Course Requirements Overview
This is a guide to common pre-pharmacy course requirements.
Professional schools have a variety of prerequisites required for admission to their programs. On this page, we include information about timelines for pre-pharmacy requirements and the options available.
- Many programs prefer in person coursework, and some programs may not allow online coursework. See individual schools for policies.
- Individual schools may require or recommend additional courses.
- All Prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher.
- Schools vary on Credit-By-Exam (AP/IB/CLEP) policies and preferences for prerequisites. Please see "Can I Claim AP/IB Credit?"
- School requirements can change. See individual school websites and admissions guides under “Research Pharmacy Schools Before You Apply” on our page about applying. We always recommend checking for any updates.
Recommended Pre-Pharmacy Courses
Some pharmacy schools require humanities and social/behavioral science courses. We strongly recommend taking courses in the following areas.
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Ethics
- Analytical problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Writing, interpersonal communications, and presentation skills
- Cultural studies
- Spanish and other language studies relevant to your career goals
See the Pharmacy Schools Prerequisite Courses Timelines below.
UT Austin courses are typically taken to fulfill requirements
| Subject | Lecture | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Biology |
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| Microbiology |
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| Anatomy |
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| Physiology |
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| Chemistry |
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| Organic Chemistry |
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| Physics |
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Starting FALL 2021, PHY 105M/N will replace lab numbers PHY 102M/N, PHY 103M/N, and 117M/N.
|
| Calculus |
Pharmacy programs may differ on what they accept for their Calculus requirement. Please check with programs you are interested in.
|
M 408Q is not accepted by all schools. |
| Statistics |
|
Not all courses listed include both descriptive stats and ANOVA stats, which some schools may require. Check schools and course syllabi. |
| Professional Speaking |
|
Required by some schools. |
| Core Curriculum and General Education | Schools have specific requirements. | Check individual school websites for specific requirements and possible additional required courses. |
Pharmacy School Prerequisite Course Timelines
This timeline includes pre-pharmacy course requirements for admission to most Texas and U. S. pharmacy schools.
Completing the pre-pharmacy courses and extracurricular activities generally requires six semesters or longer, regardless of the student’s age or year in college. Your personal timeline may differ from this sample. Work with your academic advisor to incorporate these courses into your degree plan.
- Pre-Pharmacy Time Line
Important Note:
Timelines do not include all course options and details.
To be sure that you are fulfilling all requirements, see individual school websites. School links are provided under: Research pharmacy schools before you apply!
Additional Course Information
- Currently a UT student and thinking of taking courses away from UT? (This may not be applicable if you are not yet enrolled at UT.)
- Are Extension Courses okay for pre-reqs?
- Other pre-health non-science courses of interest