Pre-Pharmacy
Interested in becoming a pharmacist? Our pre-pharmacy program will prepare you for the next step in your career.
Specialized support is available to pre-pharmacy students through the Health Careers Center.
Preparation for Your Future
Pharmacists are experts on drugs and drug therapy. They work closely with physicians and patients to prepare, package and dispense prescriptions; ensure medication doses are correct; prevent dangerous side effects or drug interactions; advise on the use of non-prescriptive drugs; and overall help people feel better.
Pre-pharmacy is not a major at UW-Eau Claire, but rather a declaration of your intention to continue your education and become a pharmacist. No specific undergraduate major is required to become a pharmacist, but a certain curriculum and pre-requisites are favored. For example, UWEC pre-pharmacy students will blend their science and math courses with social science and humanities courses to best address medical problems with the people they serve.
Certain skills and experiences are also recommended — especially when applying for graduate school. Many pharmacy schools require a high GPA, a competitive Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) score, letters of recommendation, and a completed Pharmacy Centralized Application Service (PharmCAS) application in order to be considered for their pharmaceutical pharmacy program. Pharmacy schools are also increasingly emphasizing communication, leadership and community service in their admissions criteria. Experience as a pharmacy technician is also helpful.
Pre-pharmacy students are supported by exceptional advisors and faculty members, including the Health Careers Center who stays current on pre-pharmacy requirements and trends in the pharmacy school application process and will help you understand what it takes to develop a competitive application.
Program Details
Are you planning a future in a health career? UW-Eau Claire is one of only a few schools of its size with a specialized Health Careers Center dedicated to helping you achieve your health career goals. We offer access to targeted programming, high-quality clinical and volunteering opportunities, and personalized academic and pre-professional advising delivered by our caring expert staff.
The university’s success rate at preparing students who gain admission to professional schools is outstanding. Previous students have gone on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Minnesota, University of Illinois – Chicago, Concordia University, Midwestern University, Ohio State University, and South Carolina College of Pharmacy.
Representatives from a variety of pharmacy schools routinely speak to UWEC students. Through both virtual and in-person presentations, you'll have direct access to pharmacy school admission representatives, who can provide information and recommendations on how to set yourself apart when applying for graduate school.
The Early Assurance program provides a structured pathway to the UW–Madison Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program for those students who are able to demonstrate a clear goal to become a pharmacist.
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Where can the pre-pharmacy program lead me after graduation?
After earning your undergraduate degree from UWEC, your next step is enrolling in a pharmacy school. Pharmacy programs grant the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), which allows you to become a licensed pharmacist.
The PharmD is a four-year program that requires at least two years of college study prior to admittance, although most applicants have earned a bachelor’s degree. Students who apply to a PharmD program without a bachelor’s degree are generally considered less competitive than those who have completed a degree, which makes UWEC an important step on your journey towards becoming a pharmacist. Most UWEC students attend the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy or the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy.
Suggested pre-pharmacy courses at UWEC are courses that are required by most pharmacy schools. Courses you can expect as a pre-pharmacy student include general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, introductory and advanced biology, physics, psychology, and sociology. Requirements vary by program and students should connect with the Health Careers Center and access pre health advising information early and often. Visit the Health Careers Center for a more detailed guide on pre-pharmacy advising.
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