What is Professional Pharmacy?

There are two things that a potential pharmacy student must have: a love of math and science and good communication skills. Today's pharmacists are practicing in many different areas including: clinical pharmacy, community, ambulatory care, nuclear pharmacy, and a diverse range of specialities and fields directly and indirectly involving improving patient outcomes. Pharmacists are working hand in hand with physicians and other healthcare professionals in an effort to manage patients’ medications, counsel patients concerning their medication, and manage patients’ disease states.

Earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) is a minimum six-year process, which consists of 2 to 4 years of prerequisite coursework and 4 years of coursework and externship within the Pharm.D. program.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy, your first step is to complete the Pharm.D. prerequisites at UH or another institution. For information about enrolling at UH as a freshman or transferring to UH as an undergraduate student, visit the UH Office of Admissions to learn about the application and admissions process. Undergraduate transfer students also are encouraged to review the Course Equivalency Guides page for information about transferring prerequisite coursework to UH from other institutions.

We recommend that students apply during the fall semester of their senior year, as university scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students may choose to complete their Pharm.D. prerequisite courses at the University of Houston or at another university or community college.

Preparation

To prepare oneself for college and later for the UH Pharm.D. program, it is extremely important that high school students do the following:

• Take all of the math and science classes you can, including physics and calculus
• Join a science/health professions club
• Talk to a counselor about college requirements
• Visit with a pharmacist
• Develop good study skills
• Visit college/university campuses — Come to Cougar Preview or schedule a visit!

Other Helpful Resources

Prerequisites Checklist
This brief document lists the college courses you'll need to take while preparing for pharmacy school at UH College of Pharmacy

www.pharmacyforme.org
"Pharmacy For Me" has a great deal information about the pharmacy profession, written by advocates for the profession.

www.explorehealthcareers.org
Another great informational resource for over a hundred different careers in healthcare, all written by advocates for their respective professions.