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Preparation for a Profession in Pharmacy

A bachelor’s degree is not required for admissions into most pharmacy schools, although is suggested for some programs. Pharmacy schools expect candidates to demonstrate the intellectual, analytical, and problem-solving skills necessary to succeed in pharmacy school. Students are strongly advised to balance coursework in the natural sciences with coursework in humanities and social sciences. The General Education component of a Liberal Arts degree provides a sound foundation for demonstrating an interest in and knowledge of a diverse and global society. Candidates should also consider coursework in areas such as anthropology, communication, economics, ethics, logic, psychology, sociology, and statistics.

Most schools base admissions decisions on a balanced combination of the following:

  • Grade point average: This varies by school but is usually above a 3.0 minimum.
  • PCAT scores (Pharmacy College Admission Test) (only required by some schools)
  • Personal statement from the candidate
  • Professional experience (employment, volunteer work, shadowing, etc.)
  • Interview
  • Recommendations from academic instructors (usually in the sciences), an academic advisor, and a pharmacist

Core Courses for Pharmacy Programs (Minimum Requirements)

  • English 101 College English I (3) and English 102 College English II (3)
  • Communication 111 Public Speaking (3)
  • Math 144 Business Calculus (3) or Math 242 Calculus I (5)
  • Chemistry 211 General Chemistry I (5) and Chemistry 212 General Chemistry II (5)
  • Chemistry 531 Organic Chemistry I (5) and Chemistry 532 Organic Chemistry II (5)
  • Biology 210 General Biology I (4)
  • Biology 330 General Microbiology (5)*
  • Biology 527 Comparative Anatomy (5) or Biology 640AB/AL Human Anatomy w/lab (5)* or Biology 223 Human Anatomy & Physiology (5)
  • Biology 534/535 Human Physiology w/lab (5)*
  • Physics 213 General Physics I (5)
  • Statistics 370 Elementary Statistics (3) (required for KU School of Pharmacy only)

* Students enrolled in the KU Pre-Pharmacy curriculum at WSU are not required to take BIOL 211 as a prerequisite for enrolling in either BIOL 330, BIOL 534/535 or BIOL 640, but must have completed BIOL 210 and CHEM 211 and must have either completed or be concurrently enrolled in CHEM 212. Electronic permission is required for enrollment. Contact the pre-pharmacy advisors in the LAS Advising Center or the Department of Biological Sciences. Please contact your advisor regarding additional requirements for KU School of Pharmacy.

The core classes above meet the minimum prerequisites for admission to most pharmacy schools, including the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. The University of Missouri at Kansas City requires Calculus, General Biology II and Cell Biology. Recommended additional science courses include Biochemistry and Immunology.

Application: The application period for pharmacy school occurs during the fall before the fall semester one wishes to begin pharmacy studies. The application process varies by school. Some schools prefer that students apply directly, and other schools require that students use the Pharmacy College Application Process.

Midwest Pharmacy Schools

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