Overview
Mission Statement
The Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP) provides the environment to achieve excellence and opportunity in education, research, and practice. It offers an undergraduate bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a comprehensive array of professional and graduate programs addressing the profession of pharmacy in all its existing and evolving models, including the corporate sector. The school strives to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves by advancing scientific discovery and preparing its graduates to provide high-quality, evidence-based, innovative patient care, as integral members of an inter-professional healthcare team.
Vision
The Temple University School of Pharmacy will establish a strong national and international presence and reputation for excellence in research, scholarship, education, and practice, while nurturing an entrepreneurial ethos.
Brief History
In 1901, the Temple University School of Pharmacy commenced operations as part of a major expansion that Temple University enjoyed before its official elevation from a college to a university in 1907. Temple granted its first pharmacy degree in 1905 after conducting evening classes for four years at Samaritan Hospital. Samaritan, founded by Temple's founder Russell Conwell, is now Temple University Hospital. The Temple University Drug Discovery Initiative, launched in 2010, has resulted in a substantial expansion of our research facilities and an increase in the number of talented and accomplished researchers joining our faculty and staff, providing excellent resources and mentoring for future pharmaceutical scientists. The school also created the first non-thesis professional master's program in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance (RAQA) in 1968. The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program was initiated in the mid-90's and continues to serve as the pathway into the profession of pharmacy through the school. The school boasts graduate master's and doctoral programs in pharmaceutical sciences, with a bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical sciences that launched in 2025.
Academic Departments
The School of Pharmacy consists of the following departments:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pharmacy Practice
Accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) certifies that the Temple University School of Pharmacy has fulfilled all the accreditation requirements set forth for the Doctor of Pharmacy program and is granted accreditation status through June 30, 2033. Through initial and subsequent periodic evaluations, ACPE reviews all Doctor of Pharmacy programs to ensure they meet established qualifications and education standards.
Study Away Opportunities
Students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program have had the opportunity to participate in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) in various countries such as Vietnam, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Guatemala, and India. In addition to the international opportunities, students have the opportunity to complete APPEs in Ketchikan, Alaska. These APPEs are service-oriented, providing much needed healthcare in medically underserved populations in these locations.
Special Facilities
Temple University's Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research exists in the School of Pharmacy to identify and carry out pharmaceutical research projects, all the while cultivating the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists.
The Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) facility works with corporate, academic, and government agencies to support and ensure the expert production and packaging of clinical supplies and the manufacture of high-quality treatments and placebos.
The Proteomics Facility was established in 2005 as part of the Temple University Researcher Development Program and provides accessible proteomics capability for biological and biomedical research to support faculty within Temple and outside institutions, including pharmaceutical companies.
The Jayne Haines Center for Pharmacogenomics and Drug Safety has been a pioneering influence in the area of genetically-based drug therapy research, a topic that has gained widespread attention in the pharmaceutical sciences.
Student Organizations
The School of Pharmacy supports 27 student professional organizations and fraternities, spanning all possible areas in the profession of pharmacy. These organizations provide opportunities for students to interact with faculty and students from other schools of pharmacy with similar interests. The school supports travel to local, regional, national, and international meetings offered by these organizations.
The Temple Pre-Pharmacy Club gives students an opportunity to engage with the School of Pharmacy community as undergraduate students.
Leadership
S. Suresh Madhavan, PhD, MBA, FAPhA
Professor and Dean
Contact and Admissions Information
Temple University School of Pharmacy
3307 North Broad Street
Philadelphia PA 19140
Main Phone: 215-707-4900
Web Site: pharmacy.temple.edu
Undergraduate Admissions
See undergraduate admissions for details.
Doctor of Pharmacy Admissions
Temple University School of Pharmacy
Office of Professional Admissions
3307 North Broad Street, Suite 141
Philadelphia PA 19140
215-707-4900
rxadmis@temple.edu
Graduate Studies Admissions in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Office of Graduate Studies
3307 North Broad Street, Suite 528
Philadelphia PA 19140
215-707-4972
tuspgrad@temple.edu
Graduate Programs and Certificates in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance Admissions
RAQA Graduate Program
425 Commerce Drive, Suite 175
Fort Washington, PA 19034
267-468-8560
qara@temple.edu
Academic Policies & Regulations
Please see Undergraduate Academic Policies for details. Students are responsible for complying with all university-wide academic policies that apply to their individual academic status. Additional and unique policies or exceptions for the Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP) appear below.
Academic Course Load
Students who want to take more than 18 credit hours in a semester require special approval of the Director of Academic Advising in the Division of University Studies or the School of Pharmacy.
Attendance
The School of Pharmacy promotes professional behavior among its students, including class attendance. It is therefore the policy of the school to place the responsibility for class attendance upon the students. Students are accountable for all work missed due to an absence. Individual faculty are free to require attendance for their course(s); however, the School as a whole does not require mandatory class attendance. As has always been the University policy, faculty must specify in their course syllabus if attendance is required for their course for unannounced quizzes, participation grading and other possible grade-related activities.
Changing Majors or Concentrations
TUSP Students
Students accepted to Temple University as BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (PS) will select their concentration in the BS in PS with their advisor in the Academic Resource Center during orientation. Students may choose from the following optional concentrations: Manufacturing and Manufacturing Compliance, Marketing and Sales, Research, and Pre-Pharmacy. Students who intend to obtain the Doctor of Pharmacy degree should select the Pre-Pharmacy concentration. Students who choose to pursue the 4-year BS in PS program with a concentration must finalize the concentration (Manufacturing and Manufacturing Compliance, Marketing and Sales, or Research) no later than the Fall semester of the third year, if applicable. If a student in the 4-year BS in PS chooses to change their concentration prior to the completion of basic science courses (typically the end of the second year), they will meet with an advisor in the Academic Resource Center. If a student chooses to change their concentration after starting pharmacy classes in a concentration (typically in Fall of the third year and later), they must meet with an advisor in the School of Pharmacy.
TUSP students in their first semester at Temple University who wish to change concentrations will be automatically approved.
Continuing TUSP students who wish to change concentrations should have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher.
Non-TUSP Students
To transfer into TUSP, a non-TUSP student must be in accordance with the following policy in addition to the University policy:
Complete the TUSP Change of Program (COP) requirements on the Temple University School of Pharmacy Canvas course and contact the Office of Student Services (tuspss@temple.edu).
Students in their first semester at Temple University who wish to transfer into TUSP will be automatically approved.
Continuing students who wish to transfer into TUSP must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher.
Dual Majors and Minors
TUSP students who would like to pursue a dual major or a minor from another school or college within Temple University must meet with an advisor in the Academic Resource Center if they are in the first two years or an advisor in the School of Pharmacy if they are in the third year of the BS in PS or later.
Non-Traditional Credits
A maximum of 12 semester hours of credit will be allowed by TUSP for life experience, upper-level military science (ROTC) courses, and CLEP/DSST examinations. This only applies to pre-pharmacy courses. All required pharmacy courses in the BS in PS and/or PharmD program must be taken and cannot be replaced with non-traditional credits.
CLEP
A maximum of 8 semester hours of credit will be allowed by TUSP for CLEP examinations.
Life Experience
A maximum of 8 semester hours of credit will be allowed by TUSP for Life Experience. Students are required to write what proficiencies are developed by their life experience and designate courses similar to their background. The experience will be reviewed by the appropriate faculty. Students need a 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA in order to apply.
ROTC
A maximum of 4 courses or up to 12 semester hours will be allowed for upper-level Military Science (Army ROTC), Naval Science (Navy ROTC) or Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC) courses.
Courses Over Five Years Old
For transfer and re-enrolling students, courses over five years old will be reviewed by the school to determine whether they will be accepted toward the degree.
Dean's List
Each fall and spring semester, those undergraduates who have met the credit hour and academic criteria are placed on the Dean's List. See the Dean's List policy for specific GPA and credit-hour requirements.
Grading Requirements
Major and GenEd courses must be completed with a letter grade of C- or higher unless otherwise specified.
Grievances
Undergraduate students enrolled in TUSP have the right to appeal any academic or non-academic matter in which they feel they have been treated unfairly, as per the University's Students Rights and Responsibilities.
For courses offered by TUSP, individual students are encouraged to share their concerns directly with the instructor. If the complaint is not resolved, the student should meet with the course coordinator and if the issue remains unresolved, contact the appropriate Department Chairperson. If the concern is not resolved through the above process, the student has the right to submit a written complaint to the Vice Dean (michael.mancano@temple.edu) who will forward the complaint to the Academic Standing Committee. This committee will review the complaint and advise the Dean.
For courses offered outside of TUSP, students should follow the process outlined in the respective school/college.
Electronic Devices
All incoming students in TUSP are required to have a laptop or tablet compatible with ExamSoft. Academic programs in the school are technology intensive. Students can use excess financial aid (i.e., funds that are reimbursed after all tuition and fees are paid) to meet student needs, including the purchase of a laptop or tablet. Scholarships may also provide funding.
Repeating a Course
Please refer to the University policy on Repeating a Course for information on repeating a course. Because of the limited flexibility of certain course offerings, a student may need to wait until the following academic year to repeat a course.
Doctor of Pharmacy Early Assurance Requirements
The School of Pharmacy provides students in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences' Pre-Pharmacy Concentration with the opportunity to earn the PharmD in a total of six years through the Early Assurance Program (EAP). The first two years of the EAP consist of prerequisite basic science and mathematics courses, followed by the four-year professional PharmD curriculum. Students in this concentration are required to maintain an overall and science/math GPA of 2.70 to progress into the professional program to continue in the EAP. All PharmD prerequisite courses are required to be completed with a minimum C- grade on the first attempt. Students who do not meet the requirements may be eligible for admission to the PharmD but may require more than six years to complete their degree.
Application to PharmD Program
Students enrolled in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (or any other major) who have completed all prerequisite courses for the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program are welcome to apply to the PharmD program following the admissions procedures. Students enrolled in the EAP may progress to the PharmD program after at least two years of undergraduate coursework, as described above. The course sequencing is such that, once admitted, it will take these students four full years to complete the PharmD program. Credit will be awarded for any PharmD core course completed while enrolled as a pharmaceutical sciences student, when applicable, with a minimum grade of C-. Students will enter the program as first professional year students and complete the remaining coursework in the sequencing as required by the PharmD.
Transitioning from PharmD program to BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Students enrolled in the PharmD program may choose to transition to the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Credit will be awarded for any course completed while enrolled as a PharmD student, when applicable.
School Requirements
Credit Hour Requirements
The School of Pharmacy requires that students complete a minimum of 121 credits for the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences. For students in the Pre-Pharmacy concentration, a minimum of 61 credits of PharmD prerequisites is required for entry into the PharmD program. All Pharmacy courses (PP and PS) must be completed at Temple.
Seminar Requirement
All students in the School of Pharmacy are required to take a one credit first year seminar. PP 1001 Pharmacy First-Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences major as well as those students changing from another school/college at Temple during the first year.
Transfer students and students changing their major to Pharmacy after the first year should use PP 2001 Pharmacy Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement.
General Education Requirements
Students in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences are required to complete the Temple University General Education (GenEd) requirements. PharmD students are not required to complete the GenEd requirements.
Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements
The School of Pharmacy requires that students enrolled in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences have a GPA of at least 2.00 overall and at least 2.00 in the courses applicable to their major. Pre-pharmacy students are required to maintain a GPA of at least 2.7 overall and 2.7 in math/science to enter the PharmD program.
Residency Requirements
Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements. Please refer to degree programs for the specific number of major, minor, or certificate courses required to be completed at Temple.
Academic Advising
Temple University Undergraduate Education
The Academic Resource Center
Mitten Hall, Suite 110
215-204-2500
dus@temple.edu
healthadvising@temple.edu
Temple University School of Pharmacy
Craig B. Whitman, PharmD
Pharmacy Undergraduate Academic Advisor
3307 N. Broad Street, Room 138
Philadelphia, PA 19140
craig.whitman@temple.edu
Tomas Varela Jr.
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Students
3307 N. Broad Street, Room 104A
Philadelphia, PA 19140
tomas.varela@temple.edu
Students enrolled in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences have access to the advising services of the Academic Resource Center, including Pre-Professional Health Advising (PPHA). The Academic Resource Center provides academic advising to students enrolled in the first two years of the BS program. Academic advisors are important sources of information on University policies and procedures, the General Education curriculum (GenEd) requirements, and requirements for the BS and PharmD programs.
While students must assume primary responsibility for knowing the requirements for their degree and for acquiring information about their academic status, academic advisors are a valuable resource. Advisors introduce students to the various sources of information available on academic programs, enabling students to be well-informed partners in their own education. With the assistance of Undergraduate Studies advisors, students will choose a concentration during the Spring semester of their sophomore year.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with academic advisors to discuss academic plans, course selection, and registration. Students not eligible for online registration are required to see an advisor for course selection and registration.
The School of Pharmacy provides advising services for students primarily in years 3 and 4 of the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree program.