General Pre-Pharmacy School Course Requirements
It is most important that you research the pre-pharmacy requirements of the schools that interest you. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy maintains the Pharmacy School Admissions Requirement (PSAR) which provides the admission requirements by individual schools and detailed information of each school.
Pharmacy programs generally require the following undergraduate coursework. Some schools may have additional requirements. Again it is important to check the requirements of each school you are considering to make sure you complete required courses.
Course Subject | # Semesters | UC Berkeley course sequence most students use to fulfill requirements |
General Chemistry | Most schools require 2 semesters of general chemistry with lab. | Chem 1A/1AL and Chem 1B or Chem 4A and 4B (chemistry majors) |
Organic Chemistry | Most schools require 2 semesters of organic chemistry with lab. | Chem 3A/AL and 3B/BL or Chem 112A and 112B (chemistry majors) |
Biology | Most schools require 2 semesters with lab. | Bio 1B, 1A/1AL |
Physiology (mammalian) | Most schools require 1 semester. | MCB 32/32L OR IB 132/132L |
Physics | Most schools require 1-2 semesters w/lab (thermodynamics & electromagnetism). | Physics 8A, 8B OR Physics 7A, 7B |
Microbiology | Most schools require 1 semester with lab. Some schools require 2. | Public Health 162A/162L OR MCB C112/112L |
Biochemistry | Some schools require 1 semester | MCB 102 OR MCB C100A/Chem C130 OR Chem 135 |
Mathematics/Statistics | Requirements vary but most schools require 1-2 semesters and some require 1 semester of stats |
Math 1A/1B, Math 10A/B, Math 16A/B Stats: 2, 20, Public Health 142A |
English | 2 semesters | R&C courses will fulfill English coursework requirements for most pharmacy schools. |
Economics | Most schools require 1 semester. | Econ 1 OR Econ 2 |
Speech/Public Speaking | Most schools require 1 semester. | College Writing 10A |
Humanities, Social & Behavioral Science | Most schools require 1 semester of an introductory course. Some schools require 2. | Psych 1 (for majors) OR Psych 2 (for non majors) AND Sociol 1 |