Pharmacy
Coordinator: J. Duffy- Matzner
Some pre-pharmacy students complete their Bachelor’s degree, while others transfer to pharmacy programs after one to three years at Augustana. While transferring allows the student to complete the pharmacy degree more quickly, the lack of a Bachelor’s degree may limit future career opportunities. Most students who complete their Bachelor’s degree major in biology or chemistry, but a student may choose to major in any discipline. While pharmacy schools look favorably upon an undergraduate record rich in challenging science courses, they also look for a balance between science courses and courses in the humanities and social sciences. Pharmacy schools expect that applicants have a thorough understanding of and commitment to the profession. Students are encouraged to learn about the pharmacy profession through internships, volunteer experiences and employment.
A student interested in a career in pharmacy should identify the schools in which he or she is interested in attending as early as possible in his or her career at Augustana. Pre-pharmacy students should consult with their advisors and the coordinator on a regular basis to discuss course selection and pharmacy school application procedures.
Pharmacy schools select students on the basis of 1) undergraduate academic performance; 2) PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) scores; 3) letters of evaluation from professors and other professional people; and 4) a personal interview (most programs). Admission to pharmacy school is competitive. Most pharmacy schools require one year of physics, one year of inorganic chemistry, one semester of organic chemistry, one semester of biochemistry, two years of biology and courses in mathematics, communication and social sciences. Most schools have additional course requirements.