Graduation Requirements

Degrees from the University of Minnesota are granted by the Board of Regents on the recommendation of the College of Pharmacy faculty. To be granted a degree, a student must:

1. Meet all prepharmacy course requirements (waived for students who have a B.S. in pharmacy from a college accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education);
   
   
2. Meet all required and emphasis area course requirements;
   
   
3. Earn minimum overall GPA of 2.00 in required and emphasis area courses;
   
   
4. Have no more than seven (7) credits of D grades;
   
   
5. Complete 30 credits in general education courses (waived for students who have a B.S. in pharmacy from a college accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education);
   
   
6. Earn a minimum of 30 credits at the University of Minnesota; and
   
   
7. Meet all financial obligations to the University.
   
   

Time limit for earning the Pharm.D. Degree

1. Students in the entry level Pharm.D. program must complete all degree requirements within eight years of the time they first register for a required or emphasis area course.
   
   
2. Students in the postbaccalaureate Pharm.D. program must complete all degree requirements within six years of the time they first register for a required or emphasis area course. The required clerkships must be completed on a full-time basis.
   
   
3. An approved leave of absence is not counted in the time limit.
   
   
4. Students granted a leave of absence of two continuous semesters or less are entitled to meet only those graduation requirements for their original graduating class.
   
   
5. Students granted a leave of absence of more than two continuous semesters or more than one leave of absence of two semesters or less, must meet the graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation.
   
   

Graduating with distinction

College of Pharmacy students have the option of graduating "with distinction" if a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher in the required College of Pharmacy curriculum coursework is attained at the time of graduation. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher have the option of graduating "with high distinction." Students who have completed the Honors Program will have the option of graduating with both the "summa cum laude" designation and the appropriate "with distinction" or "with high distinction" designation. For transfer students, the GPA must be based on a minimum of 45 credits taken in the College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota.