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

• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP)

Application Service

• Pharmacy College Application Service (PHARMCAS)

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