Undergraduate chemistry students at Georgia College and State University (GCSU) and Augusta University (AU) who are interested in a career in pharmacy now have a streamlined approach for admission into UGA’s Doctor of Pharmacy program.

UGA and the College of Pharmacy signed an articulation agreement with GCSU in January and participated in a signing ceremony with AU officials on April 2. Both agreements will allow undergraduate students majoring in chemistry with a guided pathway into UGA’s four-year pharmacy curriculum, allowing participants an earlier start to a career in the critical healthcare field.

Students from these University System of Georgia colleges in their junior year who maintain certain academic criteria and successfully fulfill all admissions requirements will receive a guaranteed admission interview at the College of Pharmacy. Those admitted then can complete their bachelor’s degree with transferred credits earned through the Pharm.D. program. Further, aspiring pharmacists will be eligible to receive structured guidance directly from UGA faculty, staff, and current Pharm.D. student mentors as early as their first undergraduate year at GCSU and AU.

According to Dean Kelly Smith, the role of pharmacists is expanding. “With a population increasing in numbers, age, and diversity, the role of pharmacists is more important than ever before – especially in hospitals and clinics in which Doctors of Pharmacy are increasingly expected to provide direct patient care through comprehensive medication management. In addition, the pandemic has been a significant indicator of the value of pharmacists in helping people address their healthcare concerns. Our unique curriculum is well-suited to prepare aspiring pharmacists for such challenges.”

“We’re excited to introduce this accelerated pathway to UGA’s Pharm.D. program for our students,” said Chavonda Mills, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy at GCSU. “By reducing the total time required for the B.S. and Pharm.D. degrees, our students will be able to save both time and tuition dollars and begin their careers earlier.”

“Augusta University students have benefited from our partnership with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy for the past 50 years, and we’re excited to expand those opportunities with this new articulation agreement,” said Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD. “This ‘3+4’ program will provide a pathway for AU students to more quickly and easily matriculate into UGA’s Doctor of Pharmacy program. Putting well-trained pharmacists to work throughout the state is just another way we’re fulfilling our mission to improve the health of all Georgians.

Seth Hernandez, a current 3^rd-year UGA pharmacy student at the Augusta campus, offers a student perspective. “I attended Augusta University in 2012, and I was grateful to be part of the AU programs, as they introduced me to pharmacy’s umbrella of careers,” he said. “The introduction I had at AU led me to UGA and allowed me to be open-minded about the impact a pharmacist can have in so many arenas, such as retail pharmacy, on hospital rounds with other healthcare professionals, or researching new upcoming drugs for rare diseases. I am very thankful for the connection that Augusta University has made with the University of Georgia.”

Pharmacists are the fourth highest paid professionals in the U.S., making a degree in pharmacy a sound investment, according to Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites. In addition, the UGA College of Pharmacy is ranked 24^th in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, and the pass rate for the North American Pharmacists Licensure Examination is 93%, which is 5% above the national average.

A flyer illustrating the Georgia College partnership is available here. An illustrated flyer of the Augusta partnership is available here. For further information, contact Dr. Shane Pruitt, Recruitment Specialist.