May 15, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Pre-Pharmacy


A pharmacist is a graduate of a college of pharmacy and has a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) after a minimum of 6 years of study. This independent healthcare professional dispenses medication prescribed by the appropriate healthcare provider (physician, physician assistant) in a variety of settings including community retail, hospital, or online. The pharmacist plays a consultative role with other healthcare providers and informs patients about medications, their uses, possible adverse reactions, and possible drug interactions. In addition, the pharmacist may make recommendations about non-prescription drugs, home medical equipment, and other health care supplies.

The pre-pharmacy curriculum includes coursework in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, mathematics, and statistics as well as English, humanities, and social science disciplines. The pre-pharmacy student should contact the individual college of pharmacy about requirements specific for that college. The student should consult with an advisor to help plan a course of study that complies with the requirements for admission to the college of pharmacy of the student’s choice. Some colleges of pharmacy require the applicant to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) and participate in the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS).

For more information about pharmacy contact: The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (http://www.aacp.org); The Academic & Career Planning Center, 605-658-3600; or theHealth Professions Advisor, 605-658-6334.

Brittany Schultz
Department of Public Health and Health Sciences
Professional Academic Advisor
Center for Health Education Room 226
605.658.6334
Brittany.Schultz@usd.edu

Amy Nelson
Department of Public Health and Health Sciences
Program Director
Center for Health Education Room 224
605.658.5951
Amy.M.Nelson@usd.edu


Pre-Pharmacy Suggested Subjects and Courses


Students who complete pharmacy school will earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. Students interested in pharmacy school should research the individual program/s to which they plan to apply for specific admissions requirements. Pre-pharmacy students at USD may use the following list of classes as a guide in completing pharmacy prerequisites. Students may pursue any major of interest.

*Required prerequisites

SUGGESTED COURSES


OTHER SUGGESTED COURSES


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


  • Students may take only the classes to fulfill pharmacy program pre-requisites, or they may earn a bachelor’s degree. Earning a bachelor’s degree is encouraged because admission to a PharmD program is not guaranteed. Having a parallel plan is highly recommended!
  • The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required for the pharmacy school application (PharmCAS): https://www.pharmcas.org/.
  • Pharmacy schools like to see pharmacy experience: shadowing, volunteering, or paid experience such as working as a pharmacy technician. Some schools require 8 or more hours of shadowing prior to applying.
  • Because of the nature of PharmD programs, pre-admission requirements vary quite a bit from school to school. Students are strongly urged to choose schools to which they would like to apply and work with an advisor to design an appropriate pre-pharmacy curriculum.