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Pharmacists prepare and dispense medications prescribed by dentists, physicians, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, and other health practitioners. They advise patients about the safe use of prescription medicines, including possible interactions or side effects. They may administer vaccines and immunizations as well as conduct health and wellness screenings. In short, they help people live healthy lives.
Being a pharmacist can be a rewarding career, but the path to becoming one can be challenging. To become a pharmacist, you will need to earn a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, followed by licensure exams. According to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), there are 159 accredited programs in the United States. As of 2025, Butler University, Purdue University, and Manchester University are the only PharmD granting institutions in Indiana.
Pre-Requisite Courses
The admission criteria for each pharmacy program are unique to that college or university. While the following table includes the most common pre-requisite courses for programs in the US, additional courses may be recommended. Students should work with their advisor to ensure all pre-requisite courses are completed in a timely fashion depending on the programs to which you plan to apply.
| Subject | Semesters | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ||
| Introductory Biology | Two, w/lab | BIO212/213 and BIO307 or BIO 315 |
| Microbiology | One, w/lab | BIO214 or BIO340 |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | Two, w/lab | BIO223 and BIO 224 or BIO 325 and BIO444 |
| Immunology | One | BIO445 |
| Biochemistry | One, w/lab | BIO335 |
| Chemistry | ||
| General Chemistry | Two, w/lab | CHE140/141L and CHE142/143L |
| Organic Chemistry | Two, w/lab | CHE305 and CHE306 |
| Physics | ||
| General Physics | One, w/lab | PHY110 or PHY201 |
| Mathematics | ||
| Statistics | One | BIO220 or STA205 or PSY205 |
| Calculus | One | MAT215 |
| Humanities | ||
| Economics | One | ECN200 |
Preparing a Competitive Application
Since pharmacy programs are quite diverse in their application requirements, students should thoroughly explore the requirements of all programs to which they hope to apply. At Marian, meet early and often with your advisor to stay on track for a successful application.
A competitive candidate will generally:
- Demonstrate strong academic performance in all courses (GPA 3.4 or higher)
- Score well on the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
- Demonstrate extensive familiarity with the field of pharmacy to gain an understanding of the expectations of the profession, including a combination of
- Shadowing several pharmacists to gain a realistic view of the responsibilities in the field
- Gaining extensive first-hand experience through volunteering or a paid position in a pharmacy or related role
- Getting involved in community service, volunteerism, and co-curricular activities
- Seeking leadership opportunities in clubs, organizations, church, or sports
- Conducting independent research to better understand the scientific literature
- Exhibit strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work with a diverse group of people, and a desire to help others