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Pharmacy

Pharmacists are experts in the science of medications and the art of medication therapy. Pharmaceutical care encompasses the full range of pharmacist skills, knowledge and the abilities in providing medication services to patients. The principal goal of pharmaceutical care is to achieve definite outcomes from medication use which improves patients' quality of life. These outcomes include: 

1. cure of a disease
2. elimination or reduction of symptoms
3. arresting or slowing a disease process
4. prevention of disease
5. diagnosis of disease
6. desired alterations in physiological processes, all with minimal risk to patients

A student must possess the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree to qualify for the licensure examination. 

A Pharm D program customarily requires six years of college study. This includes 60 credit hours of prepharmacy study at a four-year college. A Pharm D program designed as a post baccalaureate program, generally exceeds six years of college study.

Admission Requirements

Admission to a pharmacy program is usually contingent upon successful completion of a pre-pharmacy curriculum or a bachelor's degree.

Many programs require their applicants to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).

Applicants seeking admission to a pharmacy program should contact those schools they are interested in attending for information on specific prerequisites and admission requirements.

Course Requirements 

1. General Chemistry with the lab (C105-106, C125-126)
2. Organic Chemistry with the lab (C341-342, C343-344)
3. Biology with the lab (L101-102)
4. Microbiology with the lab (M310-315)
5. Anatomy and Physiology with the lab (P261-262)
6. Physics with the lab (P201) or (P221)
7. Calculus (M215 and M216) 
8. Economics (E103 or E104)
9. English Composition (W131 and W132)
10. General Education Electives (9 cr. hrs.)

(One course from at least three of the following five categories: social sciences, communication and fine arts, basic science and technology, health and science in society and administrative management sciences). 

Websites

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1426 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2841