Pre Professional Pharmacy

Overview of Pre-Pharmacy Studies

Pharmacy can be a rewarding career for students who like chemistry, biology and math.  Many schools of pharmacy offer a doctorate of pharmacy that requires six years of study beyond high school, including two years of pre-pharmacy and four years of study in a professional school of pharmacy. Prospective pharmacy students should plan their programs to meet the requirements of the particular professional school of pharmacy to which they plan to transfer.

Very well-prepared incoming undergraduates will be able to complete an intensive two-year preparatory program suggested for students applying to the WVU School of Pharmacy. Elective slots in the model schedule should be filled with courses that satisfy required general education credits at the pharmacy school.

Students without the necessary prerequisites for calculus will be required to take MATH 1115 or 1112 and 1115, and will need more than 2 years to complete the preparatory coursework for applying to pharmacy school.  The link in the gold bar at the right takes you to model schedules for pre-pharmacy studies in combination with bachelor's degrees in biology, chemistry or forensic science degrees.

The pre-pharmacy advisor should be consulted prior to scheduling each semester.

Pharmacy-related Careers

Work as a pharmacist after obtaining a Pharm.D. degree is a popular career choice.  Many additional career paths are available for students interested in pharmacy, including pharmaceutical research, pharmaceutical sales, pharmaceutical testing or quality assurance/quality control, and toxicology.  Undergraduate degrees in biology, chemistry or forensic science provide the background needed for many pharmacy-related careers.