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PharmD Elective Requirements

The following elective policy applies to incoming students for the 2023 – 2024 school year (Class of 2027).

To be eligible for graduation, all PharmD students must successfully complete a minimum of 7.0 elective credits, with a minimum of 4.5 elective credits provided by the Eshelman School of Pharmacy (ESOP). Exceptions (*) include:

  • PharmD/MBA dual degree: A max of 3.0 healthcare elective MBA credits may be applied towards the PharmD elective requirement. A minimum of 4.0 ESOP elective credits are required for the PharmD degree.
  • RASP: All 6.0 RASP course credits apply towards the PharmD elective credit requirement. Students are required to complete 1.0 additional elective credit to be eligible for graduation.
  • Radiopharmacy: All 7.0 course credits apply towards the PharmD elective credit requirement.
  • PharmD/MPH dual degree: No course credits from the MPH degree count towards the PharmD elective credit requirement.
  • Graduate Certificate Programs (ie, Rural Health, Ambulatory Care): No credits from the required certificate courses apply towards the PharmD elective credit requirements.

All electives must be completed after enrollment in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, but before the initiation of PY4 advanced immersion experiences (AIEs). No coursework completed as part of a pre- pharmacy program and/or a prior degree can be accepted for PharmD elective credit.

Note: For courses taken outside of UNC Chapel Hill, per University policy, the name of the university where the course was taken will appear on the student’s transcript as fulfilling the credit hours. However, the name of the course, or the grade will not appear on the student’s transcript. Grades for these courses will not be calculated into the student’s GPA.

 

The following elective policy applies to students who entered the program prior to the 2023 – 2024 school year. For more information about your individual progression towards fulfilling the elective requirements, please review your Tar Heel Tracker account.

To be eligible for graduation, all students must successfully complete a minimum of four (4) professional electives totaling eight (8) or more credit hours.

All four (4) professional electives must be completed after enrollment in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, but before the initiation of PY4 advanced immersion experiences (AIEs). Two (2) of the electives must be health affairs specific. The remaining two (2) electives may be non-health affairs specific but must meet accreditation requirements. No coursework completed as part of a pre- pharmacy program and/or a
prior degree can be accepted for professional elective credit.

Although students may choose to take all four (4) electives within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, students may take a limited number of credits outside of the school. The following requirements apply:

  • Electives within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy: At least two (2) of the professional electives (minimum of 4 credit hours) must be taught by faculty of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy OR must be one of the interdisciplinary courses in which pharmacy faculty participate. Students may choose to have all electives originate from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
  • Electives outside of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy: Up to two (2) of the professional electives may be selected from other Schools or Departments on campus, including the UNC online course catalog.

Note: For courses taken outside of UNC Chapel Hill, per University policy, the name of the university where the course was taken will appear on the student’s transcript as fulfilling the credit hours. However, the name of the course, or the grade will not appear on the student’s transcript. Grades for these courses will not be calculated into the student’s GPA.