Admissions & Aid

Pre-pharmacy requirements may be taken at any regionally-accredited college or university and must be completed prior to matriculation into Belmont University School 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.

Required Prerequisite Courses

1st Biology (4) - A course in biology such as general biology, microbiology, botany, zoology, genetics, and A&P. Must include a lab. 

2nd Biology (4) - A second course in biology such as general biology, microbiology, botany, zoology, genetics, and A&P. Must include a lab.

General (Inorganic) Chemistry I (4) - The first course in a two-course general chemistry sequence. Must include a lab. General chemistry concepts include atomic structure, molecular structure and bonding, chemical reactions, periodic properties of the elements, thermochemistry, properties of gases, solid and liquid states of matter, chemistry of acids and bases, principles of chemical kinetics, precipitation reactions, elementary thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry.

General (Inorganic) Chemistry II (4) - The second course in a two-course general chemistry sequence. Must include a lab. (At quarter-based institutions, the sequence must also include a third course)

Organic Chemistry I (4) - The first course in a two-course organic chemistry sequence. Must be a standard college-level course for science majors and include a lab, which can be part of a 2-credit lab for both organic chemistry courses. Organic chemistry concepts include types of carbon compounds, stereochemistry, substitution reactions, carbon compounds properties, aromatics, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and amines.

Organic Chemistry II (4) - The second course in a two-course organic chemistry sequence. Must include a lab, which can be part of a 2-credit lab for both organic chemistry courses. (At quarter-based institutions, the sequence must also include a third course)

Physics (3) - An algebra-based or calculus-based physics course. Does not require a lab.

Calculus (3) - A calculus course providing an introduction to analytical geometry, limits, integration, and differentiation.

Statistics (3) - A course in probability and statistics. Topics include descriptive measures, elementary probability distributions, sampling distributions, one and two sample inferences on means and proportions, simple linear regression, and correlation.

Additional Credits Required for Applicants Without a Bachelor’s Degree*

Prerequisite courses designated with an asterisk below are not required of applicants who will complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution before enrolling in the PharmD program. However, these prerequisites will be required up until the time that the degree is completed and verified on a submitted official transcript.

• *1st Writing (3) - A course designed to improve writing skills which may include a course designated by the institution as writing intensive. English Composition I is recommended.
• *2nd Writing (3) - A second course designed to improve writing skills which may include a course designated by the institution as writing intensive. English Composition II is recommended.
• *Communication Skills (3) - A course designed to improve oral communication skills, such as public speaking (recommended), interpersonal communication or professional communication.
• *1st Behavioral or Social Science (3) - A course from one of the following areas: psychology (recommended), economics (recommended), anthropology, sociology, history, political science, communication theory, minority studies or global issues.
• *2nd Behavioral or Social Science (3) - A second course from one of the following areas: psychology (recommended), economics (recommended), anthropology, sociology, history, political science, communication theory, minority studies or global issues.
• *Humanities (3) - A content-based course (rather than skill-based) from one of the following areas: literature, fine arts, philosophy, ethics, foreign culture or religion. (Excludes skill-based courses such as language study, voice or instrument study, and art skills.)
• *1st Elective (3) - A college level course, excluding all other prerequisites.
• *2nd Elective (3) - A college level course, excluding all other prerequisites.
• *3rd Elective (3) - A college level course, excluding all other prerequisites.

Total: 60 hours

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.

Rolling Admission

Applications are considered on a rolling basis until all spaces in the entering class are filled.

The School of Pharmacy will consider candidates for an interview opportunity as soon as their application is verified in PharmCAS and all materials are received. Interview days will be offered several times each month, with the option for candidates to interview online sooner if they wish. Invited candidates will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee soon after their interview and a decision is communicated within a few business days 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.

Priority Application Deadline

We encourage applicants to submit their application by December 15 for the best opportunity to be considered for admission and scholarships. 

Final Application Deadline

The final deadline for submitting a Belmont application for admission through PharmCAS is June 1. All official transcripts and recommendations must be received by PharmCAS no later than June 15 for submitted applications. Final interviews are scheduled weekly through the end of June.

Early Decision

Early Decision is available to applicants who have designated Belmont University as top choice and wish to interview early in the process. While PharmCAS has phased out the binding Early Decision option, Belmont's School of Pharmacy continues to offer this opportunity for candidates who are eager to be considered for admissions and scholarships early in the process.

• Early Decision Application deadline: October 1
• Reply Date for Accepted Candidates:  December 1

Candidates are required to interview, but the School of Pharmacy is pleased to offer flexible options to navigate this process! Candidates are invited to join us on campus or online and will be able to select the option that works best for them from a list of available dates.

• On-Campus Interview Days: We host interview days on select Fridays & Saturdays from September through June. Each candidate will have the opportunity to meet individually with three faculty members for short interviews, participate in small group lunch conversations with current students, and ask questions to a student & faculty panel! The day also allows the School of Pharmacy to showcase the benefits of our PharmD program through such activities as a program overview with our Dean; informal conversations with current students; and an in-depth tour of our facilities including our new simulation center, on-campus pharmacy, drug information center, and faculty/student research labs.
• Online Interviews: If our on-campus interview days do not align with your schedule or ability to travel, you can complete an online interview experience on select Fridays. This will include a program overview, three individual interviews, and a timed writing sample. Candidates who select this option are invited to visit campus on another date to tour our facilities and meet with current students and faculty. 

The Academic Excellence Scholarship is awarded at the time of admission to students of high academic standing based on the cumulative undergraduate and math/science GPAs. Award amounts typically range from $3,000 to $20,000 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.

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.

The School 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 typically is between $2,000 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.

The Service Leadership Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of P1 students on the basis of a history of service and leadership. The amount awarded typically is between $1000 and $3000 each year 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. Information from the application for admission is used to determine eligibility for this award.

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.

The Warren E. Angel Memorial Scholarship is awarded to former Middle Tennessee State University students who meet 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.

The Faculty Endowment Scholarship is a one-time award ranging from $500 to $1000 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.

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.

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.