Samford’s Early Assurance Program (EAP) offers high achieving incoming freshmen a direct pathway to the PharmD: after completing the two year prepharmacy curriculum and meeting all benchmarks, students are assured entry into the Doctor of Pharmacy program—and, along the way, they also earn a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies after successfully completing the second year of pharmacy school.

Yes, to qualify for Samford University’s Early Assurance Program (EAP), incoming freshmen must meet the following requirements:

• Enroll as a first time, full time freshman at Samford University
• Minimum GPA requirements
• Two recommendation letters: one from a math or science teacher, and one from a high school adviser/guidance counselor (family members not permitted)
• Successful interview with the School of Pharmacy Admission Committee

These prerequisites help ensure students are academically prepared for Samford’s rigorous two year prepharmacy curriculum and seamless progression into the PharmD program.

Yes, for Samford’s Early Assurance Program, the required GPAs are:

• Minimum 3.5 overall high school GPA
• Minimum 3.4 GPA in Prepharmacy Prep Courses (core math and science courses)

Yes. Internships and field experiences, known as Pharmacy Practice Experiences (PPE), are required and fundamental to the curriculum at McWhorter School of Pharmacy The program emphasizes hands-on learning with 1,600 hours of clinical work in the fourth year, alongside earlier practice experiences, to ensure professional readiness.

Residencies  Practice Experiences 

A separate Samford University application is required only for high school students pursuing the Early Assurance Program.

Traditional PharmD applicants apply only through PharmCAS, the national centralized application service used by pharmacy schools to review academic history, prerequisite completion and supporting materials.

Yes, once begin the Doctor of Pharmacy program, students have access to robust research opportunities, including departmental research projects, research elective courses, a competitive summer research internship, and a required Capstone senior research project.

These opportunities offer meaningful engagement in scientific inquiry and expand the depth of the pharmacy curriculum.

A prepharmacy program is an undergraduate pathway that prepares students for admission to a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. At Samford, students complete foundational science and general education coursework in about two years, building the academic skills needed to successfully transition into pharmacy school.

Samford offers an Early Assurance Program that can guarantee admission to the PharmD program for qualified students. Those admitted as freshmen and who meet all academic and progression requirements during the two-year pre pharmacy curriculum are assured a seat in the PharmD program

Samford’s pre pharmacy program is designed to be completed in two years. After finishing this coursework, students transition into the four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program, creating a streamlined path that allows students to earn both degrees in approximately six years total.

Yes, students can choose different undergraduate majors while completing pharmacy prerequisites. However, Samford’s structured pre pharmacy pathway is specifically designed to align required coursework and advising, helping students stay on track for PharmD admission without extending their timeline.

The Early Assurance Program is limited to incoming freshmen, but transfer students can still complete prerequisite coursework and apply to the PharmD program through the traditional admissions process. Admission is competitive and based on academic performance, completed prerequisites and overall readiness for pharmacy school.

Students in Samford’s Early Assurance pathway earn a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Studies after completing the second year of the PharmD program. This means the bachelor’s degree is awarded along the way, rather than as a standalone degree before entering pharmacy school.