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Admission and Registration

Admission to the University

Admission and readmission of all students to the University is the responsibility of the director of admissions. Information about admission to the University is given in General Information.

Admission to the Professional Curriculum

No student may begin the professional curriculum until he or she has been admitted to the University by the director of admissions according to the normal procedures and has been admitted to the professional curriculum in pharmacy by the dean, following recommendation by the Admissions Committee of the College of Pharmacy, according to the procedures below. All students must meet the admission requirements given in the catalog in effect at the time of application. Admission to the University in no way implies or guarantees admission to the professional curriculum. If the number of eligible applicants for the professional curriculum exceeds the number that available facilities can accommodate, final selection is made by the college Admissions Committee and the dean.

Students should note that the two admission processes are separate and independent and that deadlines for submission of all application materials for admission to the University may differ from those for submission of all application materials for admission to the professional curriculum.

As a condition of admission to the college, each student must sign a statement that he or she agrees to accept assignment to any one of the college's internship regions throughout the state. Cooperative arrangements for pharmacy education exist with academic units and health care institutions in the following internship regions: Austin/Temple, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Galveston/Houston, the Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio. Internship regions may be added or deleted at any time based on the availability of resources. Elective regions, which provide limited internship experiences for a specified period of time (less than four months), may also be available.

Students assigned to San Antonio and El Paso must spend about a year and a half to two years in those regions; students assigned to the other regions spend only the final year of the program (the internship year) in their assigned region.

Students are assigned to internship regions through a computer-generated random lottery number system that takes students' ranked preferences into account. Since most students relocate to internship regions outside the Austin area, region assignment occurs during the latter part of the second professional year to allow students adequate time to make personal and financial arrangements. There are no exceptions to the region assignment process. If a student fails to agree to accept assignment to any region, he or she will not be admitted to the college.

Admission to the First Professional Year

Admission to the professional curriculum is competitive. The Admissions Committee evaluates the quality of scholarship indicated by the applicant's grade point average and PCAT score, letters of recommendation, extramural service activities, and oral and written communication skills. In evaluating the applicant's academic record, particular attention is paid to the courses required for admission to the college. Oral and written communication skills are assessed through an interview with a college faculty member and an essay completed on the day of the interview. Interviews are generally granted only to students with competitive grade point averages and test scores. Because the University is a public institution, preference is given to applicants who are legal residents of Texas and to applicants from states without colleges of pharmacy.

Application deadlines. Students must begin the professional curriculum in the fall semester. The priority application deadline is February 1; the final deadline is March 1.

Admission Requirements

1. The applicant should have completed at least sixty-three semester hours, and must have completed the following forty-five:

   1. Nine hours of biology, including cellular and molecular biology, structure and function of organisms, and genetics.
   2. Eight hours of general chemistry with laboratory.
   3. Three hours of freshman-level rhetoric and composition.
   4. Three hours of sophomore-level survey of literature.
   5. Three hours of mathematics (differential and integral calculus).
   6. Three hours of statistics.
   7. Eight hours of organic chemistry with laboratory.
   8. Four hours of microbiology with laboratory.
   9. Four hours of physics with laboratory.

2. The remaining semester hours should include[1]

   1. Six hours of American history.
   2. Six hours of American government, including Texas government.
   3. Three hours of fine arts or humanities coursework chosen from archaeology, architecture, art (including art education, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies), classics (including classical civilization, Greek, Latin), fine arts, humanities, music (including music, instruments, ensemble), philosophy (excluding courses in logic), or theatre and dance.
   4. Three hours of social and behavioral sciences coursework chosen from anthropology, economics, geography, linguistics, psychology, sociology, and social work.

3. The student must fulfill the foreign language requirement before seeking admission to the professional curriculum.

4. The student must remove all deficiencies in high school units by the means prescribed in General Information before seeking admission to the professional curriculum.

Admission Procedures

1. Application for admission to the professional curriculum should be made on forms available from the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Pharmacy. Application materials are also available at http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/pharmd.html.

2. The following must be submitted to the director of admissions for the College of Pharmacy:

   1. The completed application for admission to the professional curriculum.
   2. The nonrefundable application processing fee of sixty dollars.
   3. The completed personal statement.
   4. At least two letters of recommendation.
   5. Official transcripts from all colleges attended, including the University.
   6. Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) score. Scores more than three years old are not accepted.
   7. Score reports for any credit earned by examination.
   8. Scores on the Texas Academic Skills Program (TASP) examination, if the student is required by state law to take this examination.

3. The applicant may be asked to appear for a personal interview. If invited for an interview, each applicant will be required to write a short essay on the day of the interview.

4. The applicant is considered on the basis of overall academic performance, with emphasis on grades in the required prepharmacy courses. Work done at the University and work done elsewhere are evaluated separately. In accordance with University policy, courses completed at another institution with a grade of D are not transferable; they may not be used to fulfill any degree requirements, even though they are used when the student's admissibility to the professional curriculum is determined.

   All application materials must be submitted by March 1 for entry the following fall.

5. A student who has been admitted to the University and to the professional curriculum but fails to enroll in either, and who wishes to enter the professional curriculum in a subsequent fall semester, must reapply both to the University and to the College of Pharmacy and must meet all requirements in force at the time of reapplication.

6. A student who has been admitted to and enrolls in the professional curriculum but withdraws before the end of the first semester in the curriculum, and who wishes to reenter in a subsequent fall semester, must apply for readmission to the professional curriculum and must meet all requirements in force at the time of reapplication. A student who has been out of the University for a semester or more must also apply for readmission to the University.

7. A student who has completed at least one semester in the professional curriculum and who wishes to return to the college after being out for two or more semesters must apply for readmission on the basis of the curriculum in effect at the time of his or her return. A student who has been out of the University for a semester or more must also apply for readmission to the University.

Registration

General Information gives information about registration, adding and dropping courses, transfer from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. The Course Schedule, published before registration each semester and summer session, includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule and General Information are sold at campus-area bookstores. They are also published on the World Wide Web and are accessible through the registrar's Web site, http://www.utexas.edu/student/registrar/.

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance is required of all students each year of the professional pharmacy curriculum. Coverage in the amount of one million dollars for each claim and three million dollars in the aggregate per year is provided through the insurance policy. The approximate annual premium is $14.50, payable by the student; the policy covers the period September 1 through August 31.

Medical Clearance Requirement

Before enrolling in the first professional year, students must show proof of having completed at least two doses of the three-dose hepatitis B vaccine schedule. The third dose of the series must be completed before the student enters the final (internship) year of study.

Before enrolling in the final-year experiential courses, each student must show proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and tetanus, either through immunization, proof of having had these diseases, and/or adequate antibody titer. Students must undergo tuberculosis skin testing before the internship in the final year.

Many health care facilities require proof of immunity to varicella (chickenpox). Students who have never had chickenpox may be required to have a complete series (two doses) of varicella vaccine.

Registration as a Student Pharmacist-Intern

At the conclusion of the first professional year, each student must register as a student pharmacist-intern with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. This is accomplished through completion of the Application for Student Pharmacist-Intern Registration. Each student must be registered as a pharmacist-intern in order to complete the academic requirements for the degree.

Additional information regarding intern registration and pharmacist licensure is given in the section "Legal Requirements for Professional Practice."

Student Health Insurance

Students should procure health insurance to cover treatment for injuries or illness. This is especially important for the internship year, when students have frequent contact with patients in a wide variety of health care facilities.

The Student Health Insurance Plan, operated under the auspices of University Health Services, offers optional low-cost insurance for students who are not covered by other programs. Information about this plan is available through University Health Services.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Standards in the College of Pharmacy

University regulations on scholastic probation and dismissal are given in General Information. In addition, the following academic standards are in effect in the College of Pharmacy.

Academic Progress

1. The student must repeat a required pharmacy course in which he or she earns a grade of F. The student who earns a grade of D in a required pharmacy course becomes subject to the policies on academic probation and dismissal described below.
2. The student must earn a grade of at least C in each elective pharmacy course. If the student fails to earn a grade of at least C in an elective pharmacy course, he or she may repeat the course or may take another elective course instead, but only courses in which the student has earned a grade of at least C may be counted toward the professional elective requirement.
3. The student must earn an average of at least two grade points a semester hour on all courses undertaken at the University, whether passed or failed. The student must also earn an average of at least two grade points a semester hour on all required pharmacy courses undertaken, whether passed or failed.
4. A student may not repeat for credit a course in which he or she has earned a grade of C or better.
5. With the exception of laboratory problems courses, all pharmacy electives must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must also take the professional electives on the letter-grade basis.

Academic Probation and Dismissal

A student is placed on academic probation in the College of Pharmacy if he or she receives a grade of D or F in any required pharmacy course. If the grade received is an F, the student must repeat the course and may not progress to courses for which it is a prerequisite until he or she has earned a grade of at least C in the failed course. If the initial grade received is a D, the student may progress to courses for which it is a prerequisite. The student may choose whether to repeat a course in which he or she received a D, but this choice affects the student's release from academic probation as described below.

If the student receives more than two incompletes in required pharmacy courses, regardless of the grades ultimately awarded, he or she is subject to review by the Academic Performance Committee; the committee may choose to place the student on academic probation.

A student is subject to dismissal from the college if he or she receives more than one D or F in required pharmacy courses in one semester. The student is also subject to dismissal if he or she receives a second D or F while on academic probation or conditional academic probation.

Release from Academic Probation

After receiving a grade of F. The student must repeat the course and earn a grade of at least C before taking courses for which the failed course is a prerequisite. The new grade replaces the grade of F when the student's pharmacy grade point average is calculated. If the new grade is a C or better, the student is released from academic probation if and only if he or she has earned no further grades of D or F while on academic probation or conditional academic probation. If the student does not earn a grade of at least C upon repeating the course, he or she is subject to academic dismissal.

After receiving a grade of D. The student chooses whether or not to repeat the course. In either case, he or she may progress to courses for which the course in question is a prerequisite. If the student chooses to repeat the course, he or she must earn a grade of at least C. If the new grade is a C or better, the student is released from academic probation if and only if he or she has earned no further grades of D or F while on academic probation or conditional academic probation. If the student does not earn a grade of at least C upon repeating the course, he or she is subject to academic dismissal. The new grade replaces the grade of D when the student's pharmacy grade point average is calculated.

If the student chooses not to repeat the course, he or she remains on academic probation (or conditional academic probation, described below) through completion of the internship courses in the final semester. (To take the internship courses, the student must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 in required pharmacy courses.) If the student completes the internship courses with grades of at least CR, he or she is released from probation and graduates in good academic standing with the college.

Conditional Academic Probation

If a student on academic probation receives no grade lower than a C in required pharmacy courses during the following semester or summer session, he or she may be placed on conditional academic probation. This status allows the student to hold student office and to be eligible to accept college scholarships for travel to professional meetings. However, a student on conditional academic probation remains subject to dismissal if he or she receives a second grade of D or F.

Calculation of Grade Point Averages

1. The student's University grade point average includes all courses taken at the University for which a grade or symbol other than Q, W, X, or CR is recorded. If the student has repeated a course, all grades earned are included in the University grade point average.
2. The student's College of Pharmacy grade point average includes all required professional courses taken at the University for which a grade or symbol other than Q, W, X, or CR is recorded. When a student repeats a required pharmacy course for which he or she received a grade of D or F, the second grade in the repeated course replaces the previous grade when the student's College of Pharmacy grade point average is calculated.

The Academic Performance Committee

This committee of the College of Pharmacy is responsible for monitoring the academic progress of students in the professional program. The committee makes recommendations to the dean regarding students' academic progress and academic probation and dismissal. The committee also makes recommendations to assist students who may be in academic difficulty. Any student in academic difficulty may be asked to appear before the committee for guidance. The committee hears all student appeals regarding academic progress and academic probation and dismissal. The committee aids the Admissions Committee in the evaluation of students who wish to return to the college after having been dismissed.

Course Load and Sequence of Work

1. To progress to the final-year internship courses, the student must have completed all basic education requirements and all required and elective pharmacy courses except those in the internship year.
2. Because internship courses are offered on the pass/fail basis only, students should have attained both the University and the College of Pharmacy grade point average of at least 2.00 required for graduation before they begin the internship semester(s).
3. If a conflict arises between University requirements and a student's employment, the student must resolve the conflict in favor of the University requirements.
4. Students are expected to take a minimum course load of twelve semester hours during any long-session semester or at least six semester hours during the summer session. A student on academic probation must take at least twelve semester hours during any long-session semester.
5. Students may not take courses for degree credit at another institution without prior approval from the dean of the College of Pharmacy.
6. All students seeking to reenter the College of Pharmacy after having been placed on academic dismissal must make formal application through the Admissions Committee. Readmission is based largely on the student's performance and is processed through the Admissions Committee with recommendations from the Academic Performance Committee and the approval of the dean.

Standards of Ethical Conduct

Pharmacy practitioners enjoy a special trust and authority based on the profession's commitment to a code of ethical behavior in its management of client affairs. The inculcation of a sense of responsible professional behavior is a critical component of professional education, and high standards of ethical conduct are expected of pharmacy students.

Toward that end, the faculty and students of the College of Pharmacy have pledged their support to the Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct and Scholastic Integrity and the Code of Ethics that implements this Policy Statement. Upon entering the College of Pharmacy, and each academic year thereafter, students are asked to recite and sign the following pledge:

"As a student of the University of Texas College of Pharmacy, I have reviewed and hereby pledge my full support to the Honor Code. I pledge to be honest myself, and in order that the spirit and integrity of the Honor Code may endure, I pledge that I will make known to the appropriate authorities cases of dishonesty which I observe in the College of Pharmacy."

In addition, the following oath, which students will be asked to sign, is included at the end of all class examinations. At the discretion of the instructor, the oath may also be included for other assignments such as quizzes, written reports, or papers.

"I have neither participated in nor witnessed any acts of academic dishonesty pertaining to this assignment."

The entire text of the Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct and Scholastic Integrity and the Honor Code are available through http://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/.

Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including failure of the course involved and dismissal from the college and/or the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, fellow students, and the integrity of the University and the College of Pharmacy, policies on scholastic dishonesty are strictly enforced.

Attendance in Classes and Laboratories

Students in the College of Pharmacy are expected to attend all meetings of the courses for which they are registered. Students who fail to attend class regularly are inviting scholastic difficulty. In some courses, instructors have special attendance requirements that should be made known to the students during the first week of classes. With the approval of the dean, a student may be dropped from a course with a grade of F for repeated unexcused absences.

Academic Advising

Academic and career advising is an ongoing activity of the Office of Student Affairs, Pharmacy Building 5.112. Because advising is not restricted to the time just before registration, all students are strongly encouraged to seek advice whenever they need it about degree requirements, the availability of course offerings each semester, and taking courses in proper sequence.

Advising for prepharmacy students is provided by the College of Natural Sciences Health Professions Office. Students interested in the profession of pharmacy should contact that office early in their college careers.

Career Counseling in the College of Pharmacy

The college provides career counseling to students in the professional sequence of courses. Throughout the year, career counselors are available in the Office of Student Affairs to assist students in examining the career options available to them upon graduation.

In addition, a systematic exploration of professional career options is conducted in the required course Pharmacy 249, Introduction to Pharmacy. Guest lecturers include successful pharmacists representing a variety of pharmacy practice models, other health care and regulatory settings, and careers in professional organizations, education, research, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Honors

University-wide honors are described in chapter 1 and in General Information. In addition, the College of Pharmacy encourages academic excellence through Rho Chi, the national pharmaceutical honor society, and through the Pharmacy Honors Program.

Pharmacy Honors Program

Criteria for admission. Students who plan to seek special honors in pharmacy should apply to the chairman of the Honors Program Committee after they have completed the fall semester of the first professional year; they must apply before they begin the second professional year. The criteria for admission to the program are (1) admission to the professional curriculum; (2) a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all required professional coursework completed at the time of application to the program; and (3) approval of the Honors Program Committee.

Requirements for graduation. Requirements for the completion of the honors program are (1) a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all required professional courses; (2) a grade point average of at least 3.00 in all professional courses, including required professional elective coursework; (3) completion of at least two of the following honors courses: Pharmacy 139H, 149H, 166H, 168H, and 173H; (4) completion of at least one honors elective; (5) completion of Pharmacy 278H and 479H; and (6) completion of the regular curriculum for the degree.

The statement "Special Honors in Pharmacy" appears on the transcript of each graduate certified to have completed the honors program.

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Undergraduate catalog

Contents
Chapter 1 - The University
Chapter 2 - School of Architecture
Chapter 3 - Red McCombs School of Business
Chapter 4 - College of Communication
Chapter 5 - College of Education
Chapter 6 - College of Engineering
Chapter 7 - College of Fine Arts
Chapter 8 - College of Liberal Arts
Chapter 9 - College of Natural Sciences
Chapter 10 - School of Nursing
Chapter 11 - College of Pharmacy
Chapter 12 - School of Social Work
Chapter 13 - The Faculty
Texas Common Course Numbering System (Appendix A)
Appendix B

Related information

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