Pre-Pharmacy

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 Admissions Application Process: Interested high school students should complete a Presbyterian College undergraduate application for admissionll.

• 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.

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• 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 »

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).

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 »

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.

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 »

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.