The FAQs begin here . . .

This FAQ has been designed to address four key areas of academics where students have had questions.  A separate section is also available with the answers to questions about affiliation.  As noted above, if you have questions that are not answered in this document, please feel free to email the Office of Academic Services for more information.

Section I:  Placement Tests and Results

1. When and where is the placement test given?
2. How do I get there?
3. Do I have to register to attend the placement test?
4. Why do I have to take placement tests?
5. What material is covered in these tests?
6. When will I receive my placement test results?
7. I received my placement test results.  How do these codes relate to where my courses will be taken?

Section II:  AP Credit and Previous College Coursework

1. What is AP Credit?
2. How does the School transfer the credit?
3. Do I need to make an appointment with the Office of Academic Services to accept credit?
4. When does the School apply the credit to my transcript?
5. How does accepting AP Credit affect my standing at the School?
6. Do I have to take an additional calculus course if I accept AP Credit for calculus?
7. I've taken coursework at another college while in high school.  Is this coursework transferable?
8. Does the School transfer just the credits?
9. How do I accept or deny transfer credit?
10. Am I permitted to take coursework during the Summer Session prior to my first semester at the School?
11. Am I permitted to use AP courses in the sciences to satisfy Humanities / Social Science Electives?

Section III:  Registration and Schedule Information

1. Do I need to register for my first semester courses?
2. How is my schedule developed?
3. When will I receive my schedule of classes for the Fall Semester?
4. Am I able to make changes to my first semester schedule?
5. How do I read the schedule I just received?
6. When am I able to register for my own classes?
7. Why is it that my schedule is not like the first semester listed on the Curriculum Sheet?

Section IV:  Curriculum and Scholastic Standing Questions

1. Do I have to follow the curriculum as it is listed in the Undergraduate Catalog?
2. Must I complete all first year courses before taking second year courses?
3. Can I skip a year?
4. Why do I have to take humanities/social science courses?
5. Can I complete a minor?
6. What happens if I fail a course?
7. What are the progression standards at the School for students in the All-Pharm.D. Curriculum?

Section V:  Questions About ID Pictures

1. Why do I need an ID Picture?
2. What happens if I cannot have my picture taken on the date of the Placement Exam?
3. Where do I go to have my ID Picture taken?
4. When will I receive my ID?

Section VI:  Questions About Record Confidentiality

1. What is the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)?
2. How secure are my academic records at the University?
3. How do I allow others to view my private academic records?

Section VII:  Summer Session Coursework

1. I want to get a head start on coursework in the curriculum. What coursework can I take?
2. May I take remedial coursework I have placed into?

Section VIII:  Computing Services at the University

1. What is Eden?
2. Why do I need an Eden account?
3. How do I create my Eden account?
4. Why is a valid email account so important?
5. How do I update my Contact Information with the University?

Section I:  Placement Testing

1.  When and where is the placement test given?

        Please see the Placement Testing Page

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2.  How do I get there?

Directions to the Allison Road Classroom Building can be found here.

Signs will be posted directing you to the placement test center.

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3.  Do I have to register to attend the placement test?

No.  You do not have to register for the placement test.  Just be sure to show up on the appropriate date with at least two No. 2 pencils and your RUID.

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4.  Why do I have to take placement tests?

The placement tests must be taken by all first-year students entering the University.   This test is designed to provide information about your skills in the English language and in mathematics. The test results will be used, along with other information and an additional math test, to place you in the courses and sections appropriate to your level of preparation. In some cases those may be noncredit, developmental courses. It is important that you take the tests seriously and that you perform to the best of your abilities. Poor performance on these tests may result in your reclassification to a later year of graduation.

Regardless of prior academic performance in high school or advanced coursework taken, all in-coming first-year students are required to take the placement tests in English and Mathematics.

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5.  What material is covered in these tests?

The placement tests cover a wide variety of English and Math knowledge.  The Basic Skills test measures your skills in reading, writing, computation, elementary algebra, and pre-calculus.

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6.  When will I receive my placement test results?

Students who have taken their placement tests at the New Brunswick Campus during the May testing cycle, should receive their placement test results by the third week of June. Those who have taken the tests after the May cycle will receive the test results later during the Summer. If you do not receive your placement test results by August 1, it is your responsibility to contact the Office of Academic Services to determine the status of your test results.

It is particularly important for you to obtain these results if you believe that your placement may be in a remedial course!

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7.  I received my placement test results.  How do these codes relate to where my courses will be taken?

Students who have taken their placement tests at the New Brunswick Campus will receive the a listing of the codes and the equivalent courses offered at the New Brunswick Campus.  The same is true for students who have taken the tests in Newark or Camden.  These codes tell the Dean's Office which courses you will be placed into for English and Math.

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Section II:  AP Credit and Previous College Coursework

1.  What is AP Credit?

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is sponsored by the College Board and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS).  It offers secondary school students the opportunity to participate in challenging college-level course work while still in high school.  Students can receive credit, advanced placement, or both from colleges and universities that participate in the program.  Rutgers University is one such participant.

For more information on the program, visit:  http://www.collegeboard.org/ap/students/index.html.

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2.  How does the School transfer the credit?

In order for the School to transfer credit, students must have the AP Grades submitted to the University directly from ETS.

Once the University has received the Grades from ETS, the grades and exams will be evaluated.  Students who receive grades of 4 or 5 in the exam taken may be given credit for an equivalent course at the University.  Please bear in mind that equivalent coursework at the University may not satisfy core science, math, or English requirements at the School. 

Students will be informed of the credits that are transferable by letter to their home address.  If a student wishes to accept the credit, there will be a reply sheet enclosed with the letter that must be returned to the Office of Academic Services.   On the reply sheet there will be a place where students can accept or deny the offer of credit for each course. A humanities/social science elective course will also be listed that will replace the course for which a student may have received credit.

The reply sheet must be postmarked to the School no later than the date listed on the sheet.

Please note that no more than 8.0 credits of AP coursework will be transferred for the purposes of satisfying degree requirements at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.

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3.  Do I need to make an appointment with the Office of Academic Services to accept credit?

No.  Students who wish to accept AP Credit do not need to make an appointment with the Office of Academic Services.  Please review the answer to question 2 for more information on how to accept credit.

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4.  When does the School apply the credit to my transcript?

Once the School receives the reply sheet from you, the credit will be applied to your transcript.  Please note that only the credit for the course will be applied.

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5.  How does accepting AP Credit affect my standing at the School?

Depending on the number of credits accepted, and the courses for which credit is granted, your standing may be affected very little or quite significantly.  Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to accept the credit.

Remember, coursework at the University is going to be taught in a way that is very different from the way it has been in high school.  Thus, depending on the student, his or her interests, and abilities, accepting AP Credit may be very beneficial or somewhat of a hindrance. 

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6.  Do I have to take an additional calculus course if I accept AP Credit for calculus?

Yes.  If you wish to accept AP Credit for any of the Calculus Tests given, you will be expected to take the next level calculus course at the University.

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7.  I've taken coursework at another college while in high school.  Is this coursework transferable?

Maybe.  Students who want to receive credit for coursework completed at another college or university must submit an official copy of the transcript from that college or university to the following address for review:

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Office of Academic Services
160 Frelinghuysen Road, Room 102
Piscataway, NJ  08854-8020

The School of Pharmacy will only accept credits from these programs under very strict guidelines. We accept no more than 8 credits for work done while in high school which also includes any credit from AP, no more than 2 courses each term in the fall and spring semesters.

Once the transcript has been received, the course will be reviewed by the proper department here at the University for equivalency.  Core science and math coursework must be equivalent to the course required by the School.  If it is not recognized as an equivalent, the School will not be able to transfer the credit.

Coursework in English will only be accepted as humanities / social science elective credit.  All students will be required to take the English courses listed in the curriculum.

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8.  Does the School transfer just the credits?

Yes.  As per University regulations, the School will only transfer credits from coursework taken outside the University.  Grades do not transfer.

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9.  How do I accept or deny transfer credit?

Students will be informed of the credits that are transferable by letter to their home address.  If you want to accept the credit, there will be a reply sheet enclosed with the letter that must be returned to the Office of Academic Services.   On the reply sheet will be place where students can accept or deny the offer of credit for each course as well a listing of the humanities / social science elective course that will be used to replace the course for which a student may have received credit.

The reply sheet needs to be postmarked to the School no later than the date listed on the sheet.  Once the School receives the reply card from you, the credit will be applied to your transcript.  Please note that only the credit for the course will be applied.

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10.  Am I permitted to take coursework during the Summer Session prior to my first semester at the School?

Generally, no. This is because the coursework in the Fall semester of the first pre-professional year is based upon your placement test results. Placement test results will not be available until after the third weekend in May.

Only in cases where students need to complete remedial coursework in order to be on track for the Fall semester will permission be granted to take course.

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11.  Am I permitted to use science-based AP courses to satisfy Humanities / Social Science Electives?

No. This is because the coursework permitted to satisfy Humanities / Social Science Electives need to be in non-Science disciplines. A full explanation of the types of courses that are permitted for the purpsoes of satisfying Humanities / Social Science Electives can be found at. http://pharmacy.rutgers.edu/facts/Humanities.pdf

We do not "convert" or otherwise ignore the field of study or discipline in which coursework was completed. Thus, if a student declines the offer of credit for a science course, then no credit will be applied to the student's transcript.

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Section III:  Registration and Schedule Information

1.  Do I need to register for my first semester courses?

No.  You will be registered by the Office of Academic Services for your first semester courses.

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2.  How is my schedule developed?

Your schedule is developed based upon your scores on the Placement Tests for English and Mathematics.  Depending on your scores, you may not be able take all of the first year courses as outlined in the all-Pharm.D. Curriculum.  Therefore, you may have been placed into alternate courses that will satisfy electives within the School. The Notes below should explain questions you may have regarding placement. After reading these notes, please review your program carefully.

All Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy students must …

1. complete one Calculus course at the University. Students who have placed into another math class should review the information below to see what additional math classes must be taken before completing Calculus I.

Math 025	Elementary Algebra	An E3 credit course that offers no credit toward graduation.
Math 026	Intermediate Algebra	An E3 credit course that offers no credit toward graduation.
Math 011 + 111	Pre-calculus Part I	Math 011 is an E2 credit course and Math 111 is a 2 credit course. The two must be taken concurrently. While both courses count in your credit load for the Fall term, only Math 111 offers degree credit. Math 011 and 111 are followed by Math 012 (E2 credits) and Math 112 (2 credits), Pre-calculus Part II, in the Spring Term.
Math 115	Pre-calculus	A one-term, 4 credit course.
Math 135	Calculus I	A 4 credit course that must be completed by School of Pharmacy students.

2. complete a course in Written English (01:355:___) their first semester. Based upon your placement results, you have been registered for one of the English courses below.

098	Composition Skills	An E4.5 credit course that offers no credit toward graduation. It prepares students for English 100, focusing on sentence structure and basic writing.
099	Reading or English 100	An E1.5 credit course that offers no credit toward graduation. It is designed to increase reading comprehension, flexibility, and fluency. It is taken concurrently with English 100.
100	Basic Composition	A 3 credit preparatory course for English 100.
101	Expository Writing I	A 3 credit writing course.

If you have accepted credit from either Advanced Placement or coursework taken an another college or university toward a core science, math, or English course that you would normally take during the first semester, please take note:  Your schedule may not reflect these changes.  Students will receive updated schedules during orientation.  To find out more about orientation, click here.

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3.  When will I receive my schedule of classes for the Fall Semester?

Schedules will be mailed by the Office of the Registrar around the first two weeks of August.  Included in that mailing will be other academic information.  It is very important that you read over this information carefully.

4.  Am I able to make changes to my first semester schedule?

No changes to first-year student schedules will be made until after the Fall term begins.  Students are expected to attend the classes for which they have been registered.  For further information on this, please refer to the First-Year Student Registration Letter.

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5.  How do I read the schedule I just received?

To understand the program slip, please review the following example:

At Rutgers, there are six class periods each day and three class periods each evening, each lasting 80 minutes:

If an asterisk (*) follows a period, for example, M1*, it indicates a 55-minute class. Class days are designated by the following abbreviations:

 

The above class meets second period on Mondays and Thursdays (MTh2). If no class hour or room is listed on your program slip, be sure to pick up the Schedule of Classes when you arrive on campus.

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6.  When am I able to register for my own classes?

First year students will be eligible to pre-register for classes beginning with the Spring Semester of their first year.  Information on how to register for courses will be sent to your PO Box on campus during the Fall Semester.

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7.  Why is it that my schedule is not like the first semester schedule listed on the Curriculum Sheet?

If your schedule does not show all of the courses as they are listed on the Pharm.D. Curriculum Sheet, there may be a couple reasons for this.  Primarily this may be due to your placement results.  Please be sure to check your math and English placement results.  If you have placed into a math course below Pre-Calculus, Part I, then this is the reason.  If you have placed into an English course below Expository Writing I, then this is the reason.

If you are missing the course Introduction to Experimentation, 01:160:171, this is because there may not have been a sufficient number of spaces available in the laboratory sections.  If you do not have this course, do not worry.   You will be able to take the course in the Spring Semester.

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Section IV:  Curriculum and Scholastic Standing Questions

1.  Do I have to follow the curriculum as it is listed in the Undergraduate Catalog?

Yes. Students admitted into the six-year all-Pharm.D. Curriculum are expected to follow the curriculum as listed in the Undergraduate Catalog. If there is a need to augment your schedule of courses, you need to contact the Office of Academic Services for academic advising and to determine the best sequence of courses that will permit you to remain to track with your class.

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2.  Must I complete all first year courses before taking second year courses?

Yes. Students are expected to complete all coursework from the first year before they begin taking courses in the second year.

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3.  Can I skip a year?

No. With the professional nature and focus of the Doctor of Pharmacy program, it is not possible to skip any years.

Students should be aware that the coursework prescribed in the first two years of the program is the foundation from which they will draw in the professional years.  Any type of deficiency in the coursework taken will become manifest in their professional years.

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4.  Why do I have to take humanities/social science courses?

The curriculum as accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE) requires students to take humanities/social science electives.  This expectation is placed upon students so that they become more well-rounded in this area.  Students at the School of Pharmacy must take a total of nine courses (three credits each) in the humanities and/or social sciences.  Of these, the School requires two Writing courses in the humanities and one Economics course as a social science.  The other six courses must be true humanities and/or social sciences.  Of these, one must be a Psychology course.  For further information on humanities/social science elective courses, click here.

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5.  Can I complete a minor?

No. Because the Program of Study at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy concludes with the awarding of the terminal graduate degree of a Doctor of Pharmacy or Pharm.D., we cannot permit a minor to be completed.

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6.  What happens if I fail a course?

If you fail a course while in the Entry-Level Pharm.D. program, you will be expected to repeat the course.  Please be aware that both the original grade of "F" and the new grade will count in your Cumulative GPA.

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7.  What are the progression standards at the School for students in the Pharm.D. Curriculum?

Students in the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy are expected to maintain a high level of academic performance. First and second year students are expected to achieve a minimum 2.500 cumulative grade point average at the end of each semester, including the Fall semester of the first pre-professional year.

No grades of "D" in any of the core science courses (defined as: General Biology I, General Biology II, Systems Physiology, General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry I, and Organic Chemistry II). If a grade of "D" is attained, the course will need to be repeated and both the original grade and the new grade will count in the Cumulative GPA.

As a condition of entrance into the First Professional (Third) Year of the Program of Study, all students will be required to complete a professional interview prior to admission.

Upon entrance into the Professional Years of the Program of Study, all students will be expected to maintain a minimum of a 2.500 cumulative and professional grade point average.

Students who attain grades of "D" in any core science or Professional course (defined as coursework with a School 30 or 31 designation) during any given semester will have their academic record reviewed by the Scholastic Standing Committee.

In addition, students in the Pharm.D. program who repeat courses will have both the original grade and the new grade counted in their cumulative GPA and their degree credits. The academic performance standards expected of Pharmacy students are outlined in the Pharmacy section of the 2003-2005 New Brunswick Undergraduate Catalog.

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Section V:  Questions About ID Pictures

All students at Rutgers University are required to carry their student ID with them at all times.  You may be asked for the ID at any time while on the premises of the University to prove that you are a Rutgers University student.  All students, faculty, and staff at the University are required to carry their University IDs with them at all times as proof of being part of the University.

For more information, click on the link below:  http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~ruconxn/describe.htm

2. What happens if I cannot have my picture taken on the date of the Placement Exam?

As part of the Placement Test Day in-coming first year students will be able to sit for their ID pictures.  If students do not have the time to have the picture taken on that day, students may go to the RUConnection Office on the Busch Campusduring the Summer to complete this process.  Information on hours of operation can be found at the following website: 

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~ruconxn/hours.html

3. Where do I go to have my ID Picture taken?

ID pictures are taken at the RUConnection Office on the Busch Campus in the Campus Center.  Information on where the Center is located can be found at the following website:

http://maps.rutgers.edu/building.aspx?id=44

4. When will I receive my ID?

Students will receive their IDs by mail approximately two weeks before the start of school  The ID, along with your Fall schedule, will be mailed to your home address.

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Section VI:  Questions About Record Confidentiality

For the most up-to-date explanation of FERPA, please read over the material available from the Office of Compliance at the University. This information can be found at

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~polcomp/ferpa1.shtml

2. How secure are my academic records at the University?

A complete Confidentiality Statement can be found on the website of the Office of the Registrar at the following address

http://registrar.rutgers.edu/NB/CONF-NB.HTM

3. How do I allow others to view my private academic records?

Students who wish to provide access to third party individuals including family members must submit a Release Form that must be submitted to the Office of Compliance and Student Policy Concerns at the following address

3 Bartlett Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1190

The Form to be submitted can be found at the following website

http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~polcomp/docs/release.pdf

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Section VII:  Summer Session Coursework

While we appreciate your desire to begin learning as soon as possible, the School does not permit students who are newly admitted to the School to complete any of the core math, science, or English courses that are required in the first pre-professional year of the program prior to the Fall semester.

2. May I take remedial coursework that I have placed into?

Yes. If a student has placed into math and/or English courses that are below the minimum expectations of Calculus I and Expository Writing I, then we would permit and encourage a student to take whatever remedial coursework is needed over the summer in order to be adequately prepared for the beginning of the Fall semester.

Section VIII:  Computing Services at the University

Eden is the student mail and verification server for Rutgers University.

2. Why do I need an Eden account?

An account on Eden grants you access an email account you can use for as longas you are a student at Rutgers University. to numerous secure websites at the University. These sites cover many aspects of student life from the myRutgers portal to registration and transcripts, bill payment and financial aid, supplemental course content, and many other online services.

3. How do I create my Eden account?

To insure that you have a personalized NetID and password prior to the first day of classes, please take a moment to create a user account on Eden, the student NetID server. To create the account, please visit the website for the Account Creation Tool located at

https://www.eden.rutgers.edu/rats/rats.cgi

For additional information relating to the Eden account and Student Computing Services at the University, please visit http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/index.php

4. Why is a valid email account so important?

Email is the primary method of contact used by University faculty, staff, and administration. Faculty use email consistently to contact students, keep you up-to-date on the events in a class you are taking, and provide you with additional materials relating to the classes beyond the content presented in the lecture. In similar fashion, the administration at the University contacts students with a variety of information during the semester including notifications about events taking place on campus, deadlines for submission of important forms, and other matters relating to your standing at the School and the University..

5. How do I update my contact information with the University?

In order to update your contact information, you need to have be able make sure that your contact information is up-to-date and in the University Online Directory. Once you have created your account on Eden, please take a moment to visit the University Online Directory at https://www.acs.rutgers.edu:8892/pls/pdb_p/Pdb_Update.sign_on

 

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For more For information, contact Jeannette M. Decker
Last updated: 05/10/2005