Pre-Pharmacy, BS
Advance your scientific, chemical, and medical knowledge by preparing to become a pharmacist. The Pre-Professional, BS in Pre-Pharmacy invites students eager to pursue their passions in pharmacy to gain foundational knowledge of the field, preparing them for professional careers in healthcare and medicine.
Program Overview
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Pharmacy teaches students foundational science and mathematical knowledge for careers as pharmacists.
As a 3 + 1 program, students spend the first three years of study taking courses in areas such as biology, mathematics, chemistry, statistics, and microbiology, giving them a solid foundation in medical science.
In the fourth year of study, students apply to and complete one year of training in the College of Pharmacy at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. After successfully completing the fourth year, students will be awarded a Pre-Professional Programs Bachelor of Science degree in pre-pharmacy.
The pre-professional program in pre-pharmacy is a great fit for students who, after completing their BS degree, plan to apply to pharmacy school and complete their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).
4 + 4 Program
A more traditional pathway towards the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) is also offered. Students may complete a four-year bachelor’s degree, preferably in the sciences, and then apply to the PharmD program in the College of Pharmacy at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis, TN.
The PharmD is a four-year program where students learn about how to properly administer, manage, and educate patients on various medications and drug therapies.
Pre-Health Professions Minor
If you’re interested in pursuing a health-related career, whether that’s dentistry, medicine, a physician’s assistant (PA), a chiropractic career, and so much more, the minor in pre-health professions equips you with all the prerequisite courses needed to apply to professional schools, whether that’s medical, veterinary, dental, or pharmacy school.
You’ll gain foundational knowledge in many of the life and health sciences, including biology, chemistry, nutrition, physics, and you’ll even take interdisciplinary courses in psychology, classics, and religious studies, teaching you social and cultural factors that affect healthcare.
Why Study Pre-Pharmacy?
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Pharmacy stands out for teaching students mathematical, chemical, and life science, equipping them with prerequisite courses that successfully prepare them for pharmacy school.
You’ll gain specialized knowledge, take interdisciplinary coursework, and obtain practical, hands-on skills that will help you transform how you show up to the professional world.
Plus, our 3 + 1 program boasts an opportunity for students to gain professional and clinical experience in the College of Pharmacy at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, a program that is #12 in National Institute of Health (NIH) research funding, and #1 in the state of Tennessee.
At UT, you’ll gain skills that prepare you for how work is done today and help empower you to expand your potential.
What Can You Do with a BS in Pre-Pharmacy After Graduation?
The Pre-Professional Programs, BS in Pre-Pharmacy prepares students to enter professional pharmacy schools and obtain their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.
After obtaining their PharmD, most students go on to careers as pharmacists, helping educate patients about medications and drug therapies. Other career fields might include becoming a pharmaceutical rep, working in drug development, or helping manage clinical trials.
Whether your passion is to educate people about their health, help develop the next cutting-edge drug therapy, or make medications safe and up to health standards, our program prepares you with the foundational skills to hit the ground running.
Featured Courses
MATH 152 Calculus for the Life Sciences
This course is for students majoring in the life sciences. Topics include limits, derivatives, integrals, and basic differential equations. There will be an emphasis on applications in the life sciences and the course will also include computer projects.
CHEM 132 General Chemistry II
This is a general course in theoretical and descriptive chemistry, including intermolecular forces, kinetics, chemical equilibria, acid and base chemistry, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, and introduction to coordination chemistry.
MICR 210 Allied Health Microbiology
This course covers general properties of bacteria and viruses, including physiology, metabolism, genetics, applied bacteriology, pathogenesis, and immunity. This course is not intended for biological sciences majors.
BCMB 230 Human Physiology
This course covers the fundamentals of human physiology, primarily from the perspective of cellular and organ-system interactions.
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