UW–Madison School of Pharmacy Programs 

University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy Early Assurance Program 

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Pharmacy’s Early Assurance (EA) Program allows qualified students to secure conditional admission to the PharmD program early in their academic careers. The program is open to high school seniors planning to attend UWM and other Universities of Wisconsin campuses that offer bachelor’s degrees, as well as current UWM first-year students. 

Students accepted into the program may begin the PharmD program at UW–Madison as soon as all prerequisite coursework is completed, regardless of whether they have earned a bachelor’s degree. This pathway provides students with the opportunity to transition into professional pharmacy education sooner while completing their prerequisite coursework at UWM. 

Early Assurance Program Requirements 

Eligible Applicants 

  • High school seniors 
  • Current UWM first-year students 

Admission Requirements 

  • High school applicants must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA. 
  • UWM students must apply by the end of the first semester of their first year. 

To maintain conditional admission, students must: 

  • Maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA (as calculated by PharmCAS) 
  • Earn at least a 3.0 GPA each semester 
  • Complete at least 12 credits each semester 
  • Earn a grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses and have no more than two combined grades of C, course drops, or withdrawals across all prerequisite coursework 
  • Take no more than two prerequisite courses outside the Universities of Wisconsin system (excluding credits earned before high school graduation) 

Students may transition to the UW–Madison PharmD program after completing all prerequisite coursework, typically after two to four years of undergraduate study. 

For complete eligibility requirements and application instructions, students should consult the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy Early Assurance Program website and meet regularly with their UWM pre-pharmacy advisor. 

UW–Milwaukee to UW–Madison PharmD Pathway 

UWM also offers a Dual Degree option for students pursuing pharmacy through UW–Madison. This program allows students to transfer credits earned during their first year of pharmacy school back to UWM and apply them toward a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. 

The dual-degree pathway enables students to begin the PharmD program earlier while still earning a bachelor’s degree. 

How the Pathway Works 

  • Start at UWM – Complete your pre-pharmacy coursework in three years 
  • Gain admission to the UW–Madison PharmD: Apply to the PharmD program during your third year at UW–Milwaukee 
  • Enroll in the PharmD program at UW–Madison and begin PharmD coursework at UW–Madison 
  • Earn your bachelor’s degree – After your first year in the PharmD program, transfer credits back to UW–Milwaukee to complete your bachelor’s degree 

Important Details 

  • Students must complete UWM general education requirements, College of Letters & Science requirements, and specified Biological Sciences major coursework before beginning the PharmD program. 
  • Students must opt into the transfer-back agreement before the conclusion of their final semester at UWM. 
  • The program is available to students admitted through the Early Assurance Program as well as those admitted through the regular pharmacy school application process. 
Contact
ls-advising@uwm.edu