Pre-pharmacy requirements may be taken at any regionally-accredited college or university and must be completed prior to matriculation into Belmont University College of Pharmacy. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better or credited by receiving Advanced Placement (AP) high school credit.

Applicants are encouraged to work closely with their undergraduate academic advisor and map out their course of study accordingly. Although our staff is happy to discuss specific prerequisites with applicants, they are unable to provide definitive counsel until all official transcripts have been processed by PharmCAS.

Credit requirements are based on semester hours.  Courses taken in quarter-based systems will be calculated at semester hour equivalents. In cases where quarter hours fall below the semester hours indicated, the school reserves the right to require additional coursework in the topic area to meet the minimum stated prerequisite.

Credit granted by your university through the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board may be used to meet prerequisites if the standards set by Belmont University are met.  These standards can be found in the Advanced Placement section of the catalog.

1. Candidates must complete a minimum of 63 credits of prerequisite coursework at a regionally accredited college or university, each course completed within ten years prior to application.


2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and each prerequisite course must have a grade of “C” or better to be accepted. Candidates may use credit achieved by AP or CLEP examination as long as credit was awarded at a previously attended college or university.


3. Belmont does not require the PCAT, but candidates may strengthen their application with competitive scores.
4. International applicants whose native language is not English may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language by submitting an official copy of your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. A minimum score of 550 is required (213 CBT or 80iBT). For additional information on the admission of international students, click here.



Candidates for the class will be considered on their own merits, but will compete for a seat in the program. Eligible candidates will be invited to campus for an interview with a faculty member.

Additional information regarding transfer from other pharmacy programs, requirements for matriculation, and technical standards for admission can be found in the graduate catalog.

Rolling Admission

Applications are considered on a rolling basis until all spaces in the entering class are filled and an appropriate wait list of alternate candidates is formed.  The College of Pharmacy considers candidates for an on-campus interview opportunity as soon as their application is complete. Interview days occur on most Fridays starting at 11:00 a.m. and ending by 3:00 p.m., although times may change throughout the academic year.  Invited candidates will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee soon after their interview and a decision is communicated within one week of the interview date. Admitted candidates who choose to accept an offer of admission can confirm their seat in the entering class with a non-refundable deposit of $500 which is applied toward their first-semester tuition.  All prerequisites must be completed before the first day of classes or admission will be rescinded.

Early Decision

The Early Decision program is a binding option for applicants who have decided that a particular pharmacy degree program is their first choice. An applicant may only apply for Early Decision at one institution. If an applicant is offered admission to the institution, he or she is obligated to accept the offer and will not be permitted to apply to any other PharmCAS institutions. If not accepted for Early Decision, applicant may then apply to other programs. 
     • Early Decision Application deadline: September 3, 2019
     • Interview Days:  prior to October 11, 2019
     • Decisions Announced:  by October 18, 2019
     • Reply Date for Accepted Candidates:  November 1, 2019

Individual attention is given to each student's financial needs. Current tuition information and steps to applying for financial aid are listed below. Typically, tuition and fees increase each year between 3% and 5% and are set by March 1 prior to each upcoming academic year.

• Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• Apply for health-profession-specific scholarships 
• Apply for outside scholarships (Air Force, Bridgat, etc.)
• Apply for financial aid (grants and loans)
• Apply for loan forgiveness opportunities
• Apply for outside pharmacy-student-specific loans

All scholarships are subject to change at any time.

Academic Excellence Scholarship
The Academic Excellence Scholarship is awarded at the time of admission to students of high academic standing based on the cumulative undergraduate GPA and composite PCAT score. Award amounts range from $5,000 to $12,000 annually and are renewable up to four years as long as the student maintains high standards of personal and professional behavior, achieves a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and continues enrollment on a full-time basis. The application for admission is used to determine eligibility for this award.

Academic Merit Scholarship Awarded Previously to Early Assurance Students
Early Assurance students who previously received an academic merit scholarship as an undergraduate freshman at Belmont may carry over their award for up to two years to a total of four years of pre-pharmacy/PharmD study.  Students must meet annual eligibility requirements.

College of Pharmacy Scholarship
The College of Pharmacy Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of first-year students on the basis of good academic standing and significant financial need. The amount awarded is between $3,000 and $5,000 annually and is renewable up to four years as long as the recipient maintains good academic standing. The application for admission and the FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for this award.

Service Leadership Scholarship
The Service Leadership Scholarship is awarded to one entering P1 student on the basis of strong academic standing and history of service and leadership. The amount awarded is $3,000 annually and is renewable up to four years as long as the recipient maintains good academic standing and works with the Office of Student Affairs to plan the service project for new pharmacy student orientation each year. Application information for this award is provided to all deposited students in May each year with a July submission deadline.

Tyler Duke Memorial Scholarship
The Tyler Duke Memorial Scholarship is primarily intended to support textbook purchases for a qualified first year student. The award is divided equally for each semester of the P1 year. The application for admission is used to determine eligibility for this award. Criteria for this award include:

• Resident of East Tennessee (based on permanent address)
• Previous four-year degree from an accredited college or university
• PCAT of 80^th percentile or higher (or highest PCAT of those meeting the above criteria)
• If no student from East Tennessee meets the above criteria, it is preferred that a student from Tennessee be chosen.

Warren E. Angel Memorial Scholarship
The Warren E. Angel Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who meets the criteria below. Students in any year may apply for this award as notified annually. Application materials include a CV and an essay. The Awards Committee votes to determine the recipient of the award. Criteria for this award include:

• The individual must have attended or graduated from Middle Tennessee State University.
• The individual selected to receive the scholarship must have demonstrated sustained and atypical activity in leadership or service, working to affect positive outcomes in the lives of others or their community.
• The individual is recognized by others as carrying out these meritorious activities without expectation for self-benefit; they are examples of humility and effectiveness.
• The individual’s prior activities suggest a commitment to serving/leading others that will define a lifelong commitment.
• The individual should demonstrate adequate need for the scholarship based on personal or family circumstances.

Faculty Endowment Scholarship
The Faculty Endowment Scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 provided to an exceptional P4 student with financial need as they complete rotations and prepare for their future career. It is awarded in the spring semester. The Awards Committee solicits nominations from the full faculty. After the deadline for nominations, the Awards Committee publishes a ballot of the nominees for a full faculty vote.

Class Scholastic Achievement Awards
These awards are given in the event of excess funds remaining in the internal scholarship budget near the end of the fiscal year. They are awarded to students with the highest GPAs in a cohort if internal scholarship funds remain in the budget. Both the amount of the award and the number of students selected vary based on the funds available. Recipients of the award are determined by the Awards Committee from data provided by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

CVS Caremark Community Pharmacy Scholarship
CVS Caremark provides a grant to support scholarships for pharmacy students interested in pursuing a career in community pharmacy. The number of awards given per year depends on funding level provided. Criteria for this award are set by the funding organization and may be subject to change. Timing of the award is based on reception of funds from the sponsor. This award is decided by vote of the Awards Committee after consideration of the application materials.

Walgreen Diversity Scholarship
Walgreens Co. has provided a grant to all pharmacy schools in the United States to support the recruitment and provide financial assistance for pharmacy education for diverse populations. The number of awards given per year depends on funding level provided. Students selected for this award must represent a diverse group or underrepresented minority and have an interest in community pharmacy. Students selected may not be a recipient of the Walgreen Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. Other criteria for this award are set by the funding organization and may be subject to change. This award is decided by vote of the Awards Committee after consideration of the application materials.

Walgreens Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
Walgreens Co. provides a grant to all pharmacy schools in the United States to support the recruitment and provide financial assistance for pharmacy education for diverse populations. One scholarship per year is awarded. Students selected for this award must embrace and promote diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus. Student may not be a recipient of the Walgreen Diversity Scholarship. Other criteria for this award are set by the funding organization and may be subject to change. This award is decided by vote of the Awards Committee after consideration of the application materials.

Admission to the PharmD/MBA Dual Degree Program is competitive with limited seats available, and therefore, early application is encouraged. Available seats are likely to be filled before March 1. Applicants must meet admission requirements for both the Pharmacy and MBA programs.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet minimum requirements for admission to the PharmD program and present a competitive application for the MBA program.

Applicants who are offered admission to the PharmD/MBA program must earn a bachelor’s degree and complete all prerequisites (for both programs) prior to fall enrollment. Applicants must have a reasonable plan to meet these requirements at the time of application. Prerequisites for the PharmD are listed on the College of Pharmacy website. Prerequisites for the MBA are listed on the Massey Graduate School of Business website.

MBA prerequisites can also be satisfied through the Summer Business Institute (SBI). The SBI is a Belmont-specific 10-credit, summer-based prerequisite accelerated program designed specifically for individuals who did not major in business as undergraduates. The program runs mid-May through early-August, with class meetings on most Tuesday and Thursday evenings (6:15 to 9:00 PM) and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Completion of the Summer Business Institute satisfies all Massey prerequisite course requirements, including finance competency. Visit the SBI website for more information.

Application Requirements

While this program requires only the PharmCAS application, all application requirements must be satisfied for both the PharmD and MBA programs.

• Application for admission to the PharmD program, with Belmont University designated as a recipient.
• Official transcripts.
• At least two letters of recommendation.
• Results from the PCAT.

• A short email indicating your interest in applying for the PharmD/MBA program sent to pharmacy@belmont.edu.  Once received, the Admissions Office will work with you to complete your application appropriately.
• Official GMAT score sent to Belmont University Admissions.  The GMAT testing center will give students an unofficial score on the test date.  Please fax your unofficial score as soon as you receive it to 615-460-6353.  We can work with the unofficial results for interviewing purposes.  A GRE score can be considered if the test was taken in the last five years.  The overall score must be the GMAT equivalent of 500.  Visit the official GRE website for a GRE/GMAT conversion tool.
• A one- to two-page essay on how an MBA degree will help you achieve your goals as a pharmacist, submitted via email to pharmacy@belmont.edu.
• A current resume, submitted via email to pharmacy@belmont.edu.

Eligible candidates will be invited for separate interviews with each program. When possible, on-campus interviews will be coordinated depending on the status of application completion. If coordinated interviews or a second on-campus interview are not possible, a phone interview with a faculty member from the Massey Graduate School of Business may be arranged.

Acceptance to the PharmD program does not guarantee admission to the MBA program. Each review is conducted on an independent basis.

For more information about the PharmD/MBA admissions process, please contact Bill Nichols via email or by telephone at 615-460-6107.

Being a pharmacist is something I had desired to become since I was in middle school, after job-shadowing a family member on career day. When I was applying for pharmacy school, I desired an institution where I could both further my education and remain in my home state of Tennessee.

Just a few years prior to my application cycle, Belmont University announced its plans to open a College of Pharmacy, and I knew it was the perfect fit! I still remember how excited I was when I received the call regarding admission. What I didn’t know was what was really in store for me as a student pharmacist, and how what I experienced would change my interests and grow me professionally in those 4 short years at BUCOP.

Early in my P1 year, I learned of “clinical pharmacy” which fascinated me, as I have always enjoyed situations that challenged my critical thinking skills. I decided that in order to fulfill this role, residency training was in my future. I began looking at adult residency programs and could envision that my future position would involve something in adult critical care or cardiology. That was until I volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House along with some of my classmates.

At the end of P2 year, a group decided to do a community service event at RMH. Needless to say, the children there stole my heart, and I left that day knowing that I had to find a way to help pediatric patients. When the pediatrics block was covered in Pathophysiology and Therapeutics, I was fascinated by developmental pharmacology and how children really aren’t “little adults”, which further solidified my interest in this field. Lucky for me, many others had previously chosen that path and had created residency programs focused solely on pediatric medicine. I requested as many pediatric-focused APPE rotations as I could fit, and I chose to apply to residency programs that would provide pediatric experiences so that I could continue into a PGY2 specialty training.

My didactic courses, APPE rotations, and practical experience as an intern enabled me to compete successfully, and I completed a first year residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. To further my training, I completed a second year pediatric specialty residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina.

As my residency training was coming to an end, I was certain that I wanted to return to the middle Tennessee area to begin my career; however, this “plan” of mine did not have a clear path to becoming reality. Fortunately, there was a new hospital opening in Franklin, Tennessee- the Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center- and they were in need of a pediatric clinical pharmacy specialist. It was a dream come true! I applied for the position and graciously accepted the offer to become their newest colleague. I am able to care for children of various ages and levels of acuity through my coverage of the neonatal intensive care unit, general pediatrics ward, and pediatric emergency department.

I am a true believer that God is unfolding His plan for my life, and Belmont was part of that wonderful plan. I am grateful for my time at Belmont and for all that I learned while a pharmacy student, as it has provided the foundation needed to prepare me for the position that I hold today.

Dr. Courtney Sutton

CONNECT

Admissions: 615-460-8122  |  Main: 615-460-6748

Do you need to have an undergraduate degree to apply?
You do not need an undergraduate degree to apply. If you do have a bachelor’s degree, all of the non-math and science prerequisites are waived. Undergraduate students are eligible to apply for admission after their freshman year of college.

Do you need to attend Belmont as an undergraduate student?
No, the majority of pharmacy students attended a different university for their undergraduate coursework. The College of Pharmacy is comprised of a diverse group of students from 34 states, Puerto Rico, and different countries around the world.

Do I need to take the PCAT?
Belmont’s College of Pharmacy does not require the PCAT for admission. The PCAT will only be used to help a student if they elect to take it. The test can factor in to how merit scholarships are awarded, and in the case of the Admissions Committee considered denying a student. The last course of action before issuing a deny would be to check their PCAT score. If it is a high score, it could potentially help the candidate, but the score is not looked at during the admissions process otherwise.

Is there housing for graduate students on campus?
Belmont does not have designated graduate student housing. There are several apartment complexes within walking distance to the university that are popular options for students. The College also facilitates connections with other students who may be looking to share housing opportunities.

Do pharmacy students get access to sporting events and campus activities?
Yes, pharmacy students are able to attend all the on-campus events like undergraduate students can. This includes basketball games, concerts, chapel, and any other school sanctioned event.

What involvement opportunities are available to pharmacy students?
There are many pharmacy student clubs and organizations on campus. There is everything from service clubs to professional fraternity’s students are eligible to join.

What is it like to live in Nashville?
Nashville has regularly been voted one of the top cities in the country for college students and young professionals. There are festivals and concerts year round, as well as no shortage of new restaurants to try. Nashville is also the healthcare capital of the United States, so there are abundant opportunities for students entering the industry.

Our admissions counselor, Manny Rubio, will be visiting the following colleges and universities in the months ahead.  All times are local.

• Arkansas Tech University Graduate School Exploration Fair - Thursday, September 10, 2019 ATU Young Ballroom 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
• University of Arkansas Graduate and Professional School Fair - Wednesday, September 11th 2019 University Career Development Center 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
• University of Texas at Dallas Graduate Fair - Monday, September 16, 2019 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
• Texas Women's University Graduate Fair Fair - Tuesday, September 17, 2019 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
• University of Texas Arlington Graduate Fair - Wednesday, September 18, 2019 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Purchase Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Fair - Wednesday, September 18, 2019 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• University of North Texas Graduate Fair - Thursday, September 19, 2019 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Middle Tennessee State University Chemistry and Pre-Professional Fair - Wednesday, September 25, 2019 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Martin Methodist University Graduate Fair - Friday, September 27, 2019 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

• Oakwood University (Huntsville, AL) Graduate Fair - Monday, October 7, 2019 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• University of West Alabama/Livingston Graduate Fair - Tuesday, October 8, 2019 9:00 am - 11:30 am
• Birmingham-Southern College Graduate Fair - Tuesday, October 8, 2019 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• Auburn University Graduate Fair - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
• Faulkner University (Montgomery, AL) Graduate Fair - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Springhill College (Mobile, AL) Graduate Fair - Thursday, October 10, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• University of Tennessee Health Professions Fair - Tuesday, October 15, 2019 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• East Tennessee State University Pre-Pharmacy Club - Wednesday, October 16, 2019 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• University of Kentucky Graduate Fair - Thursday, October 17, 2019 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
• University of California Davis Pre-Health Conference - Saturday, October 19, 2019 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
• Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA) Graduate Fair - Monday, October 21, 2019 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Georgia Southern University (Armstrong/Savanah, GA) Graduate Fair - Tuesday, October 22 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• College of Coastal Georgia (Brunswick, GA) Graduate Fair - Wednesday, October 23, 2019 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Oglethorpe University (Brookhaven, GA) Graduate Fair - Thursday, October 24, 2019 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
• Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) Graduate Fair - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Tennessee Tech Graduate Fair - Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• University of Georgia Graduate Fair - Wednesday, October 30, 2019 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

• University of California Irvine Graduate & Professional School Fair - Tuesday, November 5, 2019 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• University of California Santa Barbara Graduate & Professional School Fair - Wednesday, November 6, 2019 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• California State University San Bernardino Graduate School Fair - Thursday, November 7, 2019 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Chapman University Pharmacy Career Showcase - Friday, November 8, 2019 9:30 am - 11:30 am