Pre-Pharmacy
What is "pre-pharm"?
"Pre-pharm" is a term used to describe students who plan to enter a college of pharmacy and obtain their Pharm.D. degree. There is rarely if ever a "pre-pharm" major available at a university, but all the courses needed to gain admission to a college of pharmacy are available at BGSU. Pre-pharm students at BGSU have two options prior to entering a college of pharmacy: 1) They may complete a four year experience at BGSU and obtain a Bachelor's degree in ANY major (so long as they complete the prerequisites to gain admission to a college of pharmacy), or 2) They may complete roughly three years of coursework at BGSU and apply to be admitted to a college of pharmacy after only three years of undergraduate classes. With this option, students will not earn a Bachelor's degree prior to entering a college of pharmacy.
What courses are required for admission to a college of pharmacy?
Generally, college of pharmacy admissions committees expect the following courses to be completed prior to admission into a Pharm.D. program. The specific courses available at BGSU are listed in parentheses.
- One year of biology with laboratory components (BIOL 2040-2050)
- One semester of microbiology (BIOL 3130 or BIOL 3140/3150)*
- One year of anatomy and physiology (BIOL 3310-3320)*
- One year of general chemistry with lab components (CHEM 1250-1270/1280 or 1350-1370/1380)*
- One year of organic chemistry with lab components (CHEM 3410-3440/3450 or 3460)*
- One semester of microeconomics (ECON 2020).
- One semester of English composition (GSW 1120)
- One semester of statistics (MATH 1150)
- Calculus (MATH 1310 or 1340-1350 and MATH 2320)*
- Social studies, literature, and philosophy elective courses.
* pre-requisites required for this course
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all of these required courses available at BGSU?
Yes, all the courses required for pharmacy school admission are available at BGSU. Further, many other useful (but not required) courses for pharmacy school, such as biochemistry and immunobiology, are offered at BGSU.
What majors are most popular among pre-pharm students?
Pre-pharm students often choose science majors, as these majors usually include some of the courses required for pharmacy school admission. However, remember that a student can choose ANY major and still go to pharmacy school, so long as he or she has 1) completed the courses required for pharmacy school admission, 2) has a strong college GPA, and 3) has demonstrated a true interest in pharmaceutical science.
How high should my GPA be in order to go to a College of Pharmacy?
Typically, a student's overall college GPA should be a 3.3 or better in order to be a strong candidate for admission to a college of pharmacy. In addition to a high GPA, a student applying to pharmacy school usually must take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Currently 75 percent of pharmacy schools require the PCAT. This test has six content areas: verbal ability, biology, reading comprehension, quantitative ability, chemistry and a written essay. The PCAT is offered only four times during the year.
When should I begin my pre-pharmacy course work?
Whether or not you major in a science, you should begin your basic pre-pharmacy course work as early as possible in your college career. Whether you want to go to pharmacy school immediately after finishing the required coursework at BGSU (and not obtain your Bachelor's degree) or if you wish to earn your Bachelor's degree before entering pharmacy school, you will apply to your desired pharmacy schools the year before you wish to start. The application process for most pharmacy schools is done online; the web site to access the basic application is http://www.pharmcas.org.
Are there any organizations at BGSU that are designed for pre-pharmacy students?
Yes. The Biological Sciences Honorary, Beta Beta Beta, and the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate are available to dedicated science students. These organizations not only provide opportunities to attend lectures given by health care and other professionals but also give students a chance to more deeply explore their intended professions..Alpha Epsilon Delta prehealth honorary society also encourages any student interested in health care delivery to attend meetings. These organizations not only provide opportunities to attend lectures given by healthcare and other professionals, but also give students a chance to more deeply explore their intended professions.
Over the past few years, what pharmacy schools have BGSU graduates attended?
BGSU graduates have attended a wide range of pharmacy schools, including The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in Columbus.
How long does it take to get through pharmacy school?
Pharmacy School is traditionally a four-year commitment AFTER completing the prerequisite coursework at BGSU.
What types of careers are available to people with Pharm.D. degrees?
In addition to providing pharmaceutical care to patients in both hospital and outpatient settings, pharmacists also have numerous opportunities in research, sales, and government agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacists can also earn teaching positions in colleges of pharmacy.
What resources are available at BGSU to help me learn more about pharmacy school?
BGSU offers students two advisors in the science departments, Lee Meserve, Ph.D. (Biological Sciences) and Steven Chung, Ph.D. (Chemistry), who have many years of experience in pre-pharmacy advising. Students can also consult an academic advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences office.
Contact Information
Lee Meserve, Ph.D.
Distinguished Teaching Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Pre-Health Professions Advisor
419-372-8361
lmeserv@bgnet.bgsu.edu
DeVona Smith
College of Arts and Sciences
Academic Advisor
419-372-2015
smithdd@bgsu.edu
Steve Chung, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Department of Chemistry
Pre-Health Professions Advisor
419-372-2031
schung@bgsu.edu
Patrick Dymarkowski
College of Arts and Sciences
Academic Advisor
419-372-2015
pdymark@bgsu.edu