Math/Sci Prereqs only?

[uncbiograd]

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I know this question has been asked before, but I don't think it has been fully explained. I have read that those students who have completed a bachelors degree must complete only the science and math prerequisites, but also heard many times that you must fulfill all prereqs no matter what.

On the 'course prerequisites by pharmacy school' PDF http://www.aacp.org/RESOURCES/STUDENT/PHARMACYFORYOU/ADMISSIONS/Pages/PSAR.aspx, it is stated in the key at the bottom that only the math and science prereqs must be completed. Also on the UNC PharmCAS page http://www.pharmcas.org/collegesschools/schoolUNCpage.htm this is explicitly stated.

Is UNC the only school that has this policy that you know of? Why is that statement on the prerequisites document if it isn't true for the majority of schools? I hope to receive some real analysis here, and not "JUST TAKE THE EXTRA CLASSES" 😳

 

[delano2000]

From what I was told by a counselor at my intended pharm. school is that you have to do ALL of the prerequisite requirements. This includes courses like fine arts, phys. ed etc. which may have no direct relationship to Pharmacy school. The reason why you should take all your prerequisites is to show that you are a well-rounded student. If you already have a bachelors degree then one can only assume that you have taken the core requirements (eg. Comp., History, Govt. etc.) which are different from the Pre-Pharm. requirements (eg. Chem I&II, Orgo I&II, A&P, Calculus etc.). So to answer your question, you do need to take these "extra" courses even though they do not directly correlate with pharmacy. Hope that helps. 👍

 

[uncbiograd]

thanks for the reply, i just graduated this year and yeah, basically have everything fulfilled. i'm annoyed though because after my freshman year of undergrad my school told me that one of my classes with labs counted for my communications (public speaking) credit. it's going to be tough to fit that class in but i want to apply for fall '10.

i still don't understand why this is included on the AACP prereq form: "*Students with a baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the School of Pharmacy must complete the math and science prereqs only"

mistake? maybe it's meant to describe only UNC, but they forgot to adjust the key?

 

[delano2000]

i still don't understand why this is included on the AACP prereq form: "*Students with a baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the School of Pharmacy must complete the math and science prereqs only"

No it's not a mistake. Think about it this way. You already have your bachelors degree, meaning you already completed the core requirements, then you only need to take the math and science courses that fall under the Pre-Pharm requirements. Courses like Organic Chemistry (which you definitely need to take) may not be required for a Business degree or Accounting. That is why you would still need to take those kind of courses for admission to pharm. school.

 

[uncbiograd]

ha i think we're talking circles around the main issue. it says i only need to complete science and math prereqs - i have done all of those - so how does public speaking or a religion course fall into this category of science and math courses that are my only requirement?

 

[themulya]

ha i think we're talking circles around the main issue. it says i only need to complete science and math prereqs - i have done all of those - so how does public speaking or a religion course fall into this category of science and math courses that are my only requirement?

it doesn't. Public speaking is a humanities course and religion classes are social studies. If your school is making you take those classes, well then tough luck they lied to you. Looks like you have to take more than just science/math prereqs even with your bachelors.

 

[delano2000]

ha i think we're talking circles around the main issue. it says i only need to complete science and math prereqs - i have done all of those - so how does public speaking or a religion course fall into this category of science and math courses that are my only requirement?

I must have misunderstood . The curriculum varies from school to school but the general idea is that you need to take the math and science pre-reqs. Some schools require philosophy and certain courses, some don't . That part of it depends on your intended schools.

 

[pharm B]

I know for sure I've seen at least one school that put an asterisk by all the pre-reqs that are waived if you possess a bachelors.

I thought it was Tech. Mulya?

 

[pharmerinthedel]

The * seems to actually indicate which schools require the pharmcas and the legend at the bottom is a mistake. If you look closely, you will see that a * is placed in the header of the first column entitled Pharmcas schools. For U of S. Nevada there is no * because they do not use the Pharmcas application. There may be other schools that do not require non-math/science prereqs for those holding bachelor degrees, but I'm not aware of them. You will need to contact the individual school to find out.

The reason most, if not all, pharmacy schools require speech class is that the vast majority of pharmacists participate in patient consultations on a daily basis. These 5 minute consultations are, in essence, speeches. A pharmacist should be able to explain complex material to a relatively uninformed public in a way that is reasonable and easy to understand without at the same time coming off as patronizing. These are skills that, in theory, you should learn in speech class.

Why is this skill important? Let's face it. Most people ignore the little stickers on prescriptions that say - "take with plenty of water", "take 2 hours before meals", etc... Why do they ignore them? Because no one told them that water is necessary for some medications to become fully absorbed. Most people think that statements like that are included so pills won't get stuck in their throats.

 

[uncbiograd]

thanks guys, so my undergrad school is in the minority making that statement. 😡 why did UNC convince me not to take a speech class? haha, oh well.

 

[pharm B]

Just a follow-up to what I posted earlier.

From the Texas Tech PharmD pre-req's page:
http://www.ttuhsc.edu/sop/programs/pharmd/prerequesitecourses.aspx

"Exempt from English and Humanities/Social Sciences if earned bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university prior to enrolling in the School of Pharmacy.

Humanities/Social Sciences include: Anthropology, Communications (excluding Public Speaking prerequisite), Economics (excluding Economics prerequisite), Ethnic Studies, Family Living/Human Development, Geography, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science (Government), Psychology, and Sociology."

 

[themulya]

Just a follow-up to what I posted earlier.

From the Texas Tech PharmD pre-req's page:
http://www.ttuhsc.edu/sop/programs/pharmd/prerequesitecourses.aspx

"Exempt from English and Humanities/Social Sciences if earned bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university prior to enrolling in the School of Pharmacy.

Humanities/Social Sciences include: Anthropology, Communications (excluding Public Speaking prerequisite), Economics (excluding Economics prerequisite), Ethnic Studies, Family Living/Human Development, Geography, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science (Government), Psychology, and Sociology."

Sorry didn't get to answer your question, went the see inglourious basterds. But yeah it's waived for tech, but I didn't graduate with a degree so I had to do all of their prereqs.

 

[pharm B]

Tech is one of the schools I'm applying to, and it's the only one that requires a semester of Econ. My advisor was like "this isn't on any degree plan or list." Just had to explain to her that Pharmacists really needed to know how to handle guns and butter.

 

[themulya]

Tech is one of the schools I'm applying to, and it's the only one that requires a semester of Econ. My advisor was like "this isn't on any degree plan or list." Just had to explain to her that Pharmacists really needed to know how to handle guns and butter.

haha. From my first three weeks here, Tech seems very anti standing behind a counter counting by fives. They want us to do something else with our degrees. During orientation they had us sit with faculty/alumni who talked about what they did with their pharmD's. But if you do retail, they wan't you to be in charge. Either owning your own or being a manager of some sort. Which is why they require the econ class and why they have a few business classes in the curriculum. They also have a fairly new PharmD/MBA program. I might have done it but I'm ineligible because I have no bachelors.

But I'm ok with doing retail. The reason I got into pharmacy was because I really enjoyed my technician job. So I have no qualms about being one of those guys behind the counter, counting by 5s.