A dual degree in Doctor of Pharmacy/Masters of Science in Gerontology will provide extensive education and training in the unique health care needs of older adults. It will allow student pharmacists with a career interest in geriatrics or gerontology to work with health care planning or delivery organizations to develop and implement progressive pharmaceutical care programs for the elderly. This five-year program offers more depth and rigor than the Pharm.D./Certificate in Gerontology.

The Pharm.D./M.S.G. will provide student pharmacists the opportunity to gain a unique set of knowledge and skills that currently does not exist. Although several practicing pharmacists have extensive training in geriatrics, they had to acquire the skills independently. This dual degree program will integrate the education and training necessary to allow graduates to pursue advanced positions at an early stage in their careers.

Admission Requirements and Application Process
Students who would like to pursue the dual Pharm.D./M.S.G. degree must be accepted by both programs and must meet the respective admission requirements for each program. This includes having completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GRE score of 1000. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree.

Students may apply to the dual Pharm.D./M.S.G. degree program in two ways:

1. Students may apply at the time they submit their Pharm.D. application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students, who elect this approach, must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the Pharm.D. and will be offered admission to the dual degree program, contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the Pharm.D. with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A. Students who are accepted only by one program may choose to attend that program, but will not be eligible for the dual degree.

2. Students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to the M.S.G. program during their first year of enrollment in the Pharm.D., prior to the M.S.G. published application deadline. Students, who elect this approach, must apply through the School of Pharmacy. Students admitted to the M.S.G. program will be offered admission to the dual degree if they pass all courses in their first year of the Pharm.D. with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A. Students accepted to the dual degree program must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in their Gerontology and PharmD courses.

Contact Information
For more information please call the School of Pharmacy at (323) 442-1469 or the USC Andrus Gerontology Center at (213) 740-5156.