Home > Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Pharmacy is not a major, but rather a compilation of courses and experiences to prepare students for next steps. Professional schools evaluate achievement in required prerequisites, regardless of major. We recommend for students to choose a major they enjoy and in which they can excel.

Students are encouraged to contact us to receive assistance in planning when to take these prerequisite courses, and those who are declared as being in the Pre-Pharmacy program are required to meet with their Medical Professions Advisor each semester in order to remain in the program. Students will receive academic advisement for their chosen degree program with their assigned academic ad

A competitive GPA is essential when considering a career in the health field. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to remain in the Pre-Pharmacy Program. Our experience is that students with a GPA below 3.0 are, unfortunately, not competitive.

The courses listed below are generally required for Pharmacy schools in our region, in addition to the courses necessary for Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) preparation. We encourage students to seek out and familiarize themselves with the prerequisite and admission test requirements of their intended pharmacy school(s), as requirements may vary.

Biology and Anatomy/Physiology Courses

BIOL 1107/1107L: Principles of Biology I/Lab (4)
BIOL 1108/1108L: Principles of Biology II/Lab (4)
Microbiology (one course required)*
- Options:
  - Armstrong: BIOL 2010, 2275, or 4310 (4)*
    - Note: each of these courses has at least two prerequisites, be sure to check the course descriptions!
  - Statesboro: BIOL 2260 or 4240 (4)
    - Note: BIOL 4240 has multiple prerequisites, be sure to check the course description!
- Note: many pharmacy schools do not require the lab portion of this course; however, Georgia Southern does not offer a separate lecture and lab for any of the five microbiology course options
Human Anatomy and Physiology (two courses required)*
- Options:
  - Armstrong: BIOL 2081/L and BIOL 2082/L*
  - Statesboro: KINS 2531 and KINS 2532*
- Note: lectures and labs are not offered separately on the Armstrong Campus; pharmacy schools in Georgia do not require the lab portion of this course.

Chemistry Courses

CHEM 1211K: Principles of Chemistry I/Lab (4)
CHEM 1212K: Principles of Chemistry II/Lab (4)
CHEM 3401: Organic Chemistry I/Lab (4)
CHEM 3402: Organic Chemistry II/Lab (4)
BCHM 3200: Principles of Biochemistry (3) or BCHM 5201: Biochemistry I/Lab (4)
- Note: pharmacy programs do not require the lab portion of this course

Mathematics and Physics Courses

MATH 1112 or 1113: Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus, if necessary (3)
MATH 1441: Calculus I (4)
STAT 1401: Elementary Statistics (3)
PHYS 1111K: Intro to Physics I (4), or 2211: Principles of Physics I/Lab (4)
PHYS 1112K: Intro to Physics II (4), or PHYS 2212K: Principles of Physics II/Lab (4)

Social Science and Other Courses to Consider

COMM 1110: Principles of Public Speaking (3)
ENGL 1101: Composition I (3)
ENGL 1102: Composition II (3)
Social Sciences*
World Languages and Culture*
Humanities*

*Refer to each school’s prerequisite requirements for specific information. Students not planning to complete an undergraduate degree prior to applying to Pharmacy school are strongly encouraged to meet with Mrs. Payne to ensure correct prerequisite courses are planned out and/or fulfilled prior to application.

Visit us on the web at cosm.georgiasouthern.edu/prehealth.

Make it official. Add your Pre-Professional Program by filling out the Office of Pre-Professional Advisement Interest Form on our home page. This step will ensure that you receive up-to-date information from Medical Professions Advising staff regarding events, programming, and advising.

Study + Excel. A competitive GPA is essential when considering a career in the health field. You must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to remain in the Pre-Pharmacy Program at Georgia Southern University. Talk with your Academic Advisor, professors and Academic Success Center for help with study skills through various workshops and tutoring.

Resume + Interviews. Create and/or improve your resume at the Office of Career and Professional Development. You can also gain confidence and develop your interview skills with a video-taped mock interview.

Job Shadow. We recommend that you gain experience by shadowing pharmacists in a retail, hospital and/or privately owned pharmacies. Document your experiences in a physical or digital format, and obtain at least one letter of reference from a pharmacist you have shadowed.

Relevant Work Experience. Pharmacy schools like to see relevant experience; consider becoming a Registered Pharmacy Technician to market yourself for part-time employment.

Volunteer + Lead. We recommend that you participate in volunteer activities that benefit others. Contact the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement for more information about volunteering with local weekly trips, Alternative Break Trips, and more. We also recommend that you participate in leadership seminars, workshops, retreats and LEAD courses. Get involved and join a student club or organization, such as the Future Pharmacists’ Association.

Connect + Explore. Get to know your professors and local health care professionals. These individuals are valuable resources for research experience, volunteering, shadowing and letters of recommendation. Consider Study Abroad programs through the Office of International Programs and Services. Attend information sessions, workshops, field trips, and other events for pre-pharmacy students offered by the Office of Medical Professions Advising.

Research. Talk with your professors and peers who are involved with undergraduate research and consider opportunities within the College of Science and Mathematics.

Prepare for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). This exam requires substantial amounts of preparation and study time, so it is never too early to begin. Typically, students prepare to take the PCAT in the spring of their junior year, so it is important that necessary coursework be completed by this time. Currently, UGA is the only pharmacy program in Georgia that specifically requires the PCAT exam.

Degree: PharmD. Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also may provide advice on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, and oversee the medications given to patients. Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores, in addition to hospitals and clinics. Also, there are exciting opportunities to work in areas of research.

Entrance Exam: Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

Pharmacy Programs in US: PharmCAS PharmD School Directory and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

There are four pharmacy schools in Georgia. Specific admissions requirements are available on each pharmacy school’s website:

Last updated: 7/29/2022