About the UC School of Pharmacy
From the beginning, we envisioned a different kind of school of pharmacy — one where the role of a pharmacist was shaped by community-focused students and caring, hands-on faculty in a supportive environment.
The mission of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy is to prepare pharmacy leaders committed to a life of positive impact on the community through advocacy, education, scholarship, and innovation, providing the highest level of culturally sensitive interprofessional patient care, with an emphasis on underserved populations.
We are housed in a facility built specifically for pharmacy education – located on the campus of the University of Charleston, across the Kanawha River from the West Virginia State Capitol. Our proximity to major hospitals and clinical sites offer opportunities for experiential learning.
Get the pharmacy school experience you deserve!
- Faculty and staff who care deeply about student success
- Opportunities to use technology in unique and exciting ways both inside and outside of the classroom
- One-on-one faculty relationships through our student advising program, tailored to your career interests and aspirations
- Opportunities to develop leadership and clinical skills through the didactic curriculum, student organization activities, community service, and clinical experiences
- Immersion in rural health experiences that allow students to engage with patients to provide optimum health results
- Advocacy opportunities that allow students to move the pharmacy profession forward and impact public health throughout Appalachia and beyond
Productive Work
- Deliver innovative career-relevant programs attractive to students and employers
- Enhance interdepartmental communication and interaction
- Innovate employee training, development, and onboarding
Enlightened Living
- Increase awareness and understanding of important contemporary issues
- Foster diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
- Monitor and promote emotional and physical wellness
Community Involvement
- Strengthen alumni, community, employee, parent and student involvement
- Design and deliver community-building activities, events and programs
- Openly promote our core values and mission internally and externally
Small, beautiful campus with an average class size of 45 students
Located in the capital city of WV, which provides students with advocacy/legislative opportunities, proximity to large medical institutions, safest college campus in West Virginia
Individual connections through a 8:1 student to faculty ratio and personalized advising program
We celebrate diversity – UC students arrive from 40 different states and 40 different countries; multiple on- and off-campus cultural events
Holistic admissions process- we look at you as a whole person, and not just the numbers
PCAT, GRE, MCAT, or DAT scores accepted, but not required
Unique clinical rotations inside and outside of West Virginia
Our students stand out in the crowd and are prepared to enter the workforce or pursue post-graduate training opportunities upon graduation:
- Achieve competency in 6 core areas – leadership, advocacy, public health, interprofessional education, cultural awareness, and innovation & entrepreneurship
- Certifications in Immunizations, Medication Therapy Management, Point of Care Testing, and Oncology included in tuition; additional opportunities available in diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- Opportunity to earn a dual PharmD/MBA or MSSL degree with no additional cost
16 student pharmacy organizations; opportunities to participate in community outreach and rural health initiatives in areas of disease management, immunizations, medication adherence and safety, and substance use disorders
Faculty, staff, and students are nationally recognized as leaders in pharmacy
Computer and IT support included in tuition; ownership of MacBook/Laptop transferred to student upon graduation at no additional charge
24/7 on- and off-campus access to course materials and recorded lectures
Free online access to majority of required textbooks
The mission of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy:
The mission of the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy is to prepare pharmacy leaders committed to a life of positive impact on the community through advocacy, education, scholarship, and innovation, providing the highest level of culturally sensitive interprofessional patient care, with an emphasis on underserved populations.
University of Charleston School of Pharmacy Values:
- We engage in interprofessional patient care and collaborative community outreach.
- We foster innovative leadership and are committed to the pursuit of excellence.
- We are committed to promoting professionalism and student success.
- We celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff.
- We nurture a culture of diversity
- We live our mission.
The vision for the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy is to:
- Prepare leaders, educators, and scientists to serve the profession across a diverse spectrum of pharmacy practice.
- Advance the Pharmacy profession through innovation, leadership, education and advocacy.
- Be a trusted leader and respected resource in collaborative education and health care.
- Become nationally recognized for service, community outreach, and a strong voice for rural and underserved populations.
The University of Charleston School of Pharmacy’s Doctor of Pharmacy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3000, Chicago, IL 60603, 312/664-3575; FAX 866/228-2631, website www.acpe-accredit.org.
- Despite state and national trends showing a decline in NAPLEX rates, our graduation-year to graduation-year rate remains steady and has improved from recent years. The average NAPLEX first-time pass rate for graduating classes 2010-2021 is 85%. 68% of Class of 2022 members passed the NAPLEX on the first attempt. We take the success of our students seriously and as a result, over the last couple of years we have implemented a new curriculum, progression testing, an early academic intervention system, additional exam review materials delivered during the fourth year of the program, and other exciting changes.
- The average graduation rate for all students in our program is 91%. 80% of the Class of 2023 graduated on time (i.e., completed the program in 4 years), while 91% of the students originally admitted to this class are expected to graduate from the program. We are proud to report that more than 90% of students in each of our classes continue to be employed within the first year of graduation.
- Of those seeking employment within the US, 80% of the Class of 2023 had at least one job offer prior to graduation, with 53% of those having more than one offer.81% of the Class of 2023 who sought post-graduate training (residency or fellowship) obtained a position.
The UCSOP is located in the capital city of Charleston on the Kanawha River directly across from the State Capitol Complex. This allows our students to engage in advocacy, complete rotations at area pharmacies, hospitals and clinics, and to have a BIG experience in a small, intimate environment.
Charleston is also the cultural hub of West Virginia with nightlife, live music, art festivals, unique restaurants and bookstores, yoga and fitness studios, and a minor league ballpark.
For more about Charleston and “Charleston’s University” and all that it offers, visit our Charleston’s University page.
West Virginia, the Mountain State, is lush with green mountains, hills, and valleys. Recreation in the state includes skiing, hiking, mountain biking and white water rafting. West Virginia is also home to the newest national park, the New River Gorge, which is about an hour away from campus.
Learn more about Charleston here.