizens.
Clinical experiences begin in the first professional year and progress through all four years, with advanced practice experiences at outstanding teaching and community hospitals, community pharmacies, managed care settings, the pharmaceutical industry, and other specialty practice sites.
Few schools can match the breadth and diversity of our clinical experience program. The Pharm.D. program is structured to develop the high levels of theoretical knowledge and professional skill required in this demanding profession. Our students learn to be independent thinkers, creative problem solvers, and compassionate care givers. Through rigorous coursework and patient-centered professional practice, students become highly knowledgeable about all aspects of drug therapy and highly effective in counseling patients and collaborating with health care professionals. Our graduates are well prepared for professional pharmacy practice in a variety of settings-the community, medical institutions, health care facilities, and the pharmaceutical industry, among others-as well as graduate or professional study.
Admission Requirements
Admission is highly competitive for both first-year students and transfer students. Attention is given to the applicant’s performance in math, science, and English courses. Students must successfully complete a formal interview before entering the first professional year (year 3) of the six-year Pharm.D. program. See details at pharmacy.rutgers.edu. First-year students apply directly from high school, entering the first pre-professional year.
Admission criteria include class rank, grade point average, grades, strength of academic program, and SAT scores. Applicants are expected to have completed the following coursework: four years of English; three years of math; two years of one foreign language; one year of biology; one year of chemistry; and five other academic courses, with physics recommended. Greater weight is given to college preparatory, honors, and advanced placement courses. Applicants must apply online by December 1 of their senior year; early action is also available.
Transfer students apply from a two- or four year college, entering the first professional year of the program. (Applicants holding a bachelor’s degree or advanced degree also apply as transfer students.) Applicants are expected to have completed or be in the process of completing the two-year preprofessional coursework. Academic performance, qualitative factors, and interview performance are considered; applicants are strongly encouraged to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT). Completed applications must be received by February 1 of the year of expected fall enrollment.
Dual-Degree Programs
Four dual-degree programs allow highly motivated students to reduce the time and costs associated with earning a second degree. Programs offered include Pharm.D. with Ph.D., MBA, MPH, or MD. For more information: http://go.rutgers.edu/dp4xrh62
For Further Information
Applications:
Rutgers Undergraduate Admissions Office
http://admissions.rutgers.edu