If i want to become a pharmacist....what should my major be?

Question

I am currently a freshman undergraduate biology major and I intend to become a pharmacist...Should i just stay as a biology major and get my BS in Science and then apply to pharmacy schoo? or should i be a chemistry major?

Answer 1

Your university may offer an undergraduate pharmacology program, but most do not. Chemistry would probably be your best option.

Answer 2

I would suggest that you contact the Admissions Office of the School of Pharmacology that you plan to attend. Request an admissions package and ask for a counselor that will assist you in what class and/or programs you need to take to insure all your credits are transferable and recognized. Also, some Colleges will host Open Houses for perspective students, check for dates.

Also, contact several local pharmacies to see if they have programs available that will assist you both financially as well as perhaps create an opening for a job once you complete your education. Some Companies are known for making very nice job offers to Employees that earn their Doctor of Pharmacology.

Also, know that working in a Pharmacy will help you decide if that is really the job you want. My Daughter is a Certified Pharmacist Technician, but she has decided that she does not want to be a pharmacist and is currently working towards being a Pediatric Respiratory Therapist. She has been working in a pharmacy for about 6 years now. And know that enjoying your job is far more important then the money.

Answer 3

You will need to first be in a "Pre-pharmacy" program at the undergraduate level, which is sometimes part of the Biology department. This would give you a Bachelor's degree. You would then go to graduate school, complete a Pharmacy program, and get a Master's degree or Doctorate. This may or may not be the same college where you get your undergraduate degree. Different colleges have different programs. Here is a description from the undergraduate catalog in the college where I work:

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Preparing for a career in
Medicine, Denistry, Pharmacy
or Veterinary Science
The predental, premedical, prepharmacy, and preveterinary programs at D’Youville are designed to provide highly-motivated students with the comprehensive preparation they need for careers in dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. Most students in these programs major in biology. The B.S. in biology curriculum is organized to provide a sound foundation in the basic sciences as well as advanced courses in biology and chemistry appropriate for aspiring medical professionals. Students who have done well in their first two years are encouraged to undertake a research project in their junior or senior year.
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If there is a college you are interested in, search their website for information about their pharmacy program. You can do this in google by limiting to a specific site. For example, if you were interested in Harvard and wanted to know what pharmacy programs they had, you would type this into Google:

pharmacy site:harvard.edu

This would search only the Harvard website for mentions of the word "pharmacy."

Answer 4

either would be a good major. pharmacy schools have pre-requisites (certain classes you are required to take). contact the pharmacy school you are interested in attending and find out what those pre-reqs are (they vary school to school, generally will be stuff like chemistry, biology, microbio, organic chem, statistics, calculus, etc.)

a lot of places you can get buy without an undergrad degree, with just 2 years or prepharmacy course work. but others prefer that you have a 4 year degree before they accept you to pharmacy school. find that out by contacting the pharmacy schools youre interested in as well.

Answer 5

Get a major in pharmacy.

Answer 6

as long as it is science-related....and you meet the prerequisite classes.......and keep the GPA up high, it shouldn't matter.