The requirements for admission to schools and colleges of pharmacy vary. Students are advised to contact the institution of choice for details regarding special program and admission requirements. Normally a minimum of two years pre-pharmacy undergraduate preparation is required. Because of limited space and other factors, admission is very competitive. An increasing number of students are entering pharmacy schools after completion of the bachelor's degree.

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Biochemistry: Pharmacological Chemistry

The Pharmacological Chemistry major provides a strong background in chemistry and includes most courses required by California pharmacy schools. The major is intended primarily as preparation for pharmacy schools, but students fulfilling their elective requirements with appropriate courses would be prepared for graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in pharmacology or other areas of science. Degree recipients would also be prepared for most jobs in the biotechnology and chemical industries.

Special Advising note: Transfer students are strongly advised to complete as many preparatory courses as possible for their major before enrolling at UCSD. Students should complete all other transfer courses before taking organic chemistry.

Recommended Lower-division Preparation: BIO 3A & 3B; CHEM 1A, 1B, 12A, 12B; ECON (2 or 4); MATH 3A, 3B, 3C, 24; PHYS 4A, 4B, 4C.

Refer to the UCSD catalog and ASSIST at www.assist.org for further information regarding this program.

Pre-Pharmacy Requirements

UC San Francisco is a graduate/professional institution requiring pre-professional preparation or graduate standing for admission. The following courses will satisfy the pre-pharmacy course requirements for the School of Pharmacy at UC San Francisco.

Lower-division Preparation: BIO 3A, 3C, 12; CHEM 1A, 1B, 12A, 12B; ENG 1A, 1B; MATH 3A, 3B; PHYS (2A or 4A), (2B or 4B); 18 semester units of UC-transferable Humanities/Social Science courses to include the following: ECON (2 or 4) and SP (1 or 3); and one of the following courses: ANTH 2, PSYC 1, or SOC 1.

Refer to the UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy catalog and ASSIST at www.assist.org for further information regarding admissions requirements for this program.

Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology

Students are admitted initially to the pre-major. Per UCSB, admission into the pre-major does not guarantee automatic admission to full major standing. For details regarding GPA, selection criteria and other admissions requirements refer to the UCSB catalog and website www.lifesci.ucsb.edu and ASSIST at www.assist.org.

Lower-division Preparation: BIO 3A & 3B & 3C; CHEM 1A & 1B, 12A, 12B; (MATH 3A and 3B) or (MATH 11 and UCSB's MATH 34B after transfer), MATH 10 or (MATH 24 and 26); PHYS 2A, 2B.

Pre-Pharmacy Requirements

Lower-division Preparation: BIO 3A & 3C or 1A & 1C, 12, 15; CHEM 1A & 1B, 12A & 12B; ECON 4; ENG (1A and 1B); MATH 3A, 10; PHYS (2A and 2B) or (4A and 4B); (PSYC 1 or SOC 1); SP 1 or 5; AND A bachelor's degree and the above pre-pharmacy courses are required.

For Physics, only one semester with lab is required. It is recommended that physics courses include thermodynamics and electromagnetism.

Students are advised to contact USC's School of Pharmacy at (323) 442-1466 or (323) 442-1369, and the USC website at www.usc.edu for further details regarding program requirements.