Pre-Pharmacy

SUNY Oneonta's Office of Health Careers provides specialized guidance and support for students preparing to apply to pharmacy school to be a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).

Who are Pharmacists?

"Pharmacists are medication experts and play a critical role in helping people get the best results from their medications. A core part of a pharmacist’s job is to individualize drug therapy based on a patient’s age, size, organ function, other medications and diseases, allergies, diet, insurance, pharmacogenetic profile and other specific to each patient. Pharmacists prepare and dispense prescriptions, prevent medication errors by ensuring each medication dose is correct, prevent harmful drug interactions, and educate patients on the safe and appropriate use of their medications. They have specialized expertise in the composition of medicines, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties, as well as their manufacture and use."
- ExploreHealthCareers.org

Learn More

For additional information regarding schools of pharmacy, visit PharmacyForMe.org.

Prerequisite Courses & Electives

Students must consult SUNY Oneonta's current undergraduate catalog for course descriptions, prerequisites, and time of year when courses are offered to plan properly in advance.

Prerequisites for Pharmacy Programs:

  • BIOL 1001: Investigative Biology Laboratory
  • BIOL 1002: Cellular Perspectives in Biology
  • BIOL 1004: Organismal Perspectives in Biology (Preferred) or BIOL 1006: Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives in Biology
  • BIOL 2000: Cell & Molecular Biology
  • BIOL 3106: Microbiology
  • BIOL 3202: Human Anatomy & Physiology I
  • BIOL 3204: Human Anatomy & Physiology II
  • CHEM 1111: General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 1121: General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 2212: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 3222: Organic Chemistry II
  • COMM 1400: Public Speaking* (*Preferred) or COMM 1100: Introduction to Communication
  • COMP 1000: Composition
  • COMP 2000: Composition II
  • MATH 2230: Calculus I
  • PHYS 1030: General Physics I (Non-Calculus) or PHYS 2030 General Physics I (Calculus-based)
  • PSYC 1000: Introductory Psychology or SOC 1001: Introduction to Sociology
  • STAT 1010: Introduction to Statistics

A minimum grade of C or higher is typically required in each prerequisite course, however grades of B or higher are recommended. Though a strong application includes a prerequisite and overall GPA greater than 3.0, programs are seeking applicants that are well-rounded in educational and life experience and can articulate an understanding of the career and vision for themselves in the Profession.

Pharmacy education programs may change course prerequisites at any time and may have additional requirements, preferences, or policies that are not reflected in this prerequisite course list. Programs may also allow applicants to substitute courses or choose different prerequisites. Applicants should review the program-specific details available within the Pharm.D. Directory and contact programs directly to determine whether a particular course will fulfill a prerequisite.

Some pharmacy schools now require biochemistry (including University of Buffalo, Touro, and PCOM). Other courses recommended or required by some pharmacy schools include Microeconomics, Physical Chemistry, and Genetics.

Students have the responsibility to check entrance requirements for schools to which they intend to apply.

Educational Pathways for Health Professional School

Academic preparation for Health Professional School should include a strong background in the natural sciences with complementary coursework in the social sciences and humanities.

Students should familiarize themselves with the prerequisite course requirements within their intended health care discipline and the expectations of the schools to which they intend to apply.

Because the number of qualified applicants to healthcare professions school greatly exceeds the number of openings, satisfactory completion of the prerequisite courses does not guarantee acceptance by any health professional school.

Educational Programs in the healthcare professions are seeking the student who has a long record of consistently high-level performance, a deep understanding of their future role in the healthcare field obtained through volunteer or employment experience, and who exceeds in meeting core competencies for health care providers as evidenced in letters of evaluation from academic and professional references.

Pharmacy Program Requirements

Students should regularly review the Pharmacy School Admission Requirements.

Applicants are evaluated on:

  • letters of recommendation, which may include references from a Pharmacist and a Science Professor
  • leadership skills (on and off campus)
  • GPA
  • Pharmacist Observation hours (paid and/or volunteer; hours for each program vary)

NOTE: the PCAT is no longer required by any Pharmacy program and was retired in January 2024.

For more information about becoming a pharmacist, check out the AACP webpage.

Application

Application to pharmacy school is made through the centralized application PharmCAS.

Letters of Evaluation

Students generally request up to four letters of evaluation to be submitted on their behalf for pharmacy school applications. Appropriate evaluators include science faculty, other course instructors, healthcare professionals, current or former employers, and professional references.

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