BOONE, N.C. — Enrolled and incoming Appalachian State University who express interest in pursuing a doctoral degree in pharmacy may now be eligible for assured admission to the Pharm.D. program at the University of North Carolina’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy (ESOP).

An Early Assurance Program (EAP) partnership between the two institutions was signed in July and aligns with both universities’ commitments to train the future public health workforce.

The EAP program offers qualifying App State students an interview with the School of Pharmacy’s admissions committee. App State’s Health Professions Advising (HPA) Office and Office of Admissions will identify qualifying candidates and provide processes and resources to support interested students.

“This program advances our academic mission by providing an exceptional opportunity for our students who choose to pursue a career in health care,” said App State Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Hulburt Norris.

App State’s EAP program provides a conditional acceptance into ESOP’s Pharm.D. program. Throughout the EAP program, participating students will be required to:

• participate in pre-pharmacy advising at least once each semester prior to beginning the Pharm.D. program;
• participate in a program seminar series; and
• meet prerequisite coursework/grade requirements.

The School of Pharmacy’s admissions committee will be responsible for the final selection and notification of candidates admitted to the school’s Pharm.D. program.

UNC ESOP Dean Angela Kashuba said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Mountaineers to enhance pharmacy education and strengthen health care across North Carolina. Partnerships such as this allow us to expand our reach to our state’s youth and positively impact North Carolina communities.”

Dr. Marie Huff, dean of App State’s Beaver College of Health Sciences, noted, “many high-achieving App State students may now choose to enter this field as a direct result of the Early Assurance Program.”

The first class of App State EAP students will begin their journey in August 2022. Up to 10 students will be admitted each year.

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About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across seven departments: Kinesiology, Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.