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.
Contact HPAO
Lena Njoku, Coordinator
Please include your student ID number in all email correspondence.