Pharmacy
Post-baccalaureate degree: PharmD
Pharmacists are health care professionals who dispense medications prescribed by physicians. They also counsel patients on proper drug use. Pharmacists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, retail businesses, long-term care facilities, internet pharmacies, and public health services. For more information check out Pharmacy for Me.
Academic and Career Information - updated 2020 (PDF)
Minimum Prerequisites for Admission
The following prerequisites must be completed prior to matriculation in a pharmacy program:
- baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution recommended
- each program has its own prerequisites: check specific school for prerequisites details
- general course prerequisites:
- general biology with lab, one year
- biochemistry, one year
- general chemistry with lab, one year
- organic chemistry with lab, one year
- general physics with lab, one year
- English, one year
- calculus, two courses
- speech, two courses
- human anatomy and physiology
- microbiology with lab
- micro or macroeconomics, one course
Test Needed
- Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
- Online PCAT Registration
- Test given in October or February.
- Required by most schools.
- Currently, the PCAT is not required by any California pharmacy program.
Professional Associations
Application Service
California Pharmacy Schools
- California Health Sciences University
- California Northstate University
- Chapman University
- Keck Graduate Institute
- Loma Linda University
- Marshall B. Ketchum University
- Touro University California
- University of California Irvine
- University of California San Diego
- University of California San Francisco
- University of Southern California
- University of the Pacific
- West Coast University
- Western University of the Health Sciences
Page Summary
General Education
We recommend that all pre-health students enroll in courses that meet the particular general education requirements to help develop a broad understanding of the health professions in relation to other disciplines of study. Review our General Education Recommendations (PDF) for additional information.