FAQs | School of Pharmacy

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

AN INFORMAL GUIDE: The following is a series of informal responses to questions most frequently asked about rules and procedures at NDSU. For further information, please refer to the current NDSU Catalog, your adviser, Administrative Office in Sudro 123, the Office of Registration & Records in Ceres 110, or One Stop in the Memorial Union.

Where to Go Guide

ACADEMIC ADVISORS

Who is my advisor? Pre-pharmacy students should reach out to pre-pharmacy advisor Jae Pedersen. Students in the professional pharmacy program are assigned an advisor. It is important to meet with your advisor on a regular basis to receive updated curricular information. Advisors help students learn how to complete the registration procedures. Students are responsible for the course and program selections which they make. However, an advisor is a valuable source for acquiring information about the advisability of student choices. (If you desire a change of advisor, please contact Jamie Berg in the School of Pharmacy Dean’s Office, 231-7601.)

CREDITS

How many credits do I need to be a Sophomore, a Junior and a Senior? You need 27 credits to be classified as a Sophomore, 60 credits to be classified as a Junior, and 90 credits to be classified as a Senior. To graduate, you must successfully complete all general education requirements, the requirements in your major, and with a minimum of 2.0 grade point average. A complete list of University requirements for graduation is in the current NDSU Bulletin.

What is the limit on the number of credits I can take per semester? Full-time students will carry from 15 to 19 credits per Semester. Registration for more than 20 credits is not recommended. Special permission from your adviser and a grade point average of at least 3.0 are required to register for more than 20 credits. You must obtain a “Petition to Enroll in More Than 20 Credits” form which is found on Campus Connection under forms.

How many credits will I lose when I transfer to NDSU from another school? Ordinarily you shouldn't lose any. However, a "D" grade in any course does not transfer to the College of Health and Human Sciences. Some technical courses may not fit your degree program and in this case some extra work may be required. For evaluation of transfer credit see current NDSU Course Catalog.

How many credits can I transfer from a junior or community college? All college-level credits from regionally accredited institutions transfer; however, not all may apply to the particular degree program you have selected. To obtain a baccalaureate degree you must complete at least 60 semester credits at a four-year college or university. At least the last 37 of these credits must be at the junior or senior level.

How do I challenge a course? A student who is currently registered may seek credit by challenging a course. A course challenge usually consists of a special comprehensive examination; however, additional types of performance may be required for some courses. A course challenge is only permitted for courses in which the student has not received transfer credit or has no previous academic record.

Prior registrations are allowable if course was dropped prior to the No Record Drop deadline in a given term. Student must be registered at NDSU during the semester in which you wish to challenge a course (see current NDSU Bulletin for complete descriptions). Procedures for pursuing a course challenge may be found at: https://www.ndsu.edu/sites/default/files/onestop/forms/challenge.pdf

Is it possible to obtain college credits by taking examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board (CLEP and AP)? Yes. Students may demonstrate evidence of college-level achievement through the use of nationally standardized tests. Competency to write these examinations may have been gained through intensive preparation in high school, extensive reading in a particular field, or other types of formal or informal preparation. A student may not repeat by proficiency testing a course that has been previously taken or failed at NDSU or another accredited institution. Score reports must be sent directly to NDSU from the awarding agency/board. School reports and student-issued grade reports are not considered official for purposes of awarding credit by examination.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Who must complete the General Education Requirements? The General Education Requirements apply to all students.

What are the General Education Requirements? The General Education Requirements are listed in the current NDSU Catalog.

General Education transfer with the ND University System. Students who plan to transfer from one institution to another in the ND University System should check with Office of Registration & Records in Ceres 110 or One Stop in the Memorial Union.

GRADES AND ACADEMIC STATUS

What is the G.P.A.? Grade Point Average. For each credit of “A” you receive four (4) honor points; three (3) for each credit of “B”; two (2) for each credit of “C”; one (1) for each credit of “D”; and zero (0) for each credit taken in which a grade of “F” is received. The GPA is computed by dividing the total number of honor points earned at NDSU by the total number of credit hours in which honor points were recorded. For example, a person with a G.P.A. of 3.00 has a grade average of “B.” The minimum GPA of 2.00 is required for graduation. Developmental courses do not count toward graduation requirements.

If I do not do well in a course, may I take it over again? Yes. The second grade, whether higher or lower, will replace the first grade in computing the GPA. Both grades are listed on your Permanent Record. To replace a grade for a course taken at NDSU, that course MUST be repeated at NDSU. The one exception is that NDSU students may register for a Tri-College course to repeat a course previously taken at NDSU.

NOTE: PROFESSIONAL COURSES IN THE PHARMACY PROGRAM - please refer to Policy #3.20, Academic Remediation and Repetition of Professional Courses, in the School of Pharmacy Policy Manual.

NOTE: PRE-PHARMACY CORE COURSES, Policy #2.21 - Repetition of pre-pharmacy core courses shall be limited to three attempts. For example, this may be three courses each repeated once, or one course repeated three times, or some combination of courses leading to a total of three repeated attempts. A course attempt counts whether it was taken at NDSU or any other institution. The grade received during the student’s final attempt for any core pre-pharmacy course will be used in evaluation for admission. A course withdrawal is not considered an attempt in any (core or non-core) pre-pharmacy courses. A core course is one that is included in the GPA for admission purposes.

CURRENT COMPETENCY, Policy #2.28 - Coursework in the areas of science and mathematics must be no more than seven years old at the time of application to the professional program. Coursework presented in these areas that is older than seven years must have current competency demonstrated.

Current competency may be demonstrated by a) retaking a portion of the series in question, i.e. 122 of 121/122 Chem series; b) enrolling in a formal audit that is indicated on a student’s official transcript; c) challenging coursework through the department in question; or d) meeting with faculty in the areas of Science or Mathematics and having them determine current competency. Students who intend to meet current competency requirements using item c or d must receive approval from the Chair of Pharmacy Admissions Committee prior to undertaking the current competency. (This coursework does not fall under the rule, “Repetition of Pre-Pharmacy Core Courses.)

Will I receive mid-term grades? Upon request, all instructors shall inform students directly of their approximate mid-term grades before the end of the eighth week of the semester.

MAJOR/MINOR INFO

How do I change my major? Occasionally students find they are not suited for a particular field. If you decide to change majors while you are a student in the College, you are expected to follow this procedure: discuss it with your adviser, fill out the electronic form Major/Minor and Adviser Change Form.You will be assigned a new adviser in the field in which you will be majoring. Once you select a major, you must transfer to the college that offers the major.

How many credits are required for a Minor? The number of credits required for a minor varies by departments. The minimum number of credits for a minor is 16. To determine the exact number of credits that you will need for a minor, check with your adviser, or in Ceres 110 or One Stop.

REGISTRATION

How do I register for courses? Students will use the “Campus Connection Student Portal” via the NDSU Home Page in which to register for classes. Students will also use this portal for the following: account information, class list for the semester, course catalog of classes, drop/adds, financial aid information, holds, schedule of classes for the semester, unofficial transcripts, and much more.

WITHDRAWING TO ZERO CREDITS

How do I withdraw to zero credits? If you find it necessary to withdraw to zero credits during any semester in which you are enrolled, you must file a completed "Cancellation of Registration/Withdrawing to Zero Credits" form and select the link “Withdraw to Zero Credits” (cancellation or registration). Process your withdrawal at One Stop in the Memorial Union, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Refer to the University’s official dates and deadlines for the last day to withdraw. Withdrawals after this date are not processed without evidence of compelling circumstances beyond the student’s control. If you do not want to attend the next semester but are finishing the semester you are presently enrolled in, simply do not register for the next semester.