Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Pharmacy
As you become a pharmacist, you'll primarily provide information about different medications and methods of treatment that follow drug therapy protocols and fit patients' needs, improve their health, and ensure safety.
Navigating the Application Process
Beginning early with the application process allows students to structure an academic plan of study. Pharmacy schools are highly competitive, but have relatively similar requirements for admission that we can help prepare you for, including competitive standardized test scores, shadowing hours, active participation in community service, possible dexterity tests, and more!
We encourage you to contact our pathways expert to support you in your professional development endeavors and create your own unique timeline to pharmacy school.
Here are some of the local or surrounding area professional schools:
William Carey University (Biloxi, MS)
University of Mississippi (Oxford, MS)
Auburn University (Auburn, AL)
Xavier University (New Orleans, LA)
Program Directory
Some students already have a B.A. or B.S. or above and decide to pursue becoming a pharmacist. It is recommended that such students visit the pre-professional office for additional advisement. It is common for these students to take their missing prerequisite courses for pharmacy school here at USM as post-baccalaureate students, work on the other non-course requirements while taking courses, and then apply to pharmacy school(s).
Some students may choose to pursue a second major, while others enroll in prerequisite courses as a non-degree-seeking student. In either case, students must go through the University's Undergraduate Admissions office to be either admitted (new students) or re-admitted (former students) prior to enrollment.
Students must consult the specific admission requirements and application deadlines for the school(s) to which they plan to apply.
- English Composition – ENG 101 & ENG 102
- General Education courses – 12 hours
- General Chemistry - CHE 106/L & 107/L
- Organic Chemistry - CHE 255/L & 256/L
- Public Speaking - CMS 111
- Economics - ECO 202
- General Biology - BSC 110/L & 111/L
- Calculus - MAT 167
- General Physics - PHY 111/L
- Statistics - PSY 360 or MAT 115
- Human Anatomy & Physiology – BSC 250/L & BSC 251/L
- Social Sciences – PSY, SOC, ANT, PS – 6 hours
Applications for most pharmacy schools are centralized through PharmCAS. Under this system, students fill out one application with all pertinent information, upload their transcripts and letters of evaluation, and designate which schools they would like their application to be sent to. Not every pharmacy school has an application process that goes through PharmCAS.
It is important to note that pharmacy schools set their own deadlines, separate from the application system deadlines. Students should check with their desired schools for specific deadline information, as well as information about possible secondary applications.
What Should I Major In?
The “pre-pharmacy curriculum” is just a list of courses that are required for admission to Pharmacy school. It is NOT an academic major, a minor, or an emphasis area. Prerequisite courses can vary between pharmacy schools, so it is important to check with individual schools about their requirements and deadlines.
Pharmacy schools do not require a particular major—pursue a major in which you feel the most comfortable with! Explore related majors:
