Pharmacists are an essential part of how people get health care, as some of the most accessible and trusted professionals. Patients visit pharmacies dozens of times a year for new prescriptions, refills and consultations. For many pharmacists, the frequent interaction with patients is one of the most rewarding aspects of their career.
University of California’s three schools of pharmacy have a vital role in advancing health and well-being. UC-trained pharmacists expand access to care, improve medication adherence, support disease management, and help patients live healthier lives, all while driving innovation in the development of new medicines.
With more than 9,500 alumni leading in hospitals, community pharmacies, health plans, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, UC makes a big impact on the health of many.
As part of an academic health system rooted in collaboration, innovation, and service, UC is preparing its pharmacy students to meet today’s most pressing health care needs — and to shape what comes next.
Leading California — and the Nation
Our pharmacy schools are among the top in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report. As public institutions, they are affordable, high-quality options.
UCSF
#2 in Pharmacy (tie)
UC San Diego
#12 in Pharmacy (tie)
UC Irvine
#60 in Pharmacy (tie)
Degree Programs Offered Across the UC System for Pharmacy
| UC Irvine | UC San Diego | UCSF |
|---|---|---|
| BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences | Seven-Year BS Chemistry/PharmD | PharmD |
| PharmD | PharmD | PharmD/MSCR (MS in clinical research) |
| MS in Pharmacology | MS in Drug Development and Product Management | MS in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development |
| PhD in Pharmacological Sciences | Dual PharmD/MPH | MTM (Master of Translational Medicine) |
| Dual PharmD/PhD Program | PharmD to PhD career path | |
| Affiliated PhD programs in Bioengineering, Biological and Medical Informatics (Bioinformatics Pathway), Biophysics, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics |
Our Schools of Pharmacy
Our Schools of Pharmacy offer a variety of innovative, rigorous programs to meet your professional goals and advance the pharmaceutical field. Whether you want to be a pharmacist in a hospital setting or a community pharmacy, or pursue pharmaceutical science, our schools can support your desired career path.
UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Founded in 2020, the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is the first public pharmacy school in the Los Angeles-Orange County region. As part of the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, we actively collaborate with schools and programs in medicine, nursing, and population, public health, and the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute to educate, train, and mentor the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists and clinical pharmacists.
UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Featuring intentionally small class sizes, joint courses with medical students at UC San Diego School of Medicine, world-renowned faculty and a focus on community service, UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ unique curriculum has a proven track record of preparing students for success. The school is currently the #1 pharmacy school in California based on first-time pass rates for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), pass rates for the California Pharmacist Licensure Exam (CPJE) and Phase I and II residency Match rates.
UCSF School of Pharmacy
Science is at the foundation of the UCSF School of Pharmacy’s pioneering research, education, and patient care. The School has been number one in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) every year for over four decades. The doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree program, with its unique emphasis on scientific thinking, prepares students to be critical thinkers and leaders in health care.
Systemwide Expertise Across California
In California, there is a growing recognition that pharmacists can play crucial roles as members of interprofessional care teams and in settings that focus on public health issues. As a system with six highly respected academic health centers, our pharmacy students have opportunities to collaborate with their health professional peers in our UC Schools of Medicine and more. With peers across the UC family, pharmacy students can draw from a rich alumni network throughout their careers.
Using Research to Inform Patient Care
At UCH, research continually improves our patient care. In fact, one in seven National Institutes of Health grants is typically given to the University of California. This emphasis on research is exemplified in the pharmaceutical investigation of methodologies to identify individualized therapeutics that are safest and most effective, affordable, and accessible for all patients.
See how University of California Health is challenging the status quo through innovative research