A special program for entering freshmen

The USC School of Pharmacy is recognized as one of the foremost pharmacy schools in the United States. Its innovative curriculum prepares graduates to be experts in pharmaceutical care and drug therapy in a variety of health care settings. Developed in 1987, the Trojan Admission Prepharmacy (TAP) program allows talented students to complete prepharmacy requirements as a USC undergraduate with guaranteed admission to the School of Pharmacy's four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Program
Application
Timeline
Suggested TAP Program Course Planner

Program
Seven-Year Program: TAP students will complete their prepharmacy coursework during their first three years at USC and must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.2. All prepharmacy courses must be taken for letter grades. TAP students are provided with individual advisement, membership to the USC Pre-Pharmacy Society and access to the School of Pharmacy Student Affairs Office.

Baccalaureate Option: TAP students who fulfilled their prepharmacy requirements may choose to complete their baccalaureate requirements at USC in their fourth year without losing their guaranteed admission to the School of Pharmacy, provided they meet or exceed the minimum cumulative GPA required for admission into the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Students wishing to pursue a dual degree program must choose the Baccalaureate Option.

Application
New Student Application: To be eligible for the TAP program you must be a high school senior applying to any USC undergraduate program for admission into the fall semester. High school seniors must initially submit an undergraduate application directly to the University of Southern California, Office of Undergraduate Admissions (213) 740-1111. A separate TAP Application must also be submitted to the USC School of Pharmacy for admission to the TAP program. Admission to any USC undergraduate program as a freshman is required for participation in the TAP program.

Continuing Student Application: USC undergraduates may also apply to the Trojan Admission Prepharmacy program after completing one to five semesters at USC. A minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA is required for admission.

Transfer Student Application: Students transfering to USC from other colleges are eligible to apply for the TAP program. Transfer students must study at USC for a minimum of two years and are requried to earn their bachelor's degree. A minimum culmulative 3.2 GPA is required for admission.

Required Application Items

1. 2008 Application
2. Two Letters of Recommendation: One recommendation letter is required from an individual who can speak on your potential as a pharmacist. The second recommendation letter is required from an individual who can speak on your past and future academic success. Each recommendation letter must be enclosed in a sealed, taped envelope with the signature of the letter writer across the back seal. Please address letters to the "Admission Committee, USC School of Pharmacy" and make sure that your letter writers include your full name and social security number (or USC ID number) on each page.
3. List of activities and achievements: On a separate sheet, please submit a resume listing any activities and achievements. Please include dates of participation, average number of hours per month, positions, and responsibilities.
4. Response to the application issues: Please respond to all three of the application issues in no more than two pages total. Your response may be single or double spaced with a 10 font or larger.

Timeline
Regular USC Undergraduate Application Deadline: Please call USC Admission at (213) 740-1111 for information.

TAP Program Application Deadline: March 1, 2008

TAP Program Decision: You will be informed about the decision on your application after you hear from USC and before the May 1 deadline.

Suggested TAP Program Course Planner

First Year
Fall Semester:

• General Biology, BISC-120Lg/121Lg, or Advanced General Biology, BISC-121Lg
• General Chemistry , CHEM-105aLg, or Advanced General Chemistry, CHEM-115aLg
• Writing and Critical Reasoning, WRIT-140 *
• Social Issues, GE Category VI *

Spring Semester:

• General Biology, BISC-220L, or Advanced General Biology, BISC-221L
• General Chemistry, CHEM-105bL, or Advanced General Chemistry, CHEM-115bL
• Communication, COMM-200, 304 or 308
• Arts and Letters 100, GE Category V

Second Year
Fall Semester:

• Organic Chemistry, CHEM-322aL
• Molecular Biology, BISC-320L
• Calculus I, MATH-125
• Introduction to Psychology, PSYC-100 or Introduction to Sociology, SOCI-200m

Spring Semester:

• Organic Chemistry, CHEM-322bL
• Biochemistry, BISC-330L
• Elementary Probability & Statistics, MATH-208, or Statistics I, PSYC-274, or Health Behavior Statistical Methods, HP-340L
• Cultures and Civilizations, GE Category I

Summer Session:

• Physics for Life Sciences, PHYS-135aL, or Fundamentals of Physics, PHYS-151Lg

Third Year
Fall Semester:

• Physics for the Life Sciences, PHYS-135bL, or Fundamentals of Physics, PHYS-152Lg
• Principles of Microeconomics, ECON-203, or Principles of Macroeconomics, ECON-205
• Advanced Writing and Critical Reasoning, WRIT-340
• Elective I

Spring Semester:

• Introduction to Microbiology, BISC-300L
• General Physiology, BISC-307L
• Cultures and Civilizations, GE Category II

Optional Fourth Year to Complete Baccalaureate Degree Requirements Remaining:

• Investigations in Science, GE Category IV
• Foreign Language (can be completed during summer)
• Diversity (can be completed with Category VI or I)
• Major requirements