Prepharmacy Preparation

Students interested in a career in pharmacy need to build a strong foundation in the sciences.  In particular, building competencies in chemistry and biology are an essential part of the undergraduate preparation for pharmacy school, and you will need to develop very advanced skills in these areas if you intend to pursue admission to pharmacy school. In addition, prepharmacy students need to develop skills and abilities in a number of other areas as undergraduate students.

Although there is no prepharmacy major or Doctor of Pharmacy program at Indiana University, students may complete all the requirements on the IU Bloomington campus for admission to pharmacy schools. Because competition for admission to pharmacy programs is so keen, we recommend that students at IU Bloomington plan to complete an undergraduate degree in a major that interests them before entering pharmacy school.

Prepharmacy students may select any major to combine with the courses required for admission to pharmacy school. Prepharmacy students should select a major that interests them, allows them to build strong intellectual skills, and one that could provide opportunities for graduate work or employment if they choose not to pursue a career in pharmacy.

Although they can choose any major, prepharmacy students must complete certain required courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences. Some pharmacy schools also require anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology and statistics for admission. In addition, prepharmacy students need to develop strong reasoning, analytical, and communication skills. A pharmacist needs to have a strong foundation in the sciences, as well as good communication and interpersonal skills. Coursework in the humanities and social sciences can help you build skills in these latter areas.

The course requirements for admission to pharmacy programs vary significantly from school to school. Below is a plan of study for IU Bloomington students who plan to apply for admission to the Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Doctor of Pharmacy program. We recommend that students who are Indiana residents follow this plan of preparation, and then consider including additional coursework that would help them meet the admission requirements for other pharmacy schools. Students should consult the publication Pharmacy School Admission Requirements (a copy is available in the HPPLC office) and meet with a HPPLC advisor regarding the requirements for admission to other pharmacy schools.

Prepharmacy Program for IU Bloomington Students

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy provides a wealth of useful information for students considering a career in pharmacy.