Pre-Pharmacy
Although Calvin College does not offer courses in pharmacy, you can take courses at Calvin that are prerequisites for acceptance to a pharmacy school. If you are a high school student considering pharmacy, you should have a strong background in mathematics and science, including high school physics.
Pre-Pharmacy students will typically complete two to three years at Calvin College before transferring to a college of pharmacy to complete four additional years of study culminating in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.
Several of the pharmacy schools now prefer that students complete a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in a PharmD program. These students usually major in biology or biochemistry at Calvin.
Pre-Pharmacy requirements of the various pharmacy schools vary greatly and change often, but all schools require courses in biology and chemistry. Some schools do not accept advanced placement credits.
Students should carefully and frequently consult the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and the Web sites for the pharmacy schools to which they intend to apply to plan an appropriate course of study.
The pre-pharmacy advisor, John Ubels, will assist students in planning a pre-pharmacy curriculum. Most pharmacy schools require the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), which should be taken in the fall semester of the student’s final year at Calvin.
