The normative registered time to complete the requirements for the Pharm.D. degree is four years, and the maximum registered time to complete the requirements for the degree is five years. The time limits exclude enrollment in a second-degree program and approved leaves of absence.
Repeat Examinations
A student who has earned a grade of Y in a course shall be offered the opportunity to take a repeat examination or other form of work to demonstrate competency, prior to the start of the next academic year. Rectifying of the Y grade received in any course will occur by the end of the following Summer. In extraordinary circumstances, the ultimate decision on rectifying Y grades will rest with the course chair.
Failing Repeat Examinations
A student, who fails a repeat examination or equivalent, shall be given a grade of F for the course. Any student who has received a grade of F will be reviewed by the Academic Oversight Committee (AOC). A student who has earned a grade of F in a course may petition the grade to the AOC.
Repeating Failed Coursework
A student who has failed a course, failed a repeat examination, or other work to demonstrate competency, and has been assigned a grade of F must repeat the course the next time the course is offered.
Progression to Year 4
To advance to Year 4, a student must complete, with at least a grade of P, all Year 1 through Year 3 required courses and with a grade of S, and the required number of elective coursework units. In addition, the student must pass the SSPPS Comprehensive Examination and have satisfactorily completed all required Co-Curriculum and Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs).
SSPPS Comprehensive Examination
Students must have successfully passed all courses in Years 1, 2, and 3 and must have submitted and identified their PharmD Research Project proposal and faculty advisor. The SSPPS Comprehensive Examination is a required examination that must be successfully passed in order to progress to Year 4. If a student does not pass the examination, the student will be given an opportunity to remediate the examination. If the student successfully passes the remediated examination, the student will continue with scheduled APPEs. If the student does not successfully remediate the SSPPS Comprehensive Examination, the Comprehensive Examination Committee Chair will notify the Associate Dean for Student Affairs. The student’s academic overall performance will be reviewed by the Academic Oversight Committee and a decision on subsequent actions will be made at that time.
Delayed Progression to Year 4
A student who must take a Year 3 course repeat examination after Spring quarter, or other method to demonstrate competency, will delay the start of Year 4 for 6 weeks (the end of APPE Block 1). After passing the course remediation examination, and passing all other items listed above to progress to Year 4, the student will begin APPEs with the 2nd APPE block.
A student who must retake Fall quarter Year 3 course(s) will start Year 4 in the Winter quarter after passing the Fall courses.
In both of the above scenarios, the student will not be considered decelerated to the next class year and will be allowed to participate with their class at commencement. However, the degree will not be awarded until all academic requirements have been met.
A student who must retake a Winter or Spring quarter Year 3 course will be considered decelerated to the next class year and will start Year 4 in the subsequent start of APPE Block 1 (usually around July 1).
Repeating Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPEs)
Students are required to satisfactorily pass seven APPEs to meet graduation requirements. Any student who has received a failing grade (F or U) for an APPE will be reviewed by Office of Experiential Education and the AOC. The student may be allowed to continue their remaining, scheduled APPEs. The student will be given the opportunity to repeat and pass the APPE where an F or U grade was received or complete and pass an equivalent APPE experience.
Revised: February 12, 2024