Pre-Pharmacy

If you love science, possess a curiosity about the healing powers of medicine, and enjoy helping others, a career as a pharmacist may be for you. In this field, you’ll formulate, preserve and dispense prescribed medicine to ensure patients achieve the best results possible in their treatment. Wheaton’s pre-pharmacy academic track prepares you for this exciting healthcare career and fulfills the requirements for pharmacy school through coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, math, economics, public speaking and English. Expand your skills, knowledge and perspectives through stimulating courses, experiential learning opportunities and state-of-the-art laboratories while preparing for a career with ample opportunities for growth.

Number of courses: 15

Keep in mind that these courses represent the basic requirements for most pharmacy schools. Additional courses may be required. Check with specific school programs for extra requirements. There are over 140 pharmacy schools in the US.

Four Biology courses

Bio 106: Human Anatomy
Bio 114:  Introduction to Biological Sciences
Bio 112: Cells and Genes
Bio 221: Microbiology
Bio 244: Introductory Physiology

NOTE: Bio 305: Biochemistry – required by 40 pharmacy schools

Four Chemistry courses

Chem 153: Chemical Principles
Chem 253: Organic Chemistry I
Chem 254: Organic Chemistry II
Chem 232:  Aqueous Equilibria

One Physics course 

Phys 170: Introductory Physics I

Note: Phys 171: Introductory Physics II – required by at least 30 pharmacy schools

Two Mathematics courses 

Math 101: Calculus I
Math 141: Statistics

One course in Economics 

Econ 102: Introduction to Microeconomics

or

Econ 112: Introduction to Microeconomics (recommended)

One Public Speaking course 

Thea 102: Public Speaking

Two English courses 

Eng 101: Writing
One English literature class:  200-level or above

Pharmacy (PharmD) Curricular Path (pdf)

Pre-Health Faculty Advising

Working with a dedicated Pre-Health Faculty Advisor, students interested in pre-health can expect individualized curricular sequencing guidance, career advice and coaching, and pre-application support for graduate and medical schools. Pre-health career students can also access a wide array of internship and shadowing opportunities that are regularly shared by the Pre-Health Faculty Advisor.

Students applying to pre-health graduate programs receive graduate school selection guidance and support, personal statement guidance, interview preparation, feedback on application materials, and testing guidance and testing preparation for GRE/MCAT/DAT/PCAT.

Medical school applicants are supported at Wheaton College through the Pre-Health Advisor and the work of an interdisciplinary committee of staff and faculty. Wheaton College’s Pre-Health Advisor is Hilary Gaudet, Ph.D.