Preparing for a Career as a Pharmacist
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Requirements vary widely by school. Common requirements for PharmD programs are presented below, but it is important to confirm the specific requirements of all programs you are considering.
Compare PharmD Programs & School Directory: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)
| REQUIREMENT | GENERAL DESCRIPTION | UA COURSE NUMBERS |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Introductory Biology for Science Majors 8 cr. (with lab) | MCB 181R & 181L ECOL 182 R & 182L |
| General Chemistry | Introductory/Inorganic Chemistry for Science Majors 8 cr. (with lab) | CHEM 151 or 141/143 CHEM 152 or 142/144 |
| Organic Chemistry | Organic Chemistry 8 cr. (with lab) | CHEM 241A & 243A CHEM 241B & 243B |
| Anatomy/ Physiology | Anatomy & Physiology 8 cr. (with lab) | PSIO 201 & PSIO 202 |
| Microbiology | Microbiology 4 cr. (with lab) | MIC 205A & 205L |
| Mathematics | Most Schools Require Calculus & Statistics 6-7 cr. | Math 113 or 122a/122b Math 263 (biostatistics) |
| Physics | Algebra or Calculus-Based Physics 4 cr. (with lab) | PHYS 102 & 181 (other levels of Physics may fulfill the requirement as well) |
| Economics | Introductory Macro or Micro Economics 3 cr. | ECON 200 |
| Public Speaking | Public Speaking/Speech 3 cr. | COMM 119 (usually reserved for majors/minors - may be taken at a community college) |
| Possible Additional | Biochemistry, Social/Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, English | See your pre-health advisor for details and research schools to which you plan to apply. |
Here are some links to sites that will give you further information about a career in pharmacy and how to prepare for admission to pharmacy school:
- The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) has a section of its web site to answer this question: "Top 10 Reasons to Become a Pharmacist."
- The AACP also now has a new website to explore careers in Pharmacy called Pharmacy is Right for Me.
- PharmCAS is the centralized application service for most Pharmacy programs. Review the "Application Instructions"
- Here is the link to UA's College of Pharmacy's prerequisite requirements.