Pharmacy

Pharmacy is a doctoral health profession in which licensed professionals provide information about medications to patients and health care professionals. As ‘medication experts,’ pharmacists are concerned with safeguarding the public’s health in matters relating to medication distribution and use and disease state management. (Learn more from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy).

Prerequisites

Check individual schools as requirements vary. 

Often include:

  • General Chemistry with lab (2 semesters)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab (2 semesters)
  • Introductory Biology with lab (2 semesters)
  • Anatomy & Physiology (1-2 semesters)
  • Physics with lab (2 semesters)
  • Calculus and Statistics (1-2 semesters)

Sometimes include:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Economics or other Social Sciences
  • English. Communication, or Public Speaking

Application logistics

  • Apply in the summer, about 14 months before intended entry.
  • The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) was the required standardized test for entry but was retired in 2024. 
  • Apply through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). The application opens in July.
  • Letters of recommendation: program requirements vary, but expect to have at least three letters of recommendation. HPA can store copies of letters of recommendation, but recommenders will ultimately send references through the PharmCAS eLOR system.

Find a program

PharmCAS School Directory

For more information

HPA Career of the Month

Doctor of Pharmacy

Updated September 2024 | view slides

Pharmaceutical Science

Updated Feb 2020 | view slides

Princeton does not have a pharmacy program. We share this information for Princeton students and alumni who may be interested in becoming pharmacists.