Contact Information: 
Retzky College of Pharmacy
Student Services Center
833 S Wood St., Room 172 (MC 874)  
Chicago, IL 60612-7230 
(312) 996-7242
https://pharmacy.uic.edu/programs/bsps-program

Administration: 
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education: Charles E. McPherson, III

Introduction

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) offers two pathways, the BSPS and the BSPS/PharmD, that afford graduates a great degree of flexibility. All students, regardless of their pathway will be admitted to the BSPS program in their third undergraduate year or upon meeting all the requirements. Of the students who are admitted to the BSPS program, some will also seek admission to the PharmD program. Admission to the BSPS program does not guarantee admission into the PharmD program. BSPS students admitted to the PharmD program will be considered professional students for the fourth year of their BSPS program. BSPS graduates are prepared for careers in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical research, pharmaceutical administration, and pharmaceutical sales, biotechnology, drug manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and many other related fields. It also situates the graduate perfectly for additional study at a professional school or graduate school. Graduates with the BSPS/PharmD will be more competitive than other non-bachelor’s PharmD graduates in Illinois and in the region for employment, residencies, fellowships, and graduate school.

Admission

Admission into the BSPS program occurs during the fall and spring semesters. The BSPS offers two pathways—the BSPS Pathway and the BSPS/PharmD Pathway. Students in all pathways will be admitted to the BSPS program in their third undergraduate year or upon meeting all the requirements described below.

For full consideration, the following minimum admission criteria must be met:

• 2.75/4.00 cumulative transfer GPA 
• 2.50/4.00 science/math GPA
• Completion of a minimum of 58 hours of college-level coursework, including the Pre-Pharmaceutical Sciences Requirements listed on the BSPS degree page in the catalog. A grade of C or above must be earned in all coursework.
• Pre-Pharmaceutical Sciences coursework can be completed at UIC or at another college or university. Applicants can view information about course equivalencies and how courses transfer to UIC and the College of Pharmacy through Transferology. See the Office of Admission Transfer Guide for more information about transfer admission requirements.

BSPS/PharmD Pathway

Students pursuing the BSPS/PharmD Pathway apply to the PharmD program during their third undergraduate year. The application to the PharmD Program is separate from the BSPS application. Admission requirements and information for the PharmD program can be found on the College of Pharmacy website.  Admission to the BSPS program does not guarantee admission into the PharmD program. BSPS students admitted to the PharmD Program will be considered professional students for the fourth year of their BSPS Program.

Degree Requirements

To earn a College of Pharmacy degree from UIC, students need to complete university and college degree requirements, which are outlined below.

Semester Hour Requirement

UG Semester Hour Requirement

Major	School	Degree Conferred	Total Hours
Pharmaceutical Sciences	Pharmacy	BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences	120

Course Requirements

See the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences page for Course Requirements.

General Education Core

General Education at UIC is designed to serve as a foundation for lifelong learning. Students are required to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours in the General Education Core with at least one course from each of the following categories: 

1. Analyzing the Natural World
2. Understanding the Individual and Society
3. Understanding the Past
4. Understanding the Creative Arts
5. Exploring World Cultures
6. Understanding U.S. Society

For a description and a list of courses for each General Education Core category, students should consult the General Education section of the catalog. Information on meeting the General Education requirements for this program is listed in the Pre-Pharmaceutical Sciences Requirement course list.

General Education Proficiencies—University Writing Requirement

As noted in the Pre-Pharmaceutical Studies course list, College of Pharmacy students meet the requirement by achieving a grade of C or above in ENGL 160 and ENGL 161.

Other Requirements

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement

At a minimum, BSPS students must receive a C or above in all major courses within the program and have a minimum of 2.00/4.00 in work taken at the University of Illinois Chicago, in all work taken in the major, and in all work accepted by the university as transfer hours. All students in the fourth year of the program will adhere to the faculty expectations for achievement in College of Pharmacy courses.

Graduation Declaration/Filing to Graduate

Students declare their intent to graduate by submitting an Intent to Graduate Form via Student Self-Service. The submission deadline is Friday of the third week of the fall and spring semesters, Friday of the second week in summer. Failure to submit the form by the deadline may delay the awarding of the degree. 

Enrollment Residence Requirement

At a minimum, the last 30 semester hours of coursework must be taken at the University of Illinois Chicago. Concurrent attendance at the University of Illinois Chicago and another collegiate institution or enrollment during the summer at another institution, when approved by the student’s college, does not interrupt the UIC enrollment residence requirement for graduation.

Transfer Credit

Coursework completed at other colleges and universities may apply toward partial fulfillment of graduation requirements and may be used as prerequisites for courses at UIC. The University of Illinois Chicago is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows for the transfer of the IAI-approved General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Please consult Illinois Articulation Initiative in the Admissions section of the catalog. The final decision, however, regarding the acceptance of credit and courses that apply toward degree requirements is made by the College of Pharmacy.

Students who transfer coursework may anticipate some loss of credit and may require more time to complete the degree than originally planned. When credit loss occurs, it does not imply a negative evaluation of a student’s transfer work but rather a lack of appropriateness for the programs of the college. For more information regarding the transferability of credits prospective students may create an account at Transferology.

Transfer Credit for Continuing Students

Continuing students planning to take non-UIC courses must get prior approval from the College of Pharmacy.

College Policies

Academic Load

To be considered full-time, a student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours fall and spring terms. During the regular academic year, an academic course load exceeding 18 semester hours must be approved in the College of Pharmacy Office of  Student Affairs.

Academic Notice and Dismissal Rules

Deficit Points and Academic Recovery

To better understand term and academic notice, dismissal, and academic recovery, it is important to understand deficit points. Students who have earned a UIC total GPA below a 2.00 will have negative deficit points. Deficit points are calculated as follows: multiply the number of semester hours for each course taken by the points for the grade received, A=+2, B=+1, C=0, D=-1, F=-2. Add the points for each course taken during the semester. The total equals the deficit points used to determine term and academic notice status and dismissal. For every negative deficit point earned, an equivalent in positive points must be earned to offset the negative, returning the GPA to 2.00, and good academic standing. As an example, students with a -14 deficit would need a subsequent semester of 14 semester hours of B grades, with nothing less than a C in order to return to good standing. A personalized degree audit found in uAchieve details academic deficit, semester, and total GPAs.

Term Notice Rules

1. A student not currently on academic notice or term notice will be placed on term notice at the end of any term in which the student earns less than a 2.00/4.00 grade point average but whose UIC grade point average is equal to or greater than a 2.00/4.00. For such a student, term notice serves as a warning.

A student on term notice who earns a UIC Term GPA of at least 2.00/4.00 will be removed from term notice.

Academic Notice Rules

1. A student not currently on academic notice will be placed on academic notice at the end of any term in which the student earns a cumulative or UIC GPA less than a 2.00/4.00. This rule applies even for the student with a cumulative GPA of 2.00/4.00 or higher. For such a student, academic notice serves as a warning.
2. An entering transfer student may be placed on academic notice when admitted by petition with cumulative GPA lower than 2.00/4.00.
3. A student readmitted by petition may be placed on academic notice when admitted with a UIC GPA lower than 2.00/4.00.
4. A student readmitted by petition may be placed on academic notice when admitted with a combined cumulative GPA from UIC and other institutions that is lower than 2.00/4.00.

A student on academic notice who earns a GPA of at least 2.00/4.00 in a given term will be removed from academic notice, provided the student’s cumulative GPA in all work taken at UIC is at least 2.00/4.00. Further, for the student with transfer credit, the combined average of the student’s transfer credit and UIC coursework must also be at least a 2.00/4.00.

A student currently on academic notice will be continued on academic notice when the one of the following occurs:

1. The student meets the GPA required by the conditions of their academic notice but does not raise the cumulative UIC GPA to at least 2.00/4.00; or
2. The student meets the GPA required by the conditions of their academic notice but does not raise the combined average of the student’s transfer credit and UIC coursework to at least 2.00/4.00.

The College of Pharmacy Academic Standing Committee (ASC) determines the conditions of academic notice. In addition to specifying the GPA, the ASC may require the completion of specific courses, may limit the number of hours for which the student registers, and a may exclude the student from taking certain courses while on academic notice.

Dismissal Rules

1. A student on academic notice may be dismissed from the university in any term in which the student fails to meet the grade point average required by the academic notice and in which the cumulative GPA in courses taken at UIC is less than 2.00/4.00.
2. A student on academic notice may be dismissed from the university in any term in which the student fails to meet the GPA required by the academic notice and in which the combined transfer and UIC grade point average is less than 2.00/4.00.
3. A student who fails to make progress toward a degree may be dismissed. Examples include failure to complete required courses, accumulation of an excessive number of Incomplete grades, failure to earn credit in any semester, failure to maintain a C average in the major discipline.
4. In addition to the term notice, academic notice, and dismissal rules above, a college or a school may impose criteria for dismissing a student from a curriculum or college without prior academic standing of term notice or academic notice, may impose other terms of term notice or academic notice, and may specify a minimum lapse of time between a dismissal action and consideration of a petition for readmission. The dismissal rules may be waived when, in the judgment of the student’s college, the student’s overall record warrants such action.

^a In other university publications, Dismissal Rules are sometimes referred to as Drop Rules. Term Notice and Academic Notice may be referred to as Probation.

Appeal of a Dismissal Decision

Students who have been dismissed may apply for readmission after two terms (excluding the summer session), applications originate at the Office of Admissions. It is important to note, that students are afforded 15 weeks to complete a term withdrawal, available online, through the last day of instruction. If a serious health or personal issue prevented the student from completing the online term withdrawal by the deadline, or extenuating circumstances prevented the student from completing finals, students will have the limited opportunity to meet with the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Pharmacy to petition for immediate reinstatement. The student may request immediate reinstatement by following the guidelines as outlined in the college dismissal letter.

Change of Course Schedule

Undergraduate students may drop courses using my.UIC through the end of the second week of classes for fall and spring semesters, the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1, or the first Friday of Summer Session 2. During weeks 3 through 10 of the fall and spring semesters (first Thursday through the third Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), students may drop courses with the permission of their major college. If the drop occurs between 0 and 2 weeks in fall and spring, there will be no notation on the transcript. If the drop occurs during weeks 3 through 10 in fall and spring (first Thursday through the second Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), a W is noted on the transcript. Undergraduate students may drop a maximum of 4 UIC individual courses that result in a W notation on their transcript during their entire undergraduate degree program. 

Class Attendance

Each instructor establishes the attendance policy for the class, including penalties for nonattendance. Failure to attend classes does not result in automatic withdrawal from a course. The college expects that students will attend all classes.

Course Prerequisites

A student must satisfy the prerequisites before enrolling in a course. A student enrolling in a course without having met the prerequisites may be withdrawn from the course. Course prerequisites are listed in both the course descriptions in this catalog and the Schedule of Classes. Only the instructor may waive the prerequisite, if given evidence that the student is adequately prepared to pursue the subject.

Credit/No Credit Option

A student must consult with the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education to determine whether Credit/No Credit is an option.

Double Major, Double Degrees, and Second Bachelor’s Degree

Double Major

Double Degrees

In some cases, a BSPS student may receive two degrees concurrently. A student wishing to earn a double degree must consult with the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education. Generally speaking, the student must complete 30 semester hours of credit at UIC beyond the requirements for the first degree in courses not offered for the first degree. In addition, the student must complete all requirements for both degrees. Double degrees will not be approved if the BSPS degree and the proposed second degree involve the study of a similar area or substantial duplication of coursework.

For the purposes of declaration, a student must be in good academic standing. A BSPS student must consult an academic advisor in the College of Pharmacy to initiate a request for double degrees. The college does not approve requests for more than two bachelor’s degrees.

The following double degree program combinations are prohibited:

• BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences/BS in Biochemistry
• BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences/BA in LAS Major in Chemistry
• BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences/BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Behavioral Health
• BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences/BS in LAS Major in Integrated Health Studies, Concentration in Health and Science

Second Bachelor’s Degree

Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree at UIC or another institution are required to follow the same application procedures as all other applicants in order to pursue a second bachelor’s degree. Students must complete all requirements for the second degree as specified by the college and the major department, including a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond those required for the first degree. The UIC enrollment residence requirement must also be met, i.e., the last 30 semester hours for the second degree must be taken at UIC. A second bachelor’s degree is not permitted when there is substantial course overlap between the first and second degrees.

Minors

Although a minor is not required, a student may elect to complete one or more minors. BSPS students may complete a minor in another college, with the approval of that college. Discussion about the possibility of a minor fitting into a student’s BSPS program should start with the BSPS program.

Graduate-Level Courses for Undergraduate Credit

With approval from the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education and permission from the professor, an undergraduate student may enroll in a course at the graduate level (400 or 500 level) for undergraduate credit. Prior to enrollment, students must obtain approval and must have met course prerequisites.

Students should understand that graduate-level courses taken by an undergraduate student are generally not applicable toward a graduate degree.

Petition Procedure

Students may file a written petition with their individual department to request an exception to college policies. It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation in support of a petition. To be eligible for consideration a petition must address an academic term within the last two years. Submission of a petition does not imply approval.     

Registration Approval

All new students are required to either receive advising or attend an orientation program prior to registration. 

Repeat Policy for Standard Graded Courses

Students may repeat a course to increase their knowledge of the subject matter. There are circumstances under which repeating a course is advisable and to a student’s advantage. There are also circumstances where repeating a course may disadvantage a student and narrow a student’s options. Some colleges require students to discuss any plan to repeat a course with their academic advisor before they register to repeat the course.

Courses with A or B grades may not be repeated. Normally, courses with a C grade may not be repeated. Courses with D or F grades may be repeated once without written permission. In all cases, the original grade for the course and the grade for each repeat will appear on the transcript. Only one registration for the course counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation. A course cannot be repeated after receiving credit in a course for which the repeat course is a prerequisite.

To repeat a course more than once requires written permission from the student’s college dean. Students who have been dismissed may not appeal on the grounds of intention to repeat courses. Certain courses may not be repeated; students should consult their college before repeating a course.

Undergraduate Grade Point Average Recalculation Policy

• Colleges may elect to implement this policy as early as the end of the junior year, or as late as the final semester during degree certification.
• The college will evaluate each student unable to graduate because of an academic grade point average deficit. The deficit may occur in the UIC GPA, the program GPA, or both.
• The academic record is examined so as to determine if courses, deemed appropriate by each college, with grades of F or grades of D, may be excluded from the student’s grade point average.
• A total of four courses may be excluded, with one course excluded at a time until the necessary quality points are obtained to meet the UIC GPA requirement and/or degree program minimum GPA. The semester hours associated with excluded course grades will not count towards graduation requirements.
• Only the college can initiate course exclusions, and only in consultation with the evaluated student.
• Students may not request exclusions.
• Only courses taken at UIC may be converted as part of this policy.
• This policy only applies to undergraduate degree seeking students.
• All courses taken and all grades will remain on the official transcript.
• The grade exclusion policy does not apply to courses failed as the result of a student conduct hearing.
• In cases where these procedures would impact program accreditation, licensure or similar, colleges may use their discretion to allow the policy. Colleges, departments, and programs may have discretion in choosing courses that impact the student’s major.

Transferring

Intercollege Transfer Students

See previous section on Admissions.

Transfer Students from Other Universities

See previous section on Admissions.

Academic Advising

Advising Policy

Prior to admission into the BSPS program, prospective students should contact the College of Pharmacy regarding advice on acceptance of transfer credit. Following admission, students are assigned a BSPS program advisor who will assist them with course and career planning.

Academic Honors

College Honors

The student who has demonstrated outstanding academic excellence throughout the entire undergraduate program may be eligible for graduation with Latin Honors (e.g. Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude). College Honors will be awarded at the time of graduation to those students who have earned a UIC and cumulative GPA of at least 3.50/4.00.

Dean’s List

Each semester the Dean’s List honors the academic excellence of students enrolled in the college’s undergraduate programs. Students must be full time and earn at least 12 semester hours of letter grades in his or her respective department to be eligible. Students must also earn a semester grade point average of 3.50/4.00 or higher.

Degree Programs

• BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences