Pre-Pharmacy Education
The Pre-Pharmacy curriculum consists of a total of 78 semester hours, including at least 15 semester hours of elective courses. The curriculum prepares students for entry into the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Pre-Pharmacy coursework must be completed before beginning the PharmD program and all coursework must be completed within the last seven years.
Pre-Pharmacy courses cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis, and must have a grade of "C" or better. Survey courses, courses listed for non-science majors, and courses in which a grade of "C-" or below was earned are not acceptable. All or part of the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum can be completed at the University of Cincinnati or at another accredited college or university. The College recommends that you complete the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum at a 4-year college or university.
Students who are not completing the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum at the University of Cincinnati are encouraged to consult the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy (pharmacy@uc.edu) for guidance on what courses to take. Students completing the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum at select colleges or universities in Ohio or Kentucky can use the u.select Web site to determine which courses are equivalent to UC's Pre-Pharmacy curriculum.
Required Courses
| UC Course Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1001 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| ENGL 2089 | Intermediate Composition | 3 credits |
| MATH 1044, 1045 | Applied Calculus I & II | 4-6 credits |
| CHEM 1040, 1041 | General Chemistry I & II | 8 credits |
| CHEM 1040L, 1041L | General Chemistry I & II Lab | 2 credits |
| BIOL 1081 | Biology I | 3 credits |
| BIOL 1081L | Biology I Lab | 1 credit |
| CHEM 2040, 2041 | Organic Chemistry I & II | 8 credits |
| CHEM 2040L, 2041L | Organic Chemistry I & II Lab | 2 credits |
| PHYS 1051, 1052 | General Physics I & II | 8 credits |
| PHYS 1051L, 1052L | General Physics I & II lab | 2 credits |
| STAT 1034 | Statistics | 3 credits |
| BIOL 2031C | Microbiology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 2001C, 2002C | Anatomy & Physiology I & II | 8 credits |
| CHEM 3040 | Biochemistry | 3 credits |
|
General Education Electives (See descriptions for required courses below) |
15 credits |
Elective Courses
A minimum of 15 semester hours of general education elective courses are required as part of the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum. These courses prepare graduates to contribute and thrive in a global, diverse and technological society.
Arts & Humanities
At least 6 semester hours must be completed in the Arts & Humanities. At least one general education course must focus on diversity and culture and one course on social and ethical issues. Humanities & Arts Examples include but are not limited to classics, literature, foreign languages, philosophy, linguistics, rhetoric, dance, drama, music, visual arts, and history.
Behavioral & Social Science
At least 6 semester hours must be completed in the Behavioral & Social Sciences. At least one general education course must focus on diversity and culture and one course on social and ethical issues. Examples include but are not limited to communication, cultural anthropology, economics, human geography, planning, political science, psychology, and sociology.
To graduate from the College of Pharmacy, students must have completed at least 15 semester hours of general education electives. Credit hours earned during the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum will count towards this requirement.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
Students who have earned an acceptable score on an AP exam may receive credit for Pre-Pharmacy requirements. View UC's AP exam score requirements and the course equivalencies.
Students should contact the College to be advised on which pre-pharmacy courses may be exempt by AP exam scores, and which courses should be repeated even if an acceptable score is achieved.