The USC Mann School’s Seven-Year Pharmacy Pathway Program provides eligible USC Mann undergraduate students with a structured and accelerated pathway to advanced pharmacy practice, combining academic excellence, professional preparation, and experiential learning.
Eligible students earn a four-year Bachelor of Science degree while completing the prerequisites for PharmD admission, then advance directly into the PharmD program as second-year students.
Program Benefits
- Complete PharmD prerequisite requirements within the undergraduate curriculum
- Benefit from a seamless transition into professional pharmacy education
- Enter the PharmD program at P2 level, one year faster than the traditional path
- Gain early exposure to clinical skills development and professional experiences
Program Requirements
Students participating in the pathway program must:
- Complete all requirements to earn their bachelor’s degree from USC Mann
- Fulfill prerequisite coursework required for admission to the PharmD program, as part of their undergraduate curriculum
- Complete additional coursework equivalent to the first-year PharmD curriculum and demonstrate competency in the required knowledge and skill areas
To be eligible for advanced placement into the P2 year, students must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree from the USC Mann School
- Successfully complete all required coursework, including all prerequisites
- Enroll in 12 units of pharmacy practice-focused coursework during a summer bridge program, following the conferral of the bachelor’s degree
- Complete the USC Mann P1 Cumulative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), demonstrating readiness to enter as a P2 student
Frequently Asked Questions
Accordion Content
No, the seven-year program is only available to students enrolled in USC Mann undergraduate majors that have established pathway agreements with the PharmD program. Eligible majors include:
- BS in Biopharmaceutical Sciences
- BS in Pharmacology and Drug Development
No, participation in the pathway program does not guarantee admission to the USC Mann PharmD program or advanced placement into the P2 year.
The minimum GPA required to apply to the pathway program is 3.0. However, meeting the minimum GPA requirement does not guarantee admission, as selection is based on a holistic review of each student’s academic achievements and overall performance.
Similarly, a GPA that falls below 3.0 does not automatically result in removal from the program, as continued participation is also evaluated holistically.
Students may formally apply to the pathway program during the spring semester of their junior year. However, students should begin working with their academic advisor early to develop a course plan that incorporates all pathway courses into their academic schedule.
Yes. The summer bridge program, which consists of 12 units after conferral of the undergraduate degree, is a required component of the seven-year pathway program and is designed to ensure students are fully prepared to enter the PharmD program as P2 students.
Yes. All students in the 7-Year Pharmacy Pathway Program submit a PharmCAS application as part of the PharmD admissions process. Participation in the pathway program does not replace the standard application requirements.
Students who choose not to pursue the pathway program or who do not meet the requirements for advanced placement into the P2 year may still apply to the USC Mann PharmD program through the traditional admissions pathway.