Pharmacy students working

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Professional

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Professional

Pave the way to pharmacy. Begin with strong preparation.

Presbyterian College’s Pre-Pharmacy Program offers students a clear, supported path toward earning a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. Through rigorous coursework, personal advising, and early access to pharmacy-related experiences, students develop the academic foundation, critical thinking skills, and clinical awareness needed to succeed in pharmacy school. Many Pre-Pharmacy students continue directly into the PC School of Pharmacy, one of the Southeast’s most respected programs.

The Power of Your Degree

  • Expand your perspective. 
    Explore the vital role pharmacists play in healthcare, research, and patient education.
  • Broaden your knowledge. 
    Master coursework in biology, chemistry, health sciences, and social sciences to meet pharmacy school prerequisites.
  • Solidify your skill set. 
    Gain professional exposure through shadowing, internships, and early engagement with the PC School of Pharmacy.
  • Become a critical thinker.
    Learn to assess health needs, solve complex medication challenges, and advocate for patient-centered care.
Three PC Students working

What You’ll Study

The Pre-Pharmacy curriculum is designed to fulfill prerequisites for pharmacy school admission. Required coursework typically includes general biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and statistics. Students also take English composition, public speaking, psychology, and economics to meet communication and social science competencies expected of future pharmacists.

Pharmacists complete three levels of education: high school, pre-pharmacy coursework in college, and four years of pharmacy school leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD). Students interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy can complete all aspects of pre-pharmacy and pharmacy school at Presbyterian College. We understand that students often realize they want to be pharmacists at different points in their lives and educations. That’s why Presbyterian College offers three different ways for you to prepare for pharmacy school:

Traditional Pre-Pharmacy Path offers the most flexibility.

This path allows students to complete their pre-pharmacy coursework in just two or three years or with further study, to earn a bachelor’s degree. During the last year of pre-pharmacy coursework, students apply to pharmacy school via the national Pharmacy College Application Service (www.PharmCAS.org).

Undergraduate

  • Undergraduate Admissions Application Process: Interested high school students should complete a Presbyterian College undergraduate application for admissions.
  • Program Requirements: You may choose to complete your pre-pharmacy coursework in just two or three years or to pursue a bachelor’s degree before entering the PharmD program. Students must complete the 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.

View the Pre-Pharmacy coursework requirements »

  • Community Service: 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.

Start your application for undergraduate admission »

School of Pharmacy

  • Pharmacy Admissions Application Process: 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.
  • Pharmacy Admissions Process: Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy employs a holistic admissions philosophy. Both academic factors and non-academic 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 students and graduates will receive admissions credit if they earned a bachelor’s degree prior to their planned matriculation date in the PharmD program. 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. 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.
  • Pharmacy Admissions Interview: Presbyterian College students and graduates 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.

Learn more about the application process to the School of 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.

Get started with your application for admission »

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.

Biology with Pharmacy Concentration Curriculum »

Chemistry with Pharmacy Concentration Curriculum »

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 »

Students must complete all courses required in the two-year Early Entry Pre-Pharmacy curriculum.

Since the program requires specific courses each semester, registration is guaranteed into required coursework as long as students register during the Early Entry Pre-Pharmacy registration window.

Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate credits may be used to satisfy up to two required science/math courses and unlimited non-science/math courses. Students must enroll in at least 15 credit hours per semester, maintain a cumulative total GPA of 3.00 or better, and achieve a grade of C – or better in all coursework.

View the Early Entry Pre-Pharmacy Program curriculum »

Students must complete at least five hours per year of community service activities. Students are encouraged to participate in Student Volunteer Services, community, church, and/or student organization activities to complete the volunteerism requirement. Students are also required to complete at least five hours per year of professional exploration, most of which will be incorporated into the curriculum. An introduction to careers in pharmacy, including opportunities for exploring the profession via shadowing pharmacist faculty, will be provided during the required Freshman Seminar class. In addition, Early Entry Pre-Pharmacy students will complete an Exploring Pharmacy experience later in the curriculum.

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.

A picture of the Presbyterian College sign with the morning sun peaking through the trees.
A picture of the Presbyterian College sign with the morning sun peaking through the trees.

Get Involved

At Presbyterian College, you can actively pursue your future in pharmacy through programs and opportunities that take your discipline out of the classroom and into the real world—all while expanding your experience, perspective, and skillsets.

  • Shadowing and Internships:

Observe practicing pharmacists and gain valuable insights into retail, hospital, clinical, and research pharmacy settings.

  • Service and Leadership:

Engage in health-related community service, promoting public health and patient education initiatives.

Careers in Pharmacy

PC’s Pre-Pharmacy Program prepares students for pharmacy school and future careers as pharmacists in a wide range of settings. Pharmacists today do much more than dispense medications—they play key roles in patient counseling, chronic disease management, public health education, and pharmaceutical research.

Career Professions

Clinical Pharmacist

Community/Retail Pharmacist

Hospital Pharmacist

Clinical Research Pharmacist

Nuclear Pharmacist

Geriatric Pharmacist

Pediatric Pharmacist

Oncology Pharmacist

Pharmacy Benefit Manager

Public Health Pharmacist

Infectious Disease Pharmacist

Veterinary Pharmacist

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmacogenomics Specialist

Managed Care Pharmacist

Medication Therapy Management Specialist

Pharmacy Owner or Manager

Academia/Pharmacy School Faculty

Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Global Health Pharmacist

Acquired Skills

Medication and pharmaceutical knowledge

Clinical reasoning and patient care assessment

Scientific research and data interpretation

Communication and counseling skills

Ethical decision-making in healthcare

Leadership in pharmacy practice settings

Health promotion and disease prevention strategies

Problem-solving and analytical thinking

Cultural competency in healthcare delivery

Teamwork and interprofessional collaboration

Health informatics and pharmaceutical technologies

Advocacy for patient-centered care and medication safety

Regulatory and legal knowledge in pharmacy practice

Adaptability in dynamic healthcare environments

Project management in clinical or retail settings

Critical thinking in complex health systems

Public health and epidemiology awareness

Time management and organizational skills

Quick Stats

Graduates with a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree can expect a median annual salary of around $136,030. The top 25% of pharmacists earn approximately $155,550 annually, while the bottom 25% earn about $125,860 per year. Salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, level of education, and years of experience.

Employment of pharmacists is projected to grow by 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. Approximately 14,200 openings for pharmacists are projected each year, on average, due to the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

A degree in pre-pharmacy offers high career versatility, with opportunities in various sectors including retail pharmacies, hospitals, outpatient care centers, and pharmaceutical research. Graduates can pursue roles such as pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, pharmaceutical researchers, and healthcare administrators. The broad skill set acquired—encompassing medication management, patient care, and pharmaceutical sciences, equips individuals to adapt and thrive in diverse professional environments.​

Source(s): O*Net Online

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