Breaking Down Key Prerequisites for a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree

Explaining essential PharmD prerequisites

Pharmacy careers attract people with a passion for science, patient care and improving the field of medicine. Whether your primary interests lie in clinical work, research or academics, a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree will open many doors. Obtaining a PharmD degree is a rigorous process that involves years of studying beyond an undergraduate program. If you’re planning to pursue a PharmD, it’s important to understand the admission requirements for the program so that you can achieve all the necessary marks during your undergraduate studies to meet the criteria. While every educational institution is different, we’ll detail our PharmD program admissions criteria to help you understand the most common key prerequisites for being admitted and what the application process entails. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to secure a spot in one of the best pharmacy programs in the country. 

Doctor of Pharmacy Admission Requirements

Belmont University is a premier institution to pursue your pharmacy passions, with a beautiful campus in the warm and welcoming Nashville area. Our faculty is dedicated to providing each student with the attention required to become a full-fledged pharmacist through personalized support. As an institution focused on helping our students be their best, we have admission standards that ensure all who enter our PharmD program have the right foundation to be successful.

Pharmacy programs are rigorous endeavors, and Belmont students must be able to balance the load. The four-year program encompasses coursework, practicals and field experience that build upon your undergraduate studies. To help ensure individuals are prepared for what’s ahead, we use two sets of criteria when deciding admission status: Minimum Admission Requirements and Prerequisite Requirements.

Minimum Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, candidates must complete at least 60 credits of prerequisite coursework. These credits must be obtained at a regionally accredited college or university. Only those credits completed within the 10-year timeframe prior to applying are acceptable. If courses are older, they would need to be retaken to be within the window. In addition, the cumulative grade point average should be at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Any course scoring lower than a grade of “C” will not be accepted. For those who obtained course credit as a result of an AP or CLEP examination, that is considered acceptable as long as your previous undergraduate institution allowed the transfer. For those who speak English as a second language, demonstration of language proficiency in English may be required with a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score that is 550 or higher.

Prerequisite Requirements

There are several specific courses you are required to have taken and passed in order to be considered for admission to the PharmD degree program. All of these contribute to the foundational knowledge used in the graduate coursework. 

• Biology: At least two semesters of a biology course that includes a lab are necessary, including biology, zoology and microbiology. These courses teach the functions of cells and other organisms as well as the scientific process, which is a major basis of pharmacology. 
• General Chemistry: Two semesters of general chemistry with a lab component are required prerequisites. General chemistry helps you understand atomic structure and chemical reactions, which provide a framework for important pharmacy concepts like drug interactions and formulations. 
• Organic Chemistry: Two semesters of organic chemistry with a lab are required for all applicants. This type of chemistry course dives deeply into carbon compounds that will play a role in pharmaceutical settings. 
• Physics: One physics course, either algebra- or calculus-based, must be included on your transcripts, but a lab is not required. Concepts in physics translate to applications throughout pharmacy coursework. 
• Calculus: At least one calculus course must be completed as part of undergraduate work. Calculus is widely used in understanding pharmacokinetics, or how drugs are processed in the body. 
• Statistics: One course focused on probability and statistics is also required for consideration of admission. Statistics are a major component of pharmacy, particularly in reading and understanding medical research. Understanding how to calculate as well as interpret data will ensure you are always on top of the latest information in the field.

Belmont University does not require PCAT exam scores, but including them could strengthen your position in the application process. Observation hours are also not required but are recommended, as this experience helps provide real-life context for what careers in pharmacy entail and will confirm your commitment toward this path. 

How to Get a PharmD Degree

The first step toward your Doctor of Pharmacy degree is applying to the program! We utilize the Pharmacy Common Application Service (PharmCAS) for all admission applications to this program. This is a centralized application system that allows you to apply to pharmacy programs from a single system instead of filling out multiple applications for each institution. You will fill in all the necessary information, including coursework and experience and submit your transcripts to PharmCAS. This is also where you will provide letters of recommendation, which give us additional insight into how others perceive your experience, demeanor and potential. We receive a notification when an applicant finalizes their submission to us. 

With our rolling admissions process, we review and consider each candidate as their application is complete. If your application meets the minimum criteria and passes the initial review, Belmont extends an invitation for an interview on campus. You’ll have the chance to see our beautiful facilities, take part in short interviews with three faculty members, have lunch with a current PharmD student and provide a short on-site writing sample.

Within a week of your interview, you’ll receive a decision from us regarding your acceptance status. Applicants are considered for acceptance until the upcoming cohort has been filled. After acceptance, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is necessary to hold your spot in our fully accredited program.

Any required prerequisites must be completed with proof submitted prior to the first day of class in order to move forward as part of the program. Then it’s time to continue your hard work through the PharmD curriculum!

The doctor of pharmacy course duration is typically four years, so a thorough understanding of the admission process will get you to the start of your career sooner. By reviewing the program prerequisites and staying ahead, you’ll set yourself up for success in becoming part of the PharmD program. 

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