Frequently Asked Questions | School of Pharmacy | Memorial University of Newfoundland

General questions

What is the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree?

The Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) replaced the baccalaureate pharmacy degree (BSc) in September 2017 and is now the only undergraduate degree in pharmacy. All pharmacy schools in Canada now offer the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. [back]

What does Memorial's Entry-to-Practice PharmD program (curriculum) look like?

A new curriculum and Doctor of Pharmacy Entry-to-Practice - Program of Study has been designed to meet the changing needs of the profession. There is an increase in experiential learning with the final year comprised primarily of pharmacy practice experience. [back]

How long will it take to complete the PharmD program?

The PharmD program takes five years to complete. The final year consists of practical experience rotations in community, institutional, and other pharmacy practice settings. [back]

What is the tuition cost for the Entry-to-Practice PharmD program?
Click here for program cost information. [back]

Is there a program at Memorial for practicing pharmacists who wish to obtain a PharmD?

The School offers a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program for Working Professionals. It is aimed at practicing pharmacists who wish to receive the additional education provided in an Entry-to-Practice PharmD degree. The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) for Working Professionals program consists of a combination of online distance courses and an experiential learning component. The first class was admitted in September 2018. [back]

Prerequisite course questions

What are the prerequisite course requirements for the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program?

The following courses at Memorial University are prerequisites for admission:

Biology 1001 and 1002
Chemistry 1050 and 1051 (St. John’s Campus), or Chemistry 1200 and 1001 (Grenfell Campus)
Six credit hours in English, three credit hours of which may be replaced by any MUN Critical Reading & Writing (CRW) course
Mathematics 1000* (1006) and 1001
Six credit hours of electives [back]

*MUN Calculus Placement Test (CPT): The alpha grade a student receives on MUN's CPT will be converted to a numeric grade when calculating academic scores. A= 87, B=75, C=65 and D= 55.

I got a transfer credit for successfully passing the Calculus Placement test. How does the school factor that into the Academic Score Calculation?

The alpha grade is converted to a numeric grade:
A=87, B= 75, C=65, D= 55 [back]

I did poorly on the Calculus Placement test (CPT). Can I still complete Math 1000?

Yes! You can complete the Math 1000 course even after writing the CPT. We will take the higher of the two grades when calculating your academic score. [back]

I already have a bachelor’s degree. Do I still need to complete all the prerequisites for admission to the PharmD program?

Yes, all applicants regardless of degree or major must complete all the required prerequisites courses before they are eligible for admission. [back]

Is there a minimum grade requirement for the prerequisite courses? What if I got a final grade of PAS?

There is no minimum other than a passing grade (i.e., 50%) but applicants should recognize that it is important to have a strong academic foundation in the prerequisite courses to be successful in the program. Courses in which students received a final grade of PAS will be considered as being successfully completed. [back]

Can I take prerequisite courses in the spring/summer semester and be considered for admission in September that same year?

Unfortunately, that is not possible. Spring and summer session final grades are issued too late to be considered for September admission of the same year. Applicants are required to complete the prerequisite courses and submit their final grades by May 1. [back]

How do I know if a course taken at another university/college is equivalent to the prerequisite courses at MUN?

For students who have completed courses outside of Memorial and would like information about potential transfer credits, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

You must provide the following information:

Name of the post-secondary institution
Course name(s)
Course number(s)
Course title(s)

If the information is available in the Registrar's database, it will be made available to you. If not, your application will proceed through the normal channels at which time courses will be assessed for transfer credit. [back]

Are applicants who complete the pre-requisite courses at Memorial University given preference over those who attend another post-secondary institution?

No, if you have completed courses that are equivalent to those at Memorial University you will be eligible for admission. [back]

Pharmacy Practice Experience questions

How much pharmacy practice experience will be provided in the Entry-to-Practice Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program?

In order to meet accreditation standards, the program must include a total of 40 weeks of pharmacy practice experience. Memorial's program offers a total of 44 weeks: 12 weeks early to mid-program and 32 weeks of Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs) in the final year of the program. The final year rotations include experiences in community, institutional, and other pharmacy practice settings. [back]