- Pharmacists work in a variety of settings: community pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, government agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry.
- Education typically takes 4 years to complete. An additional one-year residency is optional.
- Certified PharmD Programs in the state of Oregon: Oregon State University (4-year program) and Pacific University (3-year program). Connect with a Pre-Health Advisor to learn more about UO-Pacific University PharmD Bridge Program!
- Completing the prerequisite courses is just one aspect of the process. You must also have a well-rounded application consisting of experience (i.e. shadowing, volunteer work, undergraduate research, life experience), letters of recommendation, PCAT scores, and a strong admissions essay.
- About 75% of pharmacy schools require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), which covers six content areas: verbal ability, biology, reading comprehension, quantitative ability, chemistry, and writing.
- While a bachelor’s degree is not an admission prerequisite for all pharmacy schools, it does provide a significant competitive advantage.
- Applying to pharmacy school is a year-long process. Students applying in their final year at UO will have a gap year before starting pharmacy school. Students can work, take courses, travel, etc. during the year. Keep in mind, the average age of a first-year pharmacy student is 25.
The chart below illustrates one way a pharmacy program’s prerequisitesi can fit into a 4-year plan. Keep in mind a graduation plan is as unique as the student following it. Math placement, major, transfer credits, application timeline, and other factors will help shape your graduation plan and timeline. Pre-Health Advisors are here to help you create a graduation plan that works best for you!
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
CH 221: General Chem I | CH 222: General Chem II | CH 223: General Chem III | |
YEAR ONE | CH 227: General Chem Lab | CH 228: General Chem Lab | CH 229: General Chem Lab |
MATH 112Z: Precalculus II | PSY 201: Mind & Brain or PYS 202: Mind & Society (SS) | STAT 243Z: Elementary Statistics | |
|
| MATH 251 |
|
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
CH 331: Organic Chem I | CH 335: Organic Chem II | CH 336: Organic Chem III | |
YEAR TWO | CH 337: Organic Chem Lab | CH 338: Organic Chem Lab | BI 214: Gen Bio IV - Mechanisms |
BI 211: Gen Bio I - Cells | BI 212: Gen Bio II - Organisms | HPHY 212: Scientific Investigation Physiology i | |
HPHY 211: Medical Terminology i |
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
HPHY 321: Anatomy I | HPHY 323: Anatomy II | HPHY 325: A&P III | |
YEAR THREE | HPHY 322: Physiology I | HPHY 324: Physiology II | ENG 200: Public Speaking iI |
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
CH 360: Biochemistry | EC 201: microeconomics (SS) or ECON 202: Macroeconomics (SS) | BI 330: Microbiology | |
YEAR FOUR | PHYS 201: General Physics ii | ||
PHYS 204: General Physics Lab ii |
i Prerequisites vary by school: These courses are prerequisites for UO’s anatomy & physiology sequence. They are not typically prerequisites for pharmacy school.
ii These courses are admission requirements for Pacific University’s PharmD program, but may not be required at others.
Note: This page lists all the common prerequisites for programs. Please research programs to identify additional courses you may need to include and work with your pre-health advisors for any alternate course options.
Questions? Email pre-health advisors at prehealthadvising@uoregon.edu.