Pharmacy School Academic Preparation
Pharmacy School Academic Preparation
These courses meet the requirements for most pharmacy schools and for preparation for the PCAT. Pharmacy schools generally do not accept AP credit or on-line courses for these required courses. Be sure to check each pharmacy school’s requirements.
No pharmacy school requires a science major, nor are science majors given extra consideration in the admission process. Becoming a competitive pharmacy school applicant also requires more than a solid GPA and PCAT score. Be sure you are meeting regularly with your HPAO advisor.
One year General Chemistry with Labs
CHEM 200 General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisites: Knowledge of introductory chemistry as demonstrated by completion of CHEM 100 with a grade of C or better, or satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Chemistry Department Placement Examination.
CHEM 201 General Chemistry (5)
Prerequisite: CHEM 200 or 202 with grade of C or better
One year of Organic Chemistry with Labs
CHEM 232/232L Organic Chemistry (4)
Prerequisite: CHEM 201 with grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 232L
CHEM 432/432L Organic Chemistry (4)
Prerequisite: CHEM 232 with a grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 432L
One year of Biology with Labs
BIOL 203/203L Principles of Cell & Molecular Biology (4)
Prerequisite: Credit/ concurrent registration in CHEM 200 or 202 and satisfaction of the English placement test requirement
BIOL 204/204L Principles of Organismal Biology (4)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the English placement test requirement. Recommended completion of BIOL 203/203L
One year of Physics with Labs
PHYS 180A/182A Fundamentals of Physics I/Lab (4)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182A
PHYS 180B/182B Fundamentals of Physics II/Lab (4)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement, PHYS 180A. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182B
OR
PHYS 195/195L Principles of Physics/Lab (4)
Prerequisites: High school physics or PHYS 180A. MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C
PHYS 196/196L Principles of Physics/Lab (4)
Prerequisites: PHYS 195. MATH 151
One semester of Mathematics (One year required by some schools)
MATH 124 Calculus for Life Sciences (4)
Prerequisite: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of completion of prerequisites required
OR
MATH 150 Calculus I (4)
Prerequisite: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of completion of prerequisites required
One semester of Statistics
STAT 250 Statistical Principles and Practices* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement
OR
BIOL 215 Biostatistics* (3)
Prerequisites: Credit or concurrent registration in BIOL 203, 203L, or 204, 204L and MATH 122, 124, 141, or 150
*Other statistics courses may also meet this requirement. Check with HPAO.
One year of English
RWS 100 College Composition* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU written communication assessment requirement.
RWS 200 Rhetoric of Written Arguments in Context* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the SDSU Written Communication Assessment requirement and Rhetoric and Writing
Studies 100 [or English 100] or 105B, or Africana Studies 120 or American Indian Studies 120 or Chicana and
Chicano Studies 111B or English 100 or Linguistics 100B. Proof of completion of prerequisites required: Test scores
or verification of exemption; copy of transcript.
*Other composition courses may also meet this requirement for some medical schools. Check with HPAO.
OR
If you have AP credit for RWS 100…
RWS 200 Rhetoric of Written Arguments in Context* (3)
RWS 305W Writing in Various Settings (3)
Prerequisite: Junior, Senior, or Grad Level
OR
If you have AP credit for RWS 100 and RWS 200 …
RWS 305W Writing in Various Settings (3)
RWS 503W Professional Writing (3)
Prerequisite: Junior, Senior, or Grad Level
One semester of Public Speaking
COMM 103 Oral Communication (3)
OR
COMM 160 Argumentation (3)
One semester of Anatomy
BIOL 212 Human Anatomy (4)
Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in Biology 100, 203, or 211.
One semester of Physiology
BIOL 336 Principles of Human Physiology (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in Foundations of Learning II.A.2. Life Sciences. If a biological sciences course is not taken to satisfy General Education II.A.2. Life Sciences, a college course in biological sciences is required.
One semester of Economics
ECON 101 Principles of Economics (Macroeconomics)* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement
OR
ECON 102 Principles of Economics (Microeconomics)* (3)
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement
*The requirement of Macroeconomics or Microeconomics varies by school
Highly Recommended (required by some schools)
BIOL250A Pre Professional Topics: Topics in Medicine (1)
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology (3)
CHEM 365 Fundamentals of Biochemistry (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 203L and CHEM 232, 232L
MATH 151 Calculus II (Required for UCSD School of Pharmacy) (3)
