A minimum of 68 semester units of college level coursework is required for admission to the PharmD program, including all requirements listed below. All requirements must be completed, in progress, or planned before your application will be reviewed.
Once you complete your application, Pacific will perform an evaluation of your coursework and identify missing prerequisites. You will be notified and asked to add any missing coursework to your schedule. It is an advantage to apply early so you are assured all requirements have been met. Review the list of Transferable Courses for details on articulation agreements (course equivalences).
Please note that our articulation agreement retains all previously evaluated courses, ensuring that even courses taken several years ago remain listed. This allows applicants to reference and match their completed coursework, regardless of when it was taken, with the current requirements.
Overview
| Semesters | Quarters | Lab required for each term | AP Exam Accepted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus | 1 | 2 | Yes | |
| Physics | 1 | 1 | ✓ | Yes |
| General Chemistry | 2 | 3 | ✓ | |
| Organic Chemistry | 2 | 3 | ✓ | |
| General Biology | 2 | 3 | ✓ | |
| Physiology | 1 | 1 | ✓ | |
| Microbiology | 1 | 1 | Recommended, but not required | |
| English Composition | 2 | 2 | Yes** | |
| Public Speaking | 1 | 1 | ||
| Economics | 1 | 1 | Yes** | |
| Psychology | 1 | 1 | Yes** |
Calculus — One semester or two quarters of college level calculus. An AP exam with a score of 4 or 5 may be substituted.
Physics — One semester or one quarter of college level physics with lab. An AP exam with a score of 4 or 5 may be substituted.
General Chemistry — Two semesters or three quarters with labs in each term. Should be a course sequence designed for chemistry majors. Pacific does not accept AP for this requirement.
General Biology*** — Two semesters or three quarters with labs in each term. Should be a course sequence designed for biology majors. Pacific does not accept AP for this requirement. Genetics, microbiology, cell biology, physiology and anatomy are acceptable for refresher courses, as long as the general biology requirement is completed.
Organic Chemistry*** — Two semesters or three quarters with labs in each term. Should be a course sequence designed for chemistry or biology majors.
Physiology — One semester or one quarter with lab. Should be a course designed for biology majors.
Microbiology — One semester or one quarter course. Lab recommended but not required.
English Composition* — Minimum of two 3-semester unit courses or two 4-quarter unit courses. This should be the freshman composition sequence (equivalent to ENGL 1A and 1B). This requirement must be completed at an accredited institution in the U.S. An AP Exam with a score of 4 or 5 will fulfill this requirement. An AP Exam is needed per semester. **Limitations apply.
Public Speaking* — Minimum of one 3-semester unit course or one 4-quarter unit course. Interpersonal communication DOES NOT fulfill this requirement. It must specifically be a public speaking course. This course also fulfills Pacific's Language and Narratives General Education category. This requirement must be completed at an accredited institution in the U.S.
Economics* — Minimum of one 3-semester unit course or one 4-quarter unit course. Principles of economics or macroeconomics will also fulfill Pacific's Civic and Global Responsibility General Education category. An AP exam with a score of 4 or 5 will fulfill this requirement. **Limitations apply. Microeconomics is acceptable ONLY if you complete your bachelor's degree prior to entering our program.
Psychology* — Minimum of one 3-semester unit course or one 4-quarter unit course. Must be a course in general or introductory psychology or abnormal psychology. This course also fulfills Pacific's Social Inquiry General Education category. An AP Exam with a score of 4 or 5 will fulfill this requirement. **Limitations apply.
General Education* — At least one 3-semester unit course from Pacific's General Education Areas of Inquiry Categories. These are sample courses; others may be acceptable. Students who have, or will have, earned a U.S. bachelor's degree are exempt from completing World Perspectives and Ethics and Artistic Process and Creation categories; however, are still required to meet the 28 semester/42 quarter units of liberal arts in non-math or non-science courses, see more information below.
Social Inquiry — Units also count in the liberal arts total.
- Psychology
Civic and Global Responsibility — Units also count in the liberal arts total.
- Principles of Economics
- Macroeconomics
World Perspectives and Ethics — Units also count in the liberal arts total. Students with a U.S. bachelor's degree are exempt from this requirement.
- Cultural Anthropology
- Survey of World Art After 1400
- Survey of World Art to 1400
- Design Thinking
- 20th Century Art and Film
- Chinese Art History
- Japanese Art History
- Masterpieces of World Literature
- Romances of Magic in the West
- Western Civilization I
- Western Civilization II
- East Asian Civilization I
- East Asian Civilization II
- Biomedical Ethics
- The Meaning of Life
Language and Narratives — Units also count in the liberal arts total.
- Public Speaking
Artistic Process and Creation — Units also count in the liberal arts total. Students with a U.S. bachelor's degree are exempt from this requirement.
- Drawing
- Principles of 2-D Design and Color
- Music of the World's People
- Digital Photography
- Painting I
- Introduction to the Theatre
- Graphic Design I
- Asian Cinemas
- Visual Arts in Education
- Aesthetics of Film
- Playwriting
- Major Filmmakers
- Film, Literature, and the Arts
- Music Appreciation
*Liberal arts units must total 28-semester or 42-quarter units. Courses completed in English, public speaking, economics and psychology also count in the liberal arts total. Students who do not meet the minimum number of liberal art units must complete additional units in any of the areas listed above.
**Students may use no more than two AP exams to fulfill English, psychology, economics, general education or the liberal arts requirement.
***Prerequisite coursework does not expire. However, the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy reserves the right to ask a student to enroll in refresher courses in organic chemistry and biology after reviewing the applicant’s academic transcripts. Such requests are typically made if it has been longer than seven years since completion of the prerequisite coursework.
Due to COVID-19, we are accepting online courses for all prerequisites completed during spring 2020 through fall 2022. Courses must be completed with a letter grade, as pass/no pass or credit/no credit is not acceptable.
Are you currently an undergrad student at UC Merced or Pepperdine University? Pacific has collaborated with a number of institutions to offer a pathway program to give qualified students the opportunity to receive priority admission.
