Pre-Pharmacy

Pharmacists distribute prescription drugs to individuals. They also advise their patients, physicians, and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications, as well as monitor the health and progress of those patients to ensure they are using their medications safely and effectively. Compounding—the actual mixing of ingredients to form medications—is a small part of a pharmacist's practice, because most medicines are produced by pharmaceutical companies in standard dosages and drug delivery forms. Most pharmacists work in a community setting, such as a retail drugstore, or in a healthcare facility, such as a hospital.

First Year Advisor

CSET Advising Center

Office: 125 Trafton Center
Phone: 507-389-1521
Email: csetadvising@mnsu.edu

Advising Team

Rebecca Moen, Ph.D. (for Biochemistry majors)
Office: 246 Ford Hall
Phone: 507-389-1246
Email: rebecca.moen@mnsu.edu

Mary Hadley, Ph.D. (for Chemistry majors)
Office: 242 Ford Hall
Phone: 507-389-5102
Email: mary.hadley@mnsu.edu

Danae Quirk Dorr, Ph.D. (for Chemistry majors)
Office: 344 Ford Hall
Phone: 507-389-2141
Email: danae.quirk-dorr@mnsu.edu

Dan Swart, Ph.D. (for Chemistry majors)
Office: 341 Ford Hall
Phone: 507-389-6454
Email: daniel.swart@mnsu.edu

Trent Vorlicek, Ph.D. (for Chemistry majors)
Office: 340 Ford Hall
Phone: 507-389-1598
Email: trenton.vorlicek@mnsu.edu

The majority of students admitted to a college of pharmacy have completed an undergraduate degree. Students interested in pharmacy often major in Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, or Chemistry because these majors include many of the same courses that are required prerequisites to pharmacy programs. The pre-pharmacy curriculum is designed to meet the prerequisites for admission to the University of Minnesota, however, the curriculum is not all inclusive as prerequisites vary between colleges of pharmacy. Therefore, requirements for particular pharmacy schools still need to be taken into consideration before substitutions for these courses are made. The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) or the PharmCAS application is required by many pharmacy schools.

Residencies for doctors of pharmacy are becoming much more common and allow students to specialize. Being a pharmacist in a clinical setting means being part of a medical team.

Helpful Links

• PharmCAS
• PCAT Information

Required for Advising Track:

• BIOL 105 - General Biology I (4)
• BIOL 220 - Human Anatomy (4)
• BIOL 270 - Microbiology (4)
• BIOL 330 - Principles of Human Physiology (4)
• CHEM 201 - General Chemistry I (5)
• CHEM 202 - General Chemistry II (5)
• CHEM 360 - Principles of Biochemistry (4) or
  BIOL 211 - Genetics (4) or
  BIOL 320 - Cell Biology (4) or
  BIOL 470 - Molecular Biology (4)
• CMST 102 - Public Speaking (3) or
  CMST 101W - Interpersonal Communications (4)
• ECON 202 - Principles of Microeconomics (3)
• ENG 201W - Intermediate Writing (4) or
  ENG 271W - Technical Communication (4) or
  ENG 301W - Advanced Writing (4)
• MATH 121 - Calculus I (4)
• PHYS 221 - General Physics I (4) or
  PHYS 211 - Principles of Physics I (4) and
  PHYS 212 - Principles of Physics II (4)
• PSYC 101 - Introduction to Psychological Science (4)
• STAT 154 - Elementary Statistics (3) or
  STAT 354 - Concepts of Probability & Statistics (3) or
  MATH 354 - Concepts of Probability & Statistics (3)

Sixty to 64 credits of coursework including the above are typically required by pharmacy programs. Substitutions for both science and non-science courses should be chosen after studying the requirements of particular pharmacy schools. Please contact a pre-pharmacy advisor.