North Carolina Central University, a historically Black educational institution in Durham, has established a new partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that will open the door for HBCU students to pursue a doctoral education at the highest-rated pharmacy school in the country.
In partnership with academic advisors, the HBCU’s Health Professions Career Center will review the qualifications of students in their first and second year of study and recommend candidates for the Early Assurance Program at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Next, the recruitment team at UNC will interview and select up to 10 NCCU students for admission. After a minimum of 72-credit hours and three years of undergraduate education at NCCU, accepted students are eligible to enroll in UNC’s doctor of pharmacy program.
“The Early Assurance Program represents a pivotal collaboration between NCCU and the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, providing a unique opportunity for our students to access a world-class pharmacy education,” said Mohammad Ahmed, dean of the NCCU College of Health and Sciences. “This partnership is a testament to our commitment to fostering academic excellence, supporting diverse talent, and preparing future leaders in the field of pharmacy. By building on our students’ strengths in STEM and health sciences, we are paving a pathway for them to make meaningful impacts in their communities and beyond.”
As of 2024, the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy is the top-ranked pharmacy school in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report.
