NOTE:  Beginning with the Fall 2005 application process all supporting documentation must be mailed together in one envelope.   All prospective students are responsible for contacting the Office of Admission at least once before the application deadline.
 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES 

No student may begin the first professional year (P1) until he or she has been admitted to Texas Southern University (TSU).  Whether or not you have earned a previous degree, you MUST apply to Texas Southern University using the TSU Transfer/Transient/Readmit Application.  Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the professional program at TSU.  Students seeking admission by way or transferring to TSU should note that the two application processes (1) to Texas Southern University and (2) to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are separate and independent.  Former TSU students must apply for readmission to TSU.  Current TSU students need not apply to Texas Southern but only submit the Pharmacy School Application. 

Texas Southern College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will only accept 66 semester hours from community/junior colleges as transfer credit. (TWO YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAMS)  No exception to the rule.   

Beginning fall 2005, the GPA requirement has changed.  No longer will a 2.5 GPA be accepted for applying to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.  You must have a 2.75 overall and science GPA to apply.  

 TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES the applicant must complete the following courses: 

Biology

12 semester credit hours

    8 hours general biology with labs

    4 hours Vertebrate Anatomy (see Pre Pharmacy Prerequisites) or

    8 hours Anatomy and Physiology

Chemistry

16 semester credit hours

  8 hours general chemistry including labs

  8 hours organic chemistry including labs

Mathematics

6 semester credit hours

  3 semester hours of Algebra

  3 semester hours of pre-calculus (We recommend Calculus because of the PCAT Exam)

English

9 semester credit hours

  6 semester hours Freshman English

  3 semester hours literature (200 level English) (NO BIBLE BASE  LITERATURE IS ACCEPTED OR TECHNICAL                                WRITING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS LITERATURE)

Speech

3 semester credit hours (Interpersonal Communication is not accepted)

Physics

4 semester credit hours - Physics 244 if taken at Texas Southern University

   or 6 semester hours of Physics if not taken at TSU     

 3 semester hours

               3 semester hours

General education requirements

  6 semester hours of History

  6 semester hours of Political Science  (Political Science accepted  from a Texas College only)

  3 semester hours Fine Arts and humanities electives

  3 semester hours Social and behavioral sciences

  3 semester hours Computer Science

Pharmacy

4 semester hours -  Phar 111,112, 211, 212 (If you are a student at Texas Southern University for One (1)

  semester your are required to take all of the above courses beginning Fall 2005)

If you transfer into Texas Southern University you may take the following to substitute for Phar 111, 112, and 211

      1.  A Food and Nutrition Course (3 Semester Hours)

      2.   HSCR 150 or HSCR 260 (Offered at Texas Southern Only)

Phar 212 - Medical Terminology    (Required to be taken by all)

ALL OF THE ABOVE COURSES MUST BE COMPLETED WITH A GRADE OF ‘C’ OR ABOVE.

ALL YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE IMPORTANT AND WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE AS PART OF THE OVERALL PROCESS FOR ADMISSIONS.  Your previous course failures:  C-, D+, D-, D, and F including W, will follow you through this process and will be considered.   YOUR INTERVIEW  SCORE WILL BE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE NUMBER OF NON PASSING GRADES AND COURSES YOU HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

To be considered for admission to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences you must have completed all Science, Math, English, and Speech courses by the end of the Spring Semester of  the year  you are  applying.  NO SCIENCE, MATH, ENGLISH, AND SPEECH courses WILL BE ALLOWED TO BE TAKEN DURING THE SUMMER of the year you are applying.  All other courses must be completed by the end of the FIRST SUMMER TERM and final transcripts received in the pharmacy admissions office by July 19.

INTERNATIONAL/FOREIGN TRANSCRIPTS

All international/foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a professional evaluator (e.g. Spantron, Global Credentials or Educational Credentials). The evaluated transcript should be mailed directly to the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne Avenue, Houston ,Texas  77004.

A COMPLETED APPLICATION CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING:

1.        A completed “College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences” application on-line and non-refundable application fee of $100.00.  (Paid with the on-line application.  ALL APPLICATION FEES MUST BE PAID ON LINE).  (Also remember the College does not accept  paper applications) (STARTING SEPTEMBER 2007 ALL APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVE ACCEPTANCE TO THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH  SCIENCES WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A $200.00 DEPOSIT TO HOLD A SEAT  FOR THAT CLASS.)

2.       In order to apply to the College of Pharmacy all transfer students  must also complete an application to Texas Southern University.  All  TSU returning students that have been out for a year or more must submit a Re-Admit Application for returning students.   You can do this by completing the on-line Common Application for Admission or a Re-Admit Application.  A link to the on-line commons and Re-admit  application will be supplied after submitting the Pharmacy  on-line application.  The Texas Southern University application fee is $42.00.  The Re Admit Application fee is $42.00.   You may also log on to www.tsu.edu and apply for admission or re-admit to Texas Southern University.  When completing the TSU application you should check Pharmacy and the Pharm. D. program to which you will be applying.

The following items must be mailed in one envelope to the address listed below:

3.       Two official transcripts, one in a sealed envelope with your completed packet and one mailed directly from each college or university attended.  Texas Southern University students, only one transcript is necessary from TSU mailed in the packet with other documentation.

4.       Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores. (Sent from Psychological Testing Corporation) PCAT Scores cannot be older than one year.  If you have copies of your PCAT scores, include them in the packet of information you are sending to the Pharmacy Admission Office.   (PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PCAT SCORES MUST BE COMPETITIVE).

5.       A recent Photograph (Maximum size 2x2 photo), with name and Social Security Number on back of the picture.

6.       Three completed recommendation forms (one must be by a registered pharmacist, one from a Math Instructor and one  must be sent from a science instructor.)  Forms can be downloaded from the Pharmacy Web site or while submitting your on-line application.

7.       Verification of completion of all volunteer work hours

All of the above information, with your name clearly indicated on all documents, must be submitted in ONE ENVELOPE to the following address:

Texas Southern University

College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Office of Admission

3100 Cleburne Avenue

Houston, Texas  77004

713/313-434-4345

Background Check Notification

A.      Texas State Board of Pharmacy Internship requirement - The Texas State Board of Pharmacy rules allow for an undergraduate student enrolled and having successfully completed 30 hours towards a professional degree in pharmacy to be designated as a "student pharmacist-intern". Hours earned by this process may NOT replace the school-based internship program hours. Please note that the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (“TSBP”) requires each prospective internship student to apply for a TSBP-issued internship card before beginning any internship experience. TSBP’s application process includes a TSBP-administered criminal background check. Any past negative disciplinary or criminal history could constitute a basis for TSBP to deny a student from obtaining a TSBP internship card, thereby preventing the student from completing this institution’s pharmacy program.

B.      Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy Experiential Program - Advanced Practice Experiences are defined as a structured, college-directed teaching and learning experience whereby the student applies the knowledge of pharmacy to patient care in a practice setting that allows the student to develop and demonstrate the skills required for professional practice. Please note according to contractual arrangements with various healthcare facilities, a student must meet the below specified requirements before he or she is permitted to participate in the experiential program. Students who fail to comply with these requirements will not be allowed to participate in pharmacy practice experiences, which may impact or delay the student’s graduation.

1)     Immunizations - Students are required to have appropriate immunizations before beginning advanced practice rotations. The current list includes:

·            MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)

·            Hepatitis B (series I, II, III)

·            Diphtheria/Tetanus

Ÿ      Tuberculin skin test (Annual). Any student who has a positive PPD must provide copy of a recent chest x-ray.

Ÿ      Varicella compliance. Students must provide dates of Varicella vaccination or a positive antibody titer.   

2)     CPR Training - All students are required to complete training and become certified in adult and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation/basic life support (CPR/BLS) for the healthcare professional prior to the beginning of advanced practice rotations.

3)     Health insurance is a requirement of all students participating on experiential rotations. The insurance must cover inpatient and outpatient services for injuries sustained or diseases contracted while on rotations. Proof of this coverage must be provided to the Office of Experiential Training prior to the beginning of advanced practice rotations.

4)     Drug Screening - Rotation sites may request drug screens. Information obtained in drug screens may inhibit students from completing advanced practice experiences thus delaying or hindering graduation.  

5)     Background checks – The college is required to provide information from background checks, drug screenings and/or social security, driver’s license and employment verification on each student who participates in clinical rotations at our affiliate’s institutions. The following example may disqualify an individual from being considered to participate in any clinical rotation at these facilities but is not inclusive of all indicators for disqualification:

1.     being named on a registered sex offender listing;

2.     being named in at least one of the following listings:

a.       Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General list of excluded individuals;

b.       General Services Administration excluded parties list; or

c.       Employee Misconduct Registry, U.S. Treasury – Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) List of Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”);

d.       Violent Sexual Offender & Predator Registry

3.       any prior or present felony conviction; and

4.       any felony deferred adjudication involving any crime against any person (including physical or sexual abuse).

Students will be assessed a fee to cover the cost of the background check. Any disqualification of a student by a practice facility could prevent the student from undertaking clinical rotations that are required to complete the pharmacy program at Texas Southern University.  

The Technical Standards for Admission, Retention and Graduation

The educational objective of the entry level Pharm.D. Degree Program in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is to prepare students for the practice of pharmacy.  Students admitted to the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences must have the intellectual, emotional and physical abilities, with reasonable accommodations as needed for those with disabilities, to acquire the knowledge, behaviors, clinical and technical skills that they will need to successfully complete the curriculum in order to pursue any pathway of pharmacy practice. The ability, with reasonable accommodations as needed for those with disabilities, to meet the technical standards essential for the fulfillment of the requirements for the Pharm.D. degree and the educational objectives established by the faculty are evaluated in all candidates for admission and graduation.

The technical standards outlined below (“Technical Standards”), in conjunction with established academic standards, are followed by the Admissions Committee to select students who possess the intelligence, integrity, physical, and personal as well as emotional characteristics that are necessary to become an effective pharmacist.

The academic and technical standards established by the faculty require that all students accepted by the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences possess the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities that insure that they will be able to complete all aspects of the curriculum.

All applicants are held to the same academic and technical standards of admission and training, with reasonable accommodations as needed for students with disabilities.

Although the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will engage in an interactive process with applicants with disabilities, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences reserves the right not to admit any applicant who, upon completion of the interactive process, cannot meet the Technical Standards set forth below, with reasonable accommodations.

Additional, those individuals who would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others are not considered suitable candidates for admission.

Technical Standards:

The awarding of the  Pharm.D. degree signifies that the holder is prepared for entry into the practice of pharmacy. It follows that graduates must have the knowledge and skills to practice and function in a wide variety of settings and situations. Students for the Pharm.D. degree must be able to perform specific essential functions that the faculty deem requisite for the practice of pharmacy. These functions fall into several broad categories, including: observation; communication; motor; conceptual, integrative and quantitative; and behavioral and social. Candidates must also have the physical and emotional stamina to function in a competent manner in a setting that may involve heavy workloads, stressful situations and be able to adapt to an environment, which may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways.

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has determined that those individuals who are currently impaired by alcohol or substance abuse cannot meet the Technical Standards.

Observation: Students must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic and pharmaceutical sciences, medical illustrations and models, microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. They must be able to directly and accurately see a patient’s physical condition, must be able to obtain a history and perform appropriate physical assessments and to correctly integrate the information derived from these observations to develop an accurate plan. They must be able to prepare medications for dispensing to patients and observe the activities of technical staff operating under their supervision in accordance with State law. These skills require the functional use of vision, and somatic sensation.

Communication: Students must be able to communicate with, understand and observe patients in a clinical setting. They must be able to record information accurately and clearly, communicate fluently in and understand the English language, and communicate effectively with sensitivity to patients.  The student must be capable of responsive empathetic listening to establish rapport in a way that promotes openness on issues of concern and shows sensitivity to potential cultural differences.  Students must also be able to communicate effectively with other members of the healthcare team in oral and written form, and in patient care settings in which decisions based upon those communications may be made rapidly, in which time available is limited. They must be able to effectively communicate with and supervise technical support staff.

Motor: Students must possess the motor function sufficient to accurately compound and prepare prescription products for dispensing to patients. They must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients using basic patient assessment skills such as palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. They must possess the motor function sufficient to perform basic laboratory tests such as glucose monitoring or venipuncture for laboratory testing needed for therapeutic monitoring and they must be able to operate under a laminar airflow hood for sterile compounding.  They must be able to use computer-based information systems.

Interpretative, Conceptual and Quantitative: Students must have effective and efficient learning techniques and habits that allow mastery of the pharmacy curriculum. They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, classroom instruction, small group activities, individual study, preparation and presentation of reports, and use of computer technology. They must be able to memorize, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize. They must also be able to comprehend spatial relationships and three-dimensional models.

Behavioral, Ethical and Social Attributes: Students must understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of pharmacy and function within the guidelines established by the law and by the ethical standards of the pharmacy profession.  The College has the responsibility to the public to assure that its graduates will be fully competent pharmacists who adhere to the American Pharmacists Association’s Code of Ethics.  Students must be able to relate to patients and their families, colleagues, and other members of the healthcare team with courtesy, maturity, and respect for the dignity of individuals. This requires that they place the welfare of their patients foremost, and demonstrate honesty, integrity, dedication, compassion and nondiscrimination in the care of their patients. They must at all times demonstrate the emotional stability to be able to exercise good judgment, and carry out prompt completion of all of the responsibilities attendant to the care of their patients in a sensitive and effective manner. This sensitivity includes self-examination of personal attitudes, perceptions, and stereotypes in order to avoid potential negative impacts on relationships and patient care. Students must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and professional responsibility to their patients, and to learn to function in an environment of uncertainty, in which changes may occur rapidly and without warning. All of these personal qualities will be assessed during the admissions and educational process.

Students must be able to meet the State Board of Pharmacy Licensing requirements to obtain a valid Texas Intern License, which is required to complete off-campus internship courses.  Inability to obtain a Texas Intern License may prevent completion of off-campus internships and prevent a student from continuing in the program and completing the requirements for graduation.

All standards pertaining to on-campus coursework also applies to all off-campus practicum internships.  In addition, practicum sites will have their own requirements.  Inability to attain a practicum placement or to satisfactorily complete a practicum experience may result in removal from the Pharm. D. Program.  

Important: Any disqualification of a student by a hospital facility could prevent the student from undertaking clinical rotations that are required to complete the pharmacy program at Texas Southern University.

·         Online Application (External site opens in a new window)

·         Recommendation Form (PDF)

Graduation Requirements
All requirements for graduation with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree must be completed within seven years of initial enrollment in the Pre-Pharmacy Program or within five years in the Professional Program for transfer students. All requirements for graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the Health Sciences must be completed within six years of initial enrollment as a freshman or within four years in the professional program. When this is not the case, the complete academic records of the student will be subject to review by the faculty to determine whether the student will be allowed to continue in the program.

During the semester prior to graduation, students must file a graduation application with the office of the Director of Student Services.