Pharmacy

UCSB Pharmacy School Preparation Chart Click Here

 

SO YOU WANT TO BE A PHARMACIST? 

Pharmacy is the branch of health sciences that deals with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of drugs.  A pharmacist is a health care professional who is licensed to prepare and sell or dispose of drugs and compounds and can make up prescriptions. The following is a brief guide to courses you should consider enrolling in.

 

 

 

PREREQUISITES:  THESE ARE GENERAL PREREQUISITE COURSES THAT MANY PHARMACY SCHOOLS REQUIRE FOR ADMISSION; HOWEVER, COURSE REQUIREMENTS OFTEN VARY FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT.  ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COURSES THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED BY SOME PHARMACY SCHOOLS, BUT ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  WE ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO VISIT THE WEBSITES OF THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS YOU PLAN TO APPLY TO IN ORDER TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH EACH SCHOOL'S ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS.  IF YOU ARE STILL UNSURE WHETHER COURSES YOU'VE TAKEN WILL SATISFY A PARTICULAR SCHOOL'S REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL.

Chemistry (Full Year/3 Quarters)

CHEM 1A (3 units) and CHEM 1AL (2 units): General Chem. And Gen. Chem. Lab

CHEM 1B (3 units) and CHEM 1BL (2 units): General Chem. And Gen. Chem. Lab

CHEM 1C (3 units) and CHEM 1CL (2 units): General Chem. And Gen. Chem. Lab

 

Biological Sciences (Full Year/3 Quarters)

MCDB 1A (4 units): Intro. To Biology I

MCDB 1B (3 units): Intro. To Biology II--Physiology

MCDB 1LL (1.5 units): Intro. To Biology I Lab 

EEMB 2 (2 units): Intro. To Biology II—Ecology and Evolution

EEMB 3 (3 units): Intro. To Biology III

EEMB 2LL (1.5 units): Intro. To Biology Lab II

Organic Chemistry (Full Year/3 Quarters)

CHEM 109A (4 units): Organic Chemistry

CHEM 109B (4 units): Organic Chemistry

CHEM 109C (4 units): Organic Chemistry

CHEM 6AL (3 units): Organic Chemistry Lab (Chemistry 109A with a minimum grade of a C-; and Chemistry 109B (may be taken concurrently))

CHEM 6BL (3 units): Organic Chemistry Lab (Chemistry 6AL and 109A with a minimum grade of C-; and Chemistry 109B).  Note: Even though this lab is no longer required for MCDB/EEMB majors, whether or not you choose to take the second lab should be based on the requirements for your major and your own research into the admissions requirements at each pharmacy school you hope to apply to.  If unable to find the information on a particular program's website, email their pharmacy school admissions office for clarification.

 

Physics (Full Year/3 Quarters)

PHYSICS 6A (3 units) and PHYSICS 6AL (1 units): Introductory Physics w/Lab

PHYSICS 6B (3 units) and PHYSICS 6BL (1 units): Introductory Physics w/Lab

PHYSICS 6C (3 units) and PHYSICS 6CL (1 units): Introductory Physics w/Lab

Note: Students who complete the PHYSICS 1 series will need to take PHYSICS 1-2-3-4-5 and PHYSICS 3L-4L-5L to satisfy a full year of Physics with labs.  If your major only requires you to complete through PHYSICS 4 and PHYSICS 4L, then you may enroll in PHYSICS 6AL to satisfy the final lab requirement.

If allowed by your major, we encourage students to complete the Physics 6 series instead.

Note: Whether or not you choose to take the full year of Physics with lab should be based on the requirements for your major and your own research into the admissions requirements at each pharmacy school you hope to apply to.  If unable to find the information on a particular program's website, email their pharmacy school admissions office for clarification.

Note:  Mathematics 2A or 3A or 34A or AP Math AB Exam score of 3 or higher are required for Physics 6A.  Math courses may be taken concurrently with Physics 6A

 

Biochemistry (1 Quarter)

MCDB 108A (4 units). General Biochemistry (UCSB prerqs: MCDB 1A, and EEMB 2 and MCDB 1B; and Chemistry 1A-B-C; and Chemistry 109A-B-C (Chem 109C may be taken concurrently). Completion of all listed prerequisites with a grade of C or better.);

MCDB and Non-MCDB majors may choose to take MCDB 110 (UCSB prerqes: Chem 1A-B-C and 109A-B, with grades of C or better, are prereqs.)

*MCDB 108B Highly Recommended.

Note: Some pharmacy schools may only require a single course in Biochemistry; however, others may equate 2 quarters of Biochemistry to 1 semester of Biochemistry.  Whether or not you choose to take a second Biochemistry course should be based on the requirements for your major and your own research into the admissions requirements at each pharmacy school you hope to apply to.  If unable to find the information on a particular program's website, email their pharmacy school admissions office for clarification.

 

Microbiology

MCDB 131/131L (MCDB 101A and either Chemistry 109A-B-C or Chemistry 109A-B and MCDB 110 are prerequisites for MCDB 131.)  Alternatively, students may choose to take Microbiology (BMS 157 at SBCC) at a community college, but taking the course at a four-year institution is recommended.

Note: Many but not all schools require a microbio lab, and MCDB 131L can be a very difficult course for non-Microbiology majors to enroll in at UCSB.  Students will often take the course and the lab at a community college.  

Human Physiology (and possibly Human Anatomy)

BMS 108 Human Physiology at SBCC or a four-year institution that offers the course with a lab. (BMS 107 Human Anatomy may also be a requirement for some programs.)

Programs may require either Human Physiology with Lab or both Human Physiology and Human Anatomy with lab.  If taking a combined Anatomy & Physiology course, some programs reguire both parts I and II.  

Math*

Please review the “Math Guidelines for Pre-Health Students"

English/Writing (Full Year/3 Quarters)

A combination of 3 UCSB courses taken in the Writing or English departments should fulfill the full year of English requirement for most California pharmacy schools.  Courses that satisfy GE Areas A-1 and A-2 will satisfy the English requirement.  Click here for information on these courses.

Also, courses that satisfy the GE Special Subject Area Writing requirement should not be considered sufficient to satisfy the full year of English requirement.

Remember, it is your responsibility to check the admissions requirements at each pharmacy school you hope to apply to in order to make sure that the courses you take at UCSB and elsewhere will satisfy each program's specific requirements.

 

Social/Behavioral Sciences & Humanities (2 Courses)

(Highly Recommended; May be required by some programs.) 

Pharmacy schools often require one course each in Economics and Public Speaking.  For a list of Public Speaking courses, please check this website

Note: You will need to check with individual programs to determine which UCSB courses will satisfy the Public Speaking rquirement.

Highly recommended: Prerequisite courses listed are minimum requirements; however, most successful applicants will have exceeded the minimum requirements by taking additional upper division science courses. Examples of appropriate courses include but are not limited to:

MCDB 101A - Molec. Genetics I

MCDB 111 - Human Physiology

MCDB 103 - Cell Biology

MCDB 131 - Gen. Microbiology

If you choose not to major in one of the natural sciences, you may wish to include one or two additional science electives in your program of study if your schedule permits.

*Math requirements may vary by school so be sure to research individual prerequisites.

Sample Pre-Pharmacy Course Schedule, Years 1 & 2 (To be used as a guide and is not intended to be strictly adhered to by all pre-pharm students!)

 

 

Fall Quarter

Winter Quarter

Spring Quarter

Year 1

Chem 1A + 1AL

Mathematics or Statistics (See above)

GE or Elective

Chem 1B + 1BL

Math or Stats (See above)

GE or Elective

GE or Elective (if you feel you can handle another course)

Chem 1C + 1CL

Math or Stats (See above)

GE or Elective

GE or Elective

Year 2

MCDB 1A 

Chem 109A

GE or Elective

GE or Elective?

MCDB 1B

EEMB 2

MCDB 1LL

Chem 109B

Chem 6AL (May be done later)

EEMB 3

EEMB 2LL

Chem 109C

Chem 6BL (May be taken later.)

GE or Elective

*Intro. Biology Labs:  Beginning in Fall 2019, the Biology Program restructured its introductory labs, changing from three, 1 unit labs--MCDB 1AL, MCDB 1BL/EEMB 2L, and EEMB 3L--to two, 1.5 unit labs--MCDB 1LL and EEMB 2LL.  Most students will take MCDB 1LL in winter quarter and EEMB 2LL in spring quarter.  Although taken over two quarters rather than three, these will count as a full year of introductory biology labs.  Students who have completed part of the previous lab series, please contact the Biology department advisors for information on how to complete the rest of the series.

Note:  Students who began the introductory lab sequence and completed MCDB 1AL but who were unable to complete the remaining lab courses in that sequence due to their discontinuation will complete EEMB 2LL, which the Biology Department deems as satisfactory completion of the lab sequence and which professional school programs should also view as having successfully satisfied a "full-year" of laboratory work. 

Note that a few California programs require a year of physics with lab (Physics 6A & 6AL, 6B & 6BL, 6C & 6CL), and although some students complete physics by the end of the 3rd year, just when to take physics depends on how well students are meeting the demands of their other courses.

EXAM AND GPA:  *Note: Many California PharmD programs do not require the PCAT; however, many other states do require it.

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is a standardized examination that consists of 240 multiple choice items and two writing topics that measures general academic ability and scientific knowledge necessary for entrance into a Pharmacy program. It is required by all of the American Pharmacy schools. Typically, students take the PCAT about one calendar year prior to their intended date of matriculation to professional school.  A PCAT score is good for three years at most schools, so taking the test in the spring of junior year does not necessarily mean that you must enter Pharmacy school right after college graduation.  For purposes of admission, most Pharmacy schools will look at your percentile rank.

Grade Point Average (GPA):  Minimum GPA requirements vary from program to program, but MOST programs have a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement, but competitive GPAs are closer to a 3.3.  In addition, most programs require that all prerequisite courses must be passed with a “C” or better.

Transcript Review and Grade Trends:  Admission committees conisder a number of factors incluidng and beyond the final grades earned in courses.  For example, admission committees will review and consider the number of courses/units taken each quarter, whether courses were taken P/NP, retaken, and were withdrawn from, resulting in a W on the official transcript.  To learn more about what your official transcripts communicate to admissions committees, please review the AAMC's Anatomy of an Applicant Guide.  (A link to the guide can be found in the first paragraph in the Current Students section of our website.) 

TIMELINE

**Students should note that there is no set path or timeline that dictates when students have to take their admission test or apply to professional school.  Professional schools DO NOT penalize studenst for not applying at a particular time.  The timeline above is only a guide, and students should plan to meet with a pre-health advisor to discuss their individual goals and needs

Freshman/First Year

Visit Career Services to explore interest in health professions and learn more about your personal skills and interests.

Start taking intro sciences (See Above.).

Think about possible majors (Study what you love).

Connect with a Pre-Health Staff or Peer Advisor

Consider volunteer opportunities (campus and community) 2nd quarter.

Start clinical experience (Pharmacy Tech, EMT, Scribe, Shadowing, etc) during breaks and summer.

Go to your professors’ office hours.

Explore student organizations.

Sophomore/Second Year

Continue with next sequence of science courses (See Above.)

Stay involved in extracurricular activities (Medical, volunteer, etc).

Begin to think about becoming an officer in your organizations or explore other leadership opportunities.

Begin research on professional schools, their requirements (PCAT required?), and assess your competitiveness.

*Investigate PCAT preparation options.

BOTTOM LINE: Keep working on the things you established your first year!!

Junior/Third Year (If not taking a Gap Year.) **If taking a Gap Year, then taking the PCAT and completing the application can wait until senior year)

Talk to your staff pre-health advisor member to narrow program options and assess competitiveness.

Identify at least 3 individuals to write letters of recommendation.

Keep working on the things you have established thus far.

Schedule a mock interview with Career Services.

**Register for the PCAT, if taking.

**Study for PCAT and take it.

**Complete Application (PharmCAS).

Senior/4th Year (If no Gap Year)

Submit Application(s) if you haven’t already.

Wait to be contacted for interview from pharmacy schools.

Continue with activities and professional experiences/shadowing.

Talk with an advisor about Plan B if necessary.

Finish degree requirements and GRADUATE!

If Taking 1 or more Gap Years:

Schedule a mock interview with Career Services.

**Register for the PCAT, if taking.

**Study for PCAT and take it.

**Complete Application (PharmCAS).

 

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Click Here

Pharm.D Program Directory Click Here

Course Pre-requisites Chart (by institution) Click Here

PharmCAS Admissions Guide Click Here

PCAT Information/Dates Click Here

CHECK OUT THE PRE-PHARMACY FAQ!