Recommended Biology Degree/Concentration
While you can major in any subject and still be eligible for pharmacy school, the academic requirements that you need to meet to earn a Biology B.S. degree are very well aligned with the prerequisites for pharmacy school (see table below). At CSUEB we have several Biology B.S. Concentrations to choose from and any of them would be suitable for students interested in pursuing veterinary school. Concentrations commonly selected by pre-pharmacy students are the Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Microbiology concentrations.
Pharmacy School Prerequisites
The prerequisite courses required by veterinary schools vary from institution to institution. So, it is important for you to do your due diligence and research the requirements for the institution(s) you are interested in applying to. With this said, below we suggest a curriculum designed to provide you with the prerequisites for pharmacy school, prepare you for the required entrance exam (the PCAT), and provide you a solid foundation for the introductory year of veterinary school while allowing you to fulfill biology major. Courses marked with an (*) are required by most pharmacy schools while the unmarked courses are required by only some pharmacy schools.
Prerequisite Details
Requirement
|
Recommended # of Semesters
|
Relevant CSUEB Course(s)
|
Biology with Lab* |
2 semesters |
BIOL 140A & BIOL 140B |
Microbiology with Lab* |
1 semester |
BIOL 330 |
Anatomy and Physiology* |
2 semesters |
BIOL 370, BIOL 270, BIOL 271 |
General (Inorganic) Chemistry with Lab* |
2 semesters |
CHEM 111 & CHEM 112 |
Organic Chemistry* |
2 semesters |
CHEM 331 & CHEM 332 |
Biochemistry* |
1 semester |
CHEM 441 |
Physics with Lab* |
1 semester |
PHYS 125 & 126 |
Mathematics* |
2 semesters |
MATH 130, MATH 131, STATS 303 |
Economics* |
1 semester |
Can take ECON 200 or ECON 205 as a D1-3 course |
English* |
2 semesters |
Your GE-A2 and 2nd Composition English Courses |
Public Speaking* |
1 semester |
Your GE-A1 Oral Communication Course |
Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences* |
1-2 semesters of an introductory course |
PYSC 100, SOC 100 (both count for GE -Area D) |
Related CSUEB Student Clubs/Organizations
There are currently no active Pre-Pharmacy Clubs at CSUEB. You may want to check the CSUEB Student and Clubs Organization site from time to time to see if one has started one. Or, to consider starting one yourself, click here.
Additional Resources
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)
Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)
American Society of Health-System Pharmacist (ASHP)
American Pharmacists Association (AphA)
California Pharmacists Association (CPhA)
Pharmacy Week
Career Field - Pharmacy