Pre-Pharmacy Program

The Pre-Pharmacy Program at Xavier University is a program of advisement where the minimum requirements for entry to most pharmacy schools are placed early in the students program of study and university general core-curricular course work is placed later in the curriculum. Most pharmacy schools do not require an undergraduate bachelor’s degree for acceptance. The minimum requirements for application to pharmacy school can, in most cases, be completed in two years. If a student successful completes these courses, he or she may apply for admission to pharmacy schools at the end of two years of study. If the student is unsuccessful at gaining admission at that time they can continue in their studies, and apply in their third year or after completing their undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Regardless of whether one enters pharmacy school at the end of two years of study or earns a bachelors degree, the pharmacy school degree necessary to become a licensed registered pharmacist (Pharm.D.) normally still requires an additional four years of study to complete. For the specific requirements and recommended courses at each pharmacy school in which you are interested, you should consult the “Pharmacy School Admission Requirements”, published by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. There is a copy available to browse in the office of the Director of Pre-professional Health Advising in Albers Hall 105B.

The Pre-Pharmacy Program is administered by the Department of Chemistry. Colleges of pharmacy require a minimum of two years of undergraduate study and include certain required courses for admission. If the required courses have been completed, students may apply to a college of pharmacy after two years of study or after earning a baccalaureate degree.

The pre-pharmacy curriculum satisfies the minimum preparation for admission to most colleges of pharmacy. It may be modified to meet other specific requirements of a particular college of pharmacy. A current listing of such requirements* should be consulted by the student in order to plan a satisfactory program. The student is advised to meet regularly with a member of the Committee on Health Sciences so as to be well-informed about all current prerequisites and the procedures to be followed in applying for admission to a college of pharmacy. If the student plans to continue undergraduate education at Xavier University and to obtain a BS degree, this can be done easily within the BS in Biology, BS in Chemistry, or BS in Biomedical Sciences programs. The student then should meet with the chair of the appropriate science department for guidance in the choice of courses necessary for the desired degree.

* “Pharmacy School Admission Requirements,” published by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.