Pre-Pharmaceutical Studies
The Program
While the courses listed, along with all CASL Distribution
Requirements, should be completed prior to beginning a
specific program, successful completion of these courses will
provide solid preparation for the PCAT; therefore students
are advised to complete as many of the pre-requisites
as possible before taking the PCAT exam. Students are
further recommended to elect courses with a heavy reading/
writing component in order to prepare for the verbal
portion of the PCAT. The PCAT exam must be completed
prior to application to a specific program.
While the University of Michigan-Dearborn does not offer
a degree program in Pharmacy, the Department of Natural
Sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters offers,
on a regular basis, most if not all of the science courses
normally required for admission to a post baccalaureate
program in Pharmacy (Doctor of Pharmacy, or PharmD).
These courses are general requirements used by virtually
every Pharmacy school in the country and most of these
serve as prerequisites or requirements for several of
the majors offered by the Natural Sciences Department.
These courses will also provide thorough exposure to the
material sampled on the PCAT exam. Additionally, CASL
distribution requirements satisfy the General Education
Requirements (GER) of the Wayne State University College
of Pharmaceutical Sciences and most of the pre-requisite
distribution requirements for the University of Michigan’s
pre-pharmacy curriculum, so a degree in the sciences from
UM-Dearborn is great preparation for admission to and
success in Pharmacy.
Choice of Major
Many of the majors offered by the Department of Natural
Sciences include the courses listed above. No particular
major guarantees admission to a PharmD program, nor does
completion of the pre-requisite requirements guarantee
admission. Since admission to Pharmacy school will be based
in part on your GPA, it is most important to choose a major
that interests you so that you will be successful in your
coursework.
Specific pharmacy programs may have additional
requirements and deadlines and so the student is advised
to be in contact with the admissions department of
the programs to which she is considering submitting an
application.
Other Requirements
Required Courses
Biology 103 and 105
Biology 130 Biology 140
Biology 306
Biology 385
Biology 390H
Chemistry 134/144 Chemistry 136/146 Chemistry 225
Chemistry 226
Chemistry 227
Chemistry/
Biochemistry 370
Physics 125/150
Physics 126/151
Anatomy and Physiology
Organismal and Environmental Biology
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Genetics
Microbiology
Human Physiology
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Laboratory
Biochemistry
General Physics I
General Physics II
About the PCAT
To obtain more information about the Pharmacy College
Admissions Test (PCAT), The American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), or the Pharmacy College
Application Service (PharmCAS), visit:
www.aacp.org
www.pharmcas.org/
Non-Science Pre-requisites
Rev.11/2010—PRE-PHARM
In the admission process programs are looking for evidence
that the applicant will be successful in Pharmacy school.
The most reliable indicators of the applicant’s potential for
success are the GPA and PCAT scores, but other criteria
are considered as well. Admissions committees carefully
review letters of recommendation from faculty to gain
insight into the applicant’s academic ability and character;
they look at extracurricular activities as an indication of the
candidate’s interests and values. Admissions committees also
look favorably upon research experience or completion of a
thesis as an indication of one’s commitment to scholarship.
Finally, it is expected that the applicant will have had
experience in a health-care setting and will demonstrate a
familiarity with issues facing medicine today. An interview is
a fundamental part of the applications process as well.
Continued >
Statistics 325
Statistics
Math 113/115
Calculus I
Computer Literacy
4901 EVERGREEN ROAD, DEARBORN, MI 48128-2406
●
313-593-5100
●
umd.umich.edu
●
admissions@umd.umich.edu
The Pre-Pharmaceutical Studies fact sheet was
developed by the Department of Natural Sciences, College
of Arts, Sciences, and Letters.
Additional Fact Sheets
Information sheets on Pre-Professional Health and
Pre-Medical Studies are available online at:
umd.umich.edu/academicprograms
Pre-Pharmaceutical Studies
For more information:
Debalina Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Director of Pre-Health Advising and Pre-Health Advisor
1128 Science Building, Computing Wing
313-593-5511
debalina@umd.umich.edu
For information on Pre-Medical Studies:
Debalina Bandyopadhyay, Ph.D.
Director of Pre-Health Advising and Pre-Medical Advisor
1128 Science Building, Computing Wing
313-593-5511
debalina@umd.umich.edu
Mark DeCamp, Ph.D.
Pre-Medical Advisor
1136 Science Building, Computing Wing
313-593-5379
mdecamp@umd.umich.edu
For Information on the Medical Sciences Certificate:
John C. Thomas, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology
111E Science Building
313-593-5326
jcthomas@umd.umich.edu
For Information on the University of Michigan-Dearborn:
Office of Admissions and Orientation
313-593-5100
admissions@umd.umich.edu
umd.umich.edu