Degree Plus Pre-Pharmacy
The Degree Plus Pre-Pharmacy Program combines pre-pharmacy courses with requirements for either a biology degree or chemistry degree at PC.
Upon completion of three years pre-pharmacy and the four-year professional program, students earn both a BS in either biology or chemistry and a PharmD in seven years. During the last year of pre-pharmacy coursework, students apply to pharmacy school via the national Pharmacy College Application Service (www.PharmCAS.org).
Application Process – Undergraduate Admissions
To reap all the benefits provided to PC pre-pharmacy students, you must be admitted to Presbyterian College as an undergraduate. Interested high school students should complete an undergraduate PC application for admission.
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Program Requirements
Students should select their major (biology or chemistry) and elect to join the Degree Plus Pre-Pharmacy Program during their sophomore year in college. To qualify for a bachelor’s degree, students must complete all required courses for the major as listed in the Degree Plus Pre-Pharmacy Program Curriculum for either a BS in Biology or a BS in Chemistry. Students must also complete 64 hours of required pre-pharmacy coursework with a C- grade or better to be considered for admission into the PharmD program. All pre-pharmacy coursework must be completed prior to matriculation in the PharmD program. Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate credits may be used to satisfy pre-pharmacy course requirements or required courses for a BS degree.
To increase your competitiveness for entry in the School of Pharmacy, you should participate in community service activities and investigate the pharmacy profession before you apply to pharmacy school. Students are encouraged to get involved in the local community by participating in Student Volunteer Services, community, church, and/or student organization activities. Suggested ways to investigate the pharmacy profession include gaining pharmacy work experience, completing internships in pharmacy, participating in volunteer efforts related to pharmacy and healthcare, shadowing pharmacists, or interviewing pharmacists.
Application Process – Pharmacy Admissions
During the last year of pre-pharmacy coursework, students apply to the School of Pharmacy through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS) and submit a supplemental application directly to the School. You must request official copies of all college transcripts and two letters of reference be sent to PharmCAS on your behalf.
Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy employs a holistic admissions philosophy. Both academic factors and nonacademic factors are considered in selecting applicants for admission. Academic factors are employed to select applicants who are prepared to succeed in a rigorous professional curriculum and include GPA, course load, college attended, and degree(s) awarded. PC Degree Plus Program students will receive admissions credit for earning a bachelor’s degree. Non-academic factors are included to select applicants who will fulfill the mission of Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy and uphold the standards and responsibilities of the pharmacy profession. Considered non-academic factors include written communication skills, history of involvement in and service to the community, leadership experience, professional exploration, and letters of reference.
Students in the Degree Plus Pre-Pharmacy Program are guaranteed an onsite interview with a GPA of 2.75 or better. The admissions interview is a structured interview process that is designed to assess core competencies that are difficult to measure via an application alone. These competencies are a commitment to the pharmacy profession, communication skills, empathy, ethical and moral reasoning, interpersonal skills, and motivation. Interviewer scores, as well as the interviewer and staff comments, factor prominently in Admissions Committee decisions for admission to PCSP. Admission is competitive and selection for an interview does not guarantee admission.
To comply with our contracts with healthcare institutions, all students must successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screen before matriculation into pharmacy school.
Click here to learn more about the application process to the School of Pharmacy »