Torn between two pre-pharmacy courses

[theavidtraveler]

I'm thinking of majoring in biology as my pre pharmacy course, but then I know that pharmacy has a lot of chemistry. Another course pop out in my mind, that's biochemistry and now I'm don't know what to choose between the two. Do pre-pharmacy students need to major in science courses like biology, chemistry, etc. before getting into a pharmacy school?

 

[Notecard]

No. You do need to take classes from those subjects and be proficient in them though. If you think majoring in that subject will help that process then do it.

I was undeclared all three years of undergrad lol... it's really not a big deal.

 

[Twentytwelve2]

No, you can be any major you want as long as you meet the pre-req for pharmacy school. However, coming from a biochemistry major, I would recommend it as your major. You take so many classes that are relevant to pharmaceuticals that I think it gives you a very strong background for pharmacy school. Enzyme kinetics, cellular and molecular regulation, and physical chemistry all pertains to drugs in someways. Plus, it sounds really cool.

 

[BSet]

I got my undergrad degree in political science with a minor in history, then did a master's in public administration. I went back and knocked out pre-reqs that I never had. You do not need anything specific other than what the school you want to go to asks. However, biochemistry would probably be useful.

 

[Rouelle]

Major in whatever you think you would enjoy most in the event that pharmacy school doesn't work out. Then take the required pre-reqs and as many upper level chem and biology classes as you can.

 

[wanttobepharm]

Bio majors take biology courses (including biochemistry, physiology, mcirobiology that you need as pre-reqs), general chemistry, organic chemistry.

 

[dkphx]

I would highly recommend majoring in Biochemistry for Pharmacy school. All of the things that I've learned really relate and will be of great benefit for Pharmacy school. It is also applicable to my experience in the pharmacy. I am a pharmacy technician, in my biochemistry courses we talked about diabetic medicines, how botox works, and also how many other drugs work in the body that I come across on a daily basis. Biochemistry I and II are also courses that you will be going over again in Pharmacy school. It is a little more challenging than majoring in Biology but it will better prepare you for the future as a pharmacist 🙂 If your university offers Biochemistry with Medicinal Chemistry emphasis, I would highly recommend that major as an inspiring future pharmacist.

Good luck!

 

[tlt2796]

Hi,
How do you think about this major, pharmaceutical science? I don't know if biochem or pharmaceutical science would have upper division classes that can help me prepare for pharmacy school. Thanks.

 

[asianbunny]

You could have an Arts or Music degree and still get into Pharmacy school. As long as you take the classes required at the pharmacy schools you're interested in, and score reasonably high on the PCAT, then you can get into Pharmacy school.