Pre-Pharmacy Track

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Are you interested in a career as a pharmacist?

You can complete the prerequisite courses at UNA for admission to pharmacy school. While applicants with a bachelor’s degree are generally more competitive for Doctor of Pharmacy programs, most pharmacy schools will accept students who have completed the prerequisite classes. Pre-pharmacy students can choose any major, though chemistry and biology are the most common. In addition to the required coursework, successful admission to a pharmacy school also demands high academic performance (strong GPA) and experience in the field through shadowing or work.

There are two pharmacy schools in the state of Alabama.  They are:

Since pharmacy schools often have varying supporting coursework requirements, students interested in this field should reach out to the Pre-Health Professions Advisor at UNA for help in planning the appropriate classes and understanding other application requirements. The schools' websites are also an important resource, as they clearly outline their specific requirements.
Additional coursework outside of your major and minor coursework may be required.  Among the most commonly required courses are:
  • General Chemistry with labs (8 hours)
  • Organic Chemistry with labs (10 hours)
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology with labs (8 hours)
  • Calculus I (4 hours); cannot take MA 121 in its place
  • General Biology (4 hours)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 hours)
  • General Education courses, such as English, Speech, Social & Behavioral Sciences

Gaining experience through work or volunteering in a pharmacy setting is highly recommended. If possible, try to work or shadow in both a community pharmacy (independent and chain) and a hospital pharmacy. Obtaining your pharmacy technician license and working as a pharmacy technician can also be very beneficial. It's important to note that having a pharmacy technician license is different from being certified as a pharmacy technician.

Useful Websites

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Pharmacy School Individual Pages Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)