Admissions
Tennessee’s premier pharmacy school providing the most affordable, innovative, life-changing education to the next generation of pharmacists.
Pharmacists play a crucial role on interprofessional healthcare teams, working closely with patients and other healthcare providers. As one of the most publicly trusted professions, pharmacists make data-driven decisions to best serve their patients and improve patient outcomes. As the Dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Pharmacy (COP), I am proud of our strong national reputation in the professional pharmacy community and our top 20 pharmacy program ranking by the US News and World Report. But most compelling are our strengths – from the student experience to graduate outcomes. On the nationally standardized graduating pharmacy student survey, our graduates found the UTHSC COP particularly excels at preparing them to develop new ideas and approaches to practice (95.7%); encouraging exploration of and advanced study through elective didactic courses (97.3%); having a welcoming climate to students with diverse backgrounds (98.4%); individualizing instruction, guidance, and evaluation from preceptors (98.4%); sharing opportunities to participate in research activities with faculty (86.6%); accessing guidance on career planning (94.4%); and ultimately, preparing them to enter pharmacy practice (98.9%).
These peer-to-peer benchmarks are a quantifiable way the student experience is statistically superior compared to the corresponding national averages and the averages for other top institutions. The UTHSC COP matched the 6th highest number of residents in the United States for PGY1 Residency out of the graduating class of 2023. Coupled with students selected for a fellowship, 47% of the graduating class is pursuing post-graduate training. Of job-seeking graduates, 85% had job offers before graduation. During the last two years, a survey of graduates at the three-month post-graduation licensure point showed pharmacist employment rates of 98% and 100%, demonstrating an exciting market demand for our well-trained students. By investing in the state of Tennessee’s flagship Health Science Center for your Doctor of Pharmacy, you’ll experience the high caliber and exceptional value of an integrated curriculum engaging in groundbreaking research, focusing on practical training, bringing students access to field experts, utilizing actively practicing faculty with current cases in the classroom, and experiential learning in healthcare institutions starting the very first semester. As you enter practice, you will continue to reap these benefits throughout your career, with a strong national alumni base that values the academic and clinical experience they shared here. I encourage you to contact the Admissions Office with any questions and invite you to visit our campuses in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.
Reginald Frye, PharmD, PhD, FCCP
Dean, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
As you embark on the life-changing journey of becoming a pharmacist, it's important to remember the factors that matter most to you when selecting the right college of pharmacy are unique to your personal goals and aspirations. Our students are exceptional individuals with unique backgrounds and aspirations, but they all possess the unwavering determination, intellectual curiosity, and compassion required to become the pharmacy leaders of tomorrow. Our students are trained by nationally recognized frontline practitioners at the forefront of the changing face of the profession, making UTHSC the perfect place to start your career in pharmaceutical care.
At UTHSC College of Pharmacy, we offer our students a wide range of specialized degree programs and concentrations to choose from. Our clinical experiences are customizable, and we provide campus locations in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. Whether you thrive in a smaller campus or a larger urban setting, we are confident that we have the perfect fit for you here at UTHSC.
