what to major in to become a pharmacist?

What major is most helpful in pursuing a pharmacist career? chemistry, bio, biochemistry, or pharmaceutical sciences?

Any of the above as long as you are in a pre-pharmacy program. Have you looked at the requirements for several pharmacy schools that you are interested in? This should give you some guidance. You may want to think about going in with one of the above as your major but on the pre-pharmacy track so you still have a degree in a field, just in case you don’t get into a pharmacy school.

Actually if you major in one of the above with pre-pharmacy track and don’t get into a pharmacy program, with a degree, you can also apply for an accelerated nursing program. This type of program is usually a two year program.

Do look at pharmacy programs such as the one at The University of Iowa. You major in pharmacy as a graduate student and move directly into a Pharm. D. You graduate sooner with a marketable degree. Pharm tech is something that individuals pursue who don’t seek a degree in pharmacy. Students learn skills at a pharmacy and earn a credential. Sounded really interesting means of entering pharmacy. Pharmacy is a good career path because of the number of pharmacies and the chance to fill in.

Can another major in pursuing Pharmacy be Chemical Engineering?

If your goal is a PharmD, then focus on a guaranteed acceptance or early assurance program.

If your high school GPA and SAT score is high, you might be accepted to a 2+4 program or 6 yr program where you have a seat reserved in the pharmacy school, as long as you have a certain GPA in prerequisite courses and pass the PCAT (sometimes with a minimum score).

Some schools that have these programs are U Toledo, U Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Ohio Northern (6 yr).

They offer merit for some students, which can help keep costs down.

My D had the Pitt pharmacy GAP. She applied as a pre-pharmacy major, took some prerequisites in the first year, took the PCAT in summer after freshman year, and then applied to Pitt pharmacy school in the fall. She had to finish her prerequisites in the second year, and then started pharmacy school in the third year.

Some of the students in her class already have a bachelor’s degree, some have an engineering degree. But it is certainly not required.

at most pharmacy schools you major in pre-pharmacy. Most pharmD’s are a 2 + 4 program, meaning you do 2 years of pre pharmacy requirements and then 4 years of professional program. here is a link to a table of which schools offer which type of program https://www.aacp.org/sites/default/files/2018-03/psar-18-19%20Table%201.pdf

Your most cost-effective process is to apply to a 2+4 school as @mommdc noted above. There are many pharmacy schools that require a bachelor’s degree to apply to the pharmacy program, which is a graduate degree. However, a PharmD degree requires four years to complete, which means that if you go for a conventional bachelor’s degree in anything and then apply to a pharmacy school, you’ll be done with a PharmD degree in eight years after you get out of high school.

D1 went to Pitt, graduated with her PharmD degree six years later and is now a professor of pharmacy at a medical school in California. Meaning, her lack of a conventional four year undergraduate degree was no impediment to getting into the career she wanted. (By the way, Pitt does award a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Science after successful completion of the fourth year in the program.)

1 Like

By the way, pharmacy schools are lot like medical schools in that they really don’t care what your undergraduate major was, as long as you have a good GPA and successfully completed all the required undergraduate prerequisite courses.

1 Like