School of Pharmacy

Our university’s vision, mission, and core values help guide our faculty, staff, and students towards academic excellence. Students enrolled in the School of Pharmacy (SOP) receive a quality education driving them towards leadership and service within the university and our communities. Likewise, rooted in the Christian principles of ministry and healing, the school seeks to improve healthcare in the region, especially in the under-served areas of South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast region, by educating students to become competent, entry‐level practitioners who will, in collaboration with fellow healthcare professionals, provide patients with compassionate, contemporary pharmacy care.

Vision Statement

The School of Pharmacy at William Carey University will strive to be a leader in pharmacy education, scholarship and service, committed to providing a transformative learning experience in a collaborative and diverse environment focused on improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve that blends learning and faith.

Mission Statement

As an integral part of William Carey University, the School of Pharmacy shares the overall vision and mission of the University. The SOP seeks to improve the health care of our region, especially the underserved areas of the Gulf Coast and South Mississippi, by educating students to become competent entry-level practitioners. The students will be educated to provide contemporary pharmacy care to all patients in collaboration with other healthcare providers with a foundation based in a Christian ministry of healing. The SOP will provide an accelerated learner-centered environment that promotes critical thinking, problem solving, development of communication skills, scholarship, professionalism and a Christian spirit of caring and responsibility. The SOP will utilize innovative and creative teaching methods, state-of-the-art technology, and support an environment of scholarship with an expert, dynamic and diverse faculty.

Core Values

The School of Pharmacy embraces the following core values that reflect the commitment of faculty and staff to preparing competent, caring, and ethical pharmacy professionals to meet the public’s need for high quality health care.

Honesty, integrity, professionalism, and personal responsibility
Respect for diversity and appreciation of cross-cultural perspectives
Adaptability and flexibility in response to the ever-changing external environment
Effective and efficient use of resources to maximize value to those we serve
Excellence and innovation in pharmacy education, scholarship, and service (including outreach to the community)
A productive, satisfying work and learning environment
Integration of the pharmaceutical sciences with professional studies
Scholarship that contributes to knowledge development, improvement of pharmacy education, and promotion of pharmacy care and health outcomes
Experiences which foster inter-professional collaboration among health care team members delivering patient-centered care
Leadership opportunities that advance personal and professional goals
Lifelong learning and continuing professional development
Retention, development, and engagement of students and alumni
Growth and development of certificate programs, dual degrees, and postgraduate training opportunities

Pharmacy, PharmD (146 hrs)

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program offers an innovative, accelerated three-year curricular plan (the only one of its kind from New Orleans, LA, to Pensacola, FL) that thoughtfully integrates didactic coursework, professional development, co-curricular activities, experiential learning, and supervised clinical practice. Although the PharmD program is rigorous, our students enjoy a supportive, collaborative, learner-centered environment; they have access to spacious, state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and study space; and they receive training from an expert, diverse faculty known for their dynamic and creative teaching methods.

The William Carey University School of Pharmacy is located at the WCU Tradition Campus, 19640 Hwy 67, Biloxi, MS 39532, and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). William Carey University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

For more information about the School of Pharmacy and the Doctor of Pharmacy program, visit https://wmcarey.edu/School/Pharmacy.

General Program Admission Requirements

The School of Pharmacy (SOP) uses an holistic approach to the admission process, considering factors such as GPAs, prior experience, completion of a bachelor’s degree or advanced education, and interview results. Please consider the following criteria prior to submitting an application:

Completion of the pre-pharmacy prerequisite courses
A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but not required
Preferred cumulative GPA ≥ 3.00 and science and math GPA ≥ 2.50
Applicants presenting with above-average GPAs are more competitive
PCAT is not required

The school uses Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS), a centralized, web-based application service, to collect and verify application data. Once an applicant’s data is deemed complete and is verified, PharmCAS calculates GPAs, notes any missing course/grade data, and submits their report and the applicant’s documents to the School of Pharmacy Admission Committee for consideration.

The application priority deadline is November 1st of each year and the final deadline is May 1st of each year.

Please carefully review the program’s requirements below as well as the general Application Instructions and the William Carey University School of Pharmacy program page at the PharmCAS website. When you are ready to apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, please gather the required documents and click here PharmCAS.

Academic Requirements for Admission

To be eligible for consideration for admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program, applicants must meet the following academic requirements:

Complete a minimum of 68 semester credit hours of prerequisite coursework from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an English-speaking Canadian college or university, or the equivalency of credits from a foreign college or university whose transcripts are evaluated by Josef Silny and Associates, World Education Services, or AACRAO International Education Services.
Have a minimum grade of ‘C-’ (or equivalent) in all prerequisite courses.

Applicants do not have to have all prerequisite coursework completed before making application; however, any remaining coursework must be satisfactorily completed by June 1st of the year of enrollment. William Carey University does not allow dual enrollment; therefore, enrollment in any other courses/programs precludes admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

All science laboratory courses must be completed in a live, in-person laboratory environment – online and hybrid laboratory courses will not fulfill the prerequisite laboratory requirement. Highly competitive applicants should have prerequisites completed within 7 years of the relevant application cycle. The School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee reserves the right to extend the period beyond 7 years on a case-by-case basis.

Required Prerequisite Courses	Credit Hrs
General Biology I & II w/Labs¹ (A 200-level or above biology course w/lab fulfills the Biology II requirement. Microbiology, cellular biology, molecular biology, and immunology will be considered.)	8 hrs
General Chemistry I & II w/Labs¹	8 hrs
Organic Chemistry I & II w/Labs¹	8 hrs
Physics I, with or without Lab (Algebra-based course fulfills requirement)	3 hrs
Human Anatomy or A&P I ¹	3-4 hrs
Human Physiology or A&P II ¹	3-4 hrs
Economics (general, micro-, or macro-)	3 hrs
English Composition I & II	6 hrs ²
Calculus I	3 hrs ³
Public Speaking/Speech Communication	3 hrs ²
General Statistics	3 hrs ⁴
General Education: Humanities, History, Business, Computer Science, Fine Arts, or Foreign Language	9 hrs ²
Social Sciences: Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Ethics, Bioethics, or Anthropology	6 hrs ²
Total:	68 hrs ⁵

^₁_{Live, in-person laboratory courses are preferred but not required.}

_{²Similar coursework will be evaluated and may be deemed to fulfill the required semester credit hours.}

_{³The mathematics component must include a minimum of 3 semester hours of calculus.}

⁴A 3-hour college statistics course is required in addition to the mathematics requirement.

_{⁵Prerequisite courses taken under quarter hour systems will be evaluated for equivalency (generally 1 semester hour credit = 0.75 quarter hour credit) and may be deemed to fulfill the required semester credit hours.}

Applicants may not exclude any part of their college-level educational history. Any applicant who fails to report all institutions attended will forfeit his/her eligibility for admission to William Carey University School of Pharmacy, or may be dismissed from the program, if the student has matriculated. Records and documents submitted to PharmCAS or to the William Carey University School of Pharmacy will not be returned.

Applicants meeting the minimum criteria will have their files evaluated. Due to the large applicant pool each year, only the most qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. During the interview day, applicants will be given an introduction to the school and its curriculum, and provided information on student services and financial aid. Applicants will be interviewed by faculty, asked to provide a writing sample, take a preliminary knowledge assessment, and given a tour of the campus and the School’s facilities. Ample opportunities will exist to ask questions about the program, the University, and the local area. If there are additional questions regarding the application process, please email pharmacyadmissions@wmcarey.edu.

Admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program is highly competitive. The School of Pharmacy utilizes a ‘rolling’ admissions process, thus priority is given to candidates who submit their application by the priority deadline.

Transfer and Advanced Standing Policy

Because the curriculum consists of highly-integrated, blocked courses, requests for transfer of credits for coursework from another Doctor of Pharmacy program or academic institution will not be considered. In addition, WCUSOP does not award course credit for coursework taken on a noncredit basis or for life or work experience.

Technical Standards for Program Admission and Progression

Candidates for admission to and students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program must demonstrate the following abilities and skills in areas of communication, intellectual abilities, behavioral/social attributes, observation, and motor skills in order to perform the essential functions for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Reasonable accommodations for persons with prior documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis. Students wishing to inquire about or request accommodations should contact the Director of Disability Support Services at https://wmcarey.edu/Office/disability-services.

Communication

Candidates and students must demonstrate evidence of effective written and oral communication skills in both the academic and experiential settings. Once enrolled, students must demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate with the public and other healthcare professionals in order to elicit and provide information required for optimal healthcare.

Intellectual Abilities

Candidates and students must demonstrate the ability to retrieve information and to measure, calculate, reason with, analyze, and synthesize it. These intellectual abilities are required to solve problems, an essential skill that graduates must possess. Candidates and students must be able to retrieve (electronically and manually), read, and understand medical literature. Completion of a degree program requires the student to be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion when involved in problem solving and providing patient care as related to his or her practice setting.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Candidates and students must exhibit the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgment, and prompt completion of all academic and experiential responsibilities. The development of mature and effective relationships with colleagues, patients, and other members of the healthcare community is essential. The ability to function when faced with the challenges and uncertainties inherent in experiential settings, and the ability to exhibit compassion, flexibility, adaptability, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills, and concern for others is required.

Observation

Candidates and students must demonstrate sufficient capacity to observe and function in the lecture hall, laboratory, and experiential settings. Sensory skills to perform educational duties and obligations are required of students in all degree programs. In any situation where a candidate’s or student’s ability to observe or acquire information through sensory modalities is compromised, the candidate or student must demonstrate alternate means and/or abilities to acquire the essential information conveyed in this fashion.

Motor Skills

The ability to participate in the basic operational and procedural activities required in laboratory and experiential settings is essential. Students and candidates must have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required to properly participate in the activities of a laboratory or an experiential rotation, with or without assistive devices. Candidates and students who cannot perform activities independently should minimally be able to understand and direct the methodology involved in such activities.

Computer and Technical Skills

Computers are an integral part of the healthcare field and students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in their use. Computers and computer applications will be used throughout the program. At a minimum, students must be able to 1) communicate effectively and professionally via email, 2) use Microsoft Office 365 applications when writing papers and preparing presentations, 3) operate on-board and auxiliary equipment (e.g., camera, speakers, microphone), 4) use the Internet to retrieve information, and 5) integrate that information into discussion forums, papers, and presentations.

Transportation

Students are expected to attend class, co-curricular activities, and experiential rotations. Therefore, all students must maintain reliable transportation. In addition to traveling to campus each day for class, a large portion of the PharmD program entails clinical experiential education at sites located throughout Mississippi and the Gulf Coast Region. While it is understandable that an occasional, temporary transportation issue may arise (e.g., flat tire or automobile accident), the lack of reliable transportation on a consistent basis will not be a valid excuse for missing class, assessments (exams, quizzes, etc.), or clinical experiences. Grade penalties resulting from missed classes or experiential rotations will be enforced.

Requirements for Matriculation

Board of Pharmacy Intern Licensure

To matriculate in the Doctor of Pharmacy program, students must be eligible for intern licensure with the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, Alabama Board of Pharmacy, and the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy. Students doing rotations in other states will be required to meet all intern requirements of those states. Students who have any of the following should check with the appropriate Board of Pharmacy to determine if they are eligible for a pharmacy intern license:

Diagnosis or treatment in the last five years for a mental illness or a physical condition that would impair the ability to perform any of the essential functions of a license, including alcohol or substance abuse;
Misdemeanor or felony charges, arrests, or convictions;
Previous administrative action, whether completed or pending;
Suspension, revocation, surrender, or other discipline against any license, including any action that was not made public.

Criminal Background Check

Students accepted into the William Carey University School of Pharmacy must have evidence of a clear criminal background check (CBC) prior to matriculation. This is a mandatory requirement as part of the Mississippi state law, Section 43-13-11 of Mississippi Code of 1972. Students may be required to update their CBC periodically for experiential rotations. All costs associated with CBCs are the responsibility of the student.

After enrollment, any subsequent disciplinary action or legal action including, but not limited to, arrest, charge, addiction, or impairment must be reported immediately to the Office of Student Services and will be reviewed by the Associate Dean of Curriculum and New Programs and the Director of Experiential Education. Failure to report any and all subsequent disciplinary actions, arrests, or impairment will constitute falsification of records and may result in disciplinary action. All costs associated with criminal background checks are the responsibility of the student.

Immunization Requirements

The required immunizations for matriculation to the WCUSOP include documentation of hepatitis A and B series (or a positive titer), varicella immunization or immunity, two MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) or MMR titer, Polio, Tdap (Tetanus/ Diphtheria/Pertussis), and an annual influenza vaccine. Students are also required to have an annual PPD, QuantiFERON Gold, or negative Chest X-ray for tuberculin. Candidates failing to meet these requirements will not be allowed to participate in experiential rotations and/or clerkships, or any course that requires direct patient care. Some experiential sites may have additional requirements. Students are required to submit current health records in order to register for classes. While not explicitly required by the University or the School of Pharmacy, many experiential sites require students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for attendance. Students will be required to sign an acknowledgment of understanding as it relates to COVID-19 vaccination status and the effect that not being vaccinated may have on experiential education.

Verification of Health Insurance

In accordance with the policy of William Carey University, all students are required to maintain health insurance. Students must provide verification of health insurance coverage at the beginning of each academic term in order to register for classes. Students may also be subject to random checks throughout the year and will be dis-enrolled from all didactic and experiential coursework for failure to maintain health insurance coverage. In the event a student misses time on a clinical rotation due to the lack of health insurance coverage, per APPE policy, all missed time must be made up or the course repeated, which may delay graduation.

CPR Certification

All students must complete and maintain certification or re-certification of CPR for the Health Professional during their tenure at WCU. Students will be provided a CPR course during the first year of their matriculation at the WCUSOP. Students are responsible for providing evidence of current certification in their electronic portfolio.

Drug Testing Policy

All students must provide evidence of a negative urine drug screen within one month of beginning any experiential coursework. Some rotation sites may also require a drug screen within 30 days prior to the start of the rotation and/or may require students to submit to random drug screenings. Refusing to submit to drug testing will result in immediate dismissal from the program. Any student who tests positive for illegal drugs will be remanded to the Office of Student Services and the Associate Dean. All costs associated with drug testing are the responsibility of the student.

Computer Technology Requirements

Students are required to have a laptop computer (PC, Mac, or “2-in-1”) or a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet (except for the Surface Pro X) for classroom activities and for taking examinations. **The Surface Pro X and Apple iPad tablets are not approved for use with our exam testing software and may not be used while enrolled in the program.**

The University provides Microsoft Office 365 to all registered students.

All students must have a stable connection to the Internet on a regular basis (including off-campus), software to meet course requirements, and adequate system capacity. As web-enhanced lectures may contain either/both audio and video components, students will need the capability to access audio through speakers, and record through a webcam and microphone. All technical specifications are listed below.

Feature	Minimum Requirement	Preferred
Processor	Intel Core I5 (Windows/Mac) *NOTE: Apple M1 chip set is not acceptable.	Intel Core i7 or I9 (Windows/Mac) *NOTE: Apple M1 chip set is not acceptable.
Memory	4 GB	8 GB
Hard disk	512 GB	1 TB (1000 GB)
Wireless	Wireless capability	Wireless capability
Screen Resolution	At least 1024 x 768	At least 1024 x 768
Operating System	Windows 11 (Not Windows RT or 10S) // Mac OS 11.0 (Big Sur) or Higher *NOTE: Chrome OS is not acceptable.	Windows 11 (Not Windows RT or 10S) // Mac OS 11.0 (Big Sur) or Higher *NOTE: Chrome OS is not acceptable.
Audio/Video	Must have fully functioning camera, microphone, and speakers. *NOTE: Virtual cameras are not allowed.	Must have fully functioning camera, microphone, and speakers. *NOTE: Virtual cameras are not allowed.
Software	Microsoft Office 365 (provided by WCU), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Anti-Virus Software	Microsoft Office 365 (provided by WCU), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Anti-Virus Software

• Service & Support: It is recommended to purchase a support and/or damage plan for your equipment. We recommend a multi-year agreement for the best coverage. Due to liabilities and warranty restrictions, WCU IT staff members do not perform hardware or software repair work on personally-owned equipment.

• Anti-Virus Software: Anti-virus software should be installed on your personal computer, configured to automatically update, and scheduled to run regular scans.

• Productivity Software: Microsoft Office 365 is available to all students on up to five computers and/or up to five mobile devices. If you choose to purchase Office for your personal computer, select version 2016 or newer for Windows or 2011 or newer for Macs. Computers must have Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to take examinations in ExamSoft.

Program Overview

The professional pharmacy curriculum is intended to produce generalist pharmacists proficient in all professional and educational competencies as set forth in the WCUSOP’s Educational Outcomes and Competencies (EOCs) statements. The curriculum will educate and develop the necessary knowledge and skills based on sound basic and clinical science, professional skills, attitudes, and values in a student-centered, cooperative, active learning environment. Students will learn to integrate and apply these skills to the practice and advancement of the profession of pharmacy.

The basic outline of the curriculum is:

1) A foundational sciences component in which the majority of the basic biomedical sciences, pharmaceutics, social and behavioral sciences, jurisprudence, integrated pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, advanced pharmacotherapeutics, and electives are taught;

2) The experiential curriculum, which includes the Introductory and Advanced Pharmacy Practice experiences, and Service Learning.

The curriculum is designed to deliver a combination of faculty-delivered didactic lectures, student-centered active learning and problem-solving activities, and experiential educational activities that emphasize the achievement of the professional competencies and outcome expectations (EOCs) of the curriculum. The degree plan consists of 146 credits, which includes more than 1800 hours of experiential coursework. The program is designed to be successfully completed in 2 years and 10 months, and runs throughout the calendar year. Each student must maintain a cumulative GPA > 2.20 in order to progress and to graduate.

Academic and Curricular Policies

Enrollment

Enrollment at WCUSOP is a privilege. WCUSOP reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time it is deemed necessary to safeguard standards of scholarship, conduct, and orderly operation of the institution, subject only to the policies and procedures of William Carey University, the School of Pharmacy, and relevant law.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are approved each year by WCU Board of Trustees and may change annually without advanced individual notice to students and applicants.

Professionalism

Students are expected to adhere to the William Carey University School of Pharmacy Codes of Conduct, Ethics, and Professionalism, and to maintain a professional academic atmosphere at all times. The WCUSOP expects all students to project a professional image to patients, colleagues, and the community at large through their dress and appearance, and as such, students are required to adhere to the “Student Dress Code”. Conservatism and modesty in dress are key factors in projecting a professional image. Students will also be required to wear their white coats while on campus or anywhere necessary to conduct official SOP sanctioned business.

Academic Honesty

William Carey University seeks to create an environment that encourages continued growth of moral and ethical values, which includes personal honesty and mutual trust. The faculty and administration at the WCU School of Pharmacy place the highest value on academic integrity and regard any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. Academic dishonesty is considered unethical and it violates William Carey University’s academic standards. If such an incident occurs, students, faculty, and/or staff are obligated to initiate appropriate action. Depending upon the seriousness of the offense, sanctions could include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or could lead to suspension or dismissal from the University. Students who fail to report an actual or perceived violation of the University’s academic standards, will themselves be found in violation and subject to disciplinary sanctions. Additional information on the Ethics, Honor, and Professionalism Code can be found in the William Carey University School of Pharmacy Student Handbook.

Attendance Policy

Class attendance is expected of all students. All classes and examinations will start at the regularly scheduled times, unless otherwise announced or approved by the course instructor or coordinator. Each student is responsible for all material covered during class whether or not the student is present. Students are reminded that, in accordance with course syllabi, graded in-class assignments may be used to compute course grades.

Course Grading Scale

WCUSOP has adopted a numerical scoring system where a 60% score is the minimum passing grade using a 10-point grading scale. All grades are rounded to the nearest whole number using standard rounding rules. Grades for all attempted coursework are calculated in the School of Pharmacy’s grade point average.

Good Academic Standing

At the end of each term of coursework, a student in good academic standing is defined as:

Having passing grades in all required courses, electives, milestone exams, and other mandatory exercises.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA for courses taken within the pharmacy degree program > 2.20 to progress to the next term, to experiential rotations, and to graduation.
Having behaved in accordance with high standards of professional and academic ethics and having no probationary sanctions imposed by the Ethics, Honor, and Professionalism (EHP) Board, as set forth in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the WCUSOP Student Handbook.

Students not meeting any of the above requirements will be listed as not in good academic standing, placed on academic probation, and may be dismissed from the program.

Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

A student who fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress as evidenced by being placed on not in good academic standing will only return to good academic standing upon completion of all requirements as set forth by the Academic Standing Committee (ASC), the SOP Dean, and the EHP Board, as well as meeting all requirements for being listed in good academic standing as described above.

Unsatisfactory Progress During the Didactic Curriculum

Any student who receives a grade of ‘F’ in any didactic coursework (P1 or P2 year) may be automatically dismissed from WCUSOP if they fail the course again on the second attempt. The Academic Standing Committee will meet to discuss the student’s academic record and provide the Dean with a recommendation regarding the student’s future standing with WCUSOP. A student making an ‘F’ in any coursework will be required to retake the course the following academic year. Likewise, any student held back due to poor academic performance may be required to complete an academic recovery plan as defined by the Dean and/or may be required to repeat coursework.

Additional tuition and fees will be required for any repeated coursework and may delay graduation.

Unsatisfactory Progress During the Experiential Program

A student who fails an assigned rotation in the experiential program will have his or her performance evaluated by the ASC and the Dean. The Dean, in collaboration with the Experiential Department and the Chair of Pharmacy Practice, will determine the appropriate plan to satisfy the pharmacy practice experience requirements. Any student who fails an experiential rotation will be required to repeat that rotation in accordance with the recommendations of the Director of Experiential Education and the terms of the Academic Improvement Plan, which may include any of the following:

Repeating the entire Pharmacy Practice Experience that was failed;
Other Academic Recovery plans as deemed appropriate by the Director of Experiential Education and Chair of Pharmacy Practice.

Additional tuition and fees will be required for any repeated experiential rotations and may delay graduation.

Graduation Requirements

Except as otherwise provided in these standards, in order to graduate from the School of Pharmacy with a PharmD degree and receive a diploma, a candidate for graduation must have received credit in all required courses, electives, and curricular activities, successfully completed the required hours of experiential course work, paid all tuition and fees, and have a cumulative GPA ≥ 2.20. Students who achieve a cumulative GPA > 3.50 will be designated for honors.

Additional information about WCUSOP, its curriculum, the admission process, prerequisite courses, tuition and fees, financial aid, student life, and accreditation status is available at https://wmcarey.edu/school/pharmacy.

Programs

Doctorate

Pharmacy, PharmD (146 hrs)