Pharmacy School Preparation at UC Davis

The pharmacist is a professional specialist in the science of drugs who possesses comprehensive knowledge of all medications. Some areas of knowledge are (a) chemical and physical properties of drugs, (b) the composition, manufacture and uses of pharmaceuticals, and (c) the effect of drugs on the normal and the sick body. Job duties of a pharmacist include (1) educating patients about prescription and over-the-counter medications, (2) advising other health care professionals on drug decisions for patients, (3) providing expertise about the composition of drugs, including chemical, biological, and physical properties, as well as usage, (4) ensuring drug purity and strength, and (5) ensuring drugs do not interact in a harmful way.

Although the role of the pharmacist has traditionally been linked to the dispensing of prescriptions, increased technology and improved health care delivery has opened up new careers in addition to retail pharmacy for the licensed pharmacist. Mirroring trends in other health sciences, curricula in pharmacy schools have moved from an emphasis on drug information to a more holistic approach that emphasizes the application of this knowledge to the care of patients. Other pharmacy careers that are open to the licensed pharmacist include academic pharmacy, consulting pharmacy, government agencies, hospice and home care, hospital and institutional practice, long-term care, managed care pharmacy, medical and scientific publishing, pharmaceutical industry, trade and professional associations, uniformed (Public Health) service.

Pharmacy Education

The minimum educational requirement for licensure as a pharmacist is a Pharm. D. degree from an accredited school of pharmacy. This is typically a 3 or 4 year program. To take the state licensing exam one must complete the minimum educational requirements.

Types of Programs

The Pharm.D. program requires a minimum of two years pre-professional study plus three to four years of professional study and includes training in different settings of pharmacy. A Pharm.D is necessary for administrative work, research, and college teaching.

A. Pharm.D. Programs:

1. There are currently seven pharmacy schools in California (UCSF, UCSD, UOP, USC, WUHS, LLU and TU). Students may enter the program with or without a baccalaureate degree provided that they have completed the minimum units of course work required at an undergraduate institution before beginning the pharmacy program (However, statistics show a significantly higher percentage of acceptance for students with baccalaureate degrees).

2. Some out-of-state Pharm.D. programs require a B.S. in pharmacy for entry. Please see the school’s Web site for further information.

B. M.S. and Ph.D. Programs:

These advanced degree programs requires an undergraduate degree prior to admission but the degree need not be in pharmacy. These graduate degrees are research degrees and do not qualify the student to be a licensed pharmacy practitioner unless the student possesses a B.S. in pharmacy or a Pharm. D. degree as well.

C. Joint Degree Programs:

3. Some pharmacy schools offer joint degree programs to allow pharmacy students to expand their knowledge in management, research, law, or public health while pursuing their Pharm.D. degree. Examples of the joint degree programs are Pharm.D./Ph.D., Pharm.D./M.S., Pharm.D./M.B.A., Pharm.D./J.D., Pharm.D./M.S.G., and Pharm.D./Gerontology Certificate. Please see the Pharmacy School List Handout and check out the schoo lWeb sites for available programs provided by each school.

Basic Requirements for All Pharmacy Schools

Students must have a minimum of 90 quarter units (including pre-pharmacy prerequisites) or two years pre-professional study to apply for a pharmacy school.

• General Chemistry: 1 year w/ lab (CHE 2A,B,C)
• Organic Chemistry: 1 year w/lab (CHE 118A,B,C or CHE 128A,B,C plus CHE 129A,B,C)
• Biological Sciences: 1 year w/lab (BIS 1A,B,C &/OR BIS 101 or 102 or 103 or 104) ***
• Physics: 1 year w/lab (PHY 7A,B,C) ***
• Calculus: 1 year (MAT 16A,B,C)***
  
  Additional Required Courses***

Microbiology: 1 course w/lab (MIC 102 & 102L)

• Physiology: 1 course w/lab (NPB 101 & 101L)
• Anatomy: 1 course w/lab (CHA 101 & 101L)
• English: 1 year (ENG 1, 3,101, 102, or 104)
• Humanities & Social Sciences:
• Psychology: 1 quarter (PSC 1)
• Economics: 1quarter (ECN 1A or 1B)
• Sociology: 1 quarter (SOC 1)
• Communications: 1 quarter (CMN 1 or 3)
• Statistics: 1 quarter (STA 1)

Course requirements vary from school to school. You should refer to the individual school catalogs and/or Web sites for specific information. Specific prerequisites for schools in California are listed on another handout on the Health Science Web site,available upon request.

Note: Each individual school of pharmacy has its own specific requirements and deadlines which are subject to change from year to year. It is the applicant's responsibility to determine the requirements of the school(s) of his/her choice and to fulfill these requirements before the projected date of entrance. Check school’s Web site for applications and deadlines. It is imperative that you apply in a timely manner. If a student applies to more than one pharmacy school with different application deadlines, he/she must arrange to complete the application and send the transcripts by the earliest deadline established by the selected pharmacy institutions.

Work Experience

Although not specifically required at UCSF, UCSD, UOP, USC, WUHS, LLU, or TU it is strongly recommended that the pharmacy school applicant have some exposure to the field of pharmacy, especially when the school asks for a recommendation letter from a pharmacist. This exposure is important because it ensures that the individual is aware of what the pharmacy profession entails. Students are encouraged to gain pharmacy experience as early as their freshman/sophomore years. Activities on and off campus are also strongly recommended. The Internship and Career Center (ICC) on the 2nd floor of South Hall can assist with placements in local pharmacies and hospitals, and pre-pharmacy students can find volunteer or paid work in the community and/or with a practicing pharmacist on his/her own.

PharmCAS

PharmCAS is a centralized application process that allows students to apply for multiple pharmacy schools with a single application, although not all pharmacy schools participate in PharmCAS. If the schools you are applying to participate in PharmCAS you will send all of your undergraduate schools’ transcripts there as well as your letters of reference (depending on the pharmacy school’s instructions). For more information be sure to visit the PharmCAS Web site.

Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
The PCAT is designed to measure general academic ability and scientific knowledge. The examination includes verbal and quantitative ability, biology, chemistry and reading comprehension. It is offered three times a year (mid-October, mid-January, end-March) and takes roughly four to six weeks to be mailed. The registration deadlines are about 6 weeks prior to each examination date. California schools do not require the PCAT, but just over half of the out-of-state pharmacy schools do. PCAT information is available from:

Pharmacy College Admission Test
The Psychological Corporation
555 Academic Court
San Antonia, TX 78204-2498
Phone: 1-800-622-3231
Fax: 1-210-921-8861

If you are planning to apply to a PharmCAS school, please send the PCAT score to code 104. Note that not all pharmacy schools require PCAT, and not all schools participate in PharmCAS. If you apply to pharmacy schools that do not participate in PharmCAS, send the PACT scores directly to each institution.

Letters of Reference

Most pharmacy schools require that the applicant send 2 or 3 letters of recommendation. It is advisable that one letter be from a pharmacist, preferably one with whom you have worked. The others should be from science professors and/or former employers. Schedule an appointment to speak with a Health Sciences Advisor in Health Sciences Advising, 160 South Silo, (530) 752-4475, about collecting letters of recommendations.

Personal Statement

HSA staff can assist students with personal statements. Students can submit their essays to be reviewed by a staff advisor. Detailed information on the Essay Review Service is available at 111 South Hall. A general handout on writing a personal statement is available at Health Sciences Advising.

For additional information on all schools of pharmacy in the United States, refer to Pharmacy School Admission Requirements (PSAR) available through:

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
1426 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 739-2330