Texas Tech University

Pre-Pharmacy

The Profession

Pharmacy is a doctoral health profession in which licensed professionals provide information about medication to consumers and professionals.  Pharmacists play a vital role in improving patient care through the medicine and information they provide. According to MONEY magazine, Pharmacist is one of the Top 10 Best Jobs in America.  Pharmacists dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and monitor patient health.

As "medication experts," pharmacists are concerned with safeguarding the public's health in matters relating to medication distribution and use disease state management. They advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications. Pharmacists must understand the use; clinical effects; and composition of drugs, including their chemical, biological, and physical properties. They protect the public by ensuring drug purity and strength. The goal of pharmacy care is to maximize positive health care outcomes and improve patients' quality of life with minimum risk. Most pharmacists work in a community setting, such as a retail drug store, or in a hospital or clinic.

Being Pre-Pharmacy

Pre-Pharmacy is an academic designation at Texas Tech University; it is not a degree-granting major. While a four-year, college degree is not strictly required to enter pharmacy school, many Pre-Pharmacy students will complete a bachelor's degree before entering their professional schoools of choice. As Pre-Pharmacy students prepare to apply to pharmacy school, they have the option to major in any area they choose as long as they take the prerequisite courses required to enter pharmcy school along with the courses necessary to complete their chosen degree at Texas Tech University.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they are following the most recent and accurate requirements for any program they intend to apply to, including exams, prerequisite coursework, shadowing and volunteering requirements (including documentation if necessary), or any other expectations an admissions board might require for application. PPHC recommends that students regularly check with the programs to which they plan to apply, as prerequisites and application procedures can change.

Whether a Pre-Pharmacy student remains in the designation of selects a degree-granting major at Texas Tech, they will always have a PPHC Advisor on their team. If you have any questions whatsoever about being Pre-Pharmacy, contact your assigned PPHC Advisor today!

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses for the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy:

COURSE NAME TTU Course Number
Chemistry I and Lab CHEM 1307/1107
Chemistry II and Lab CHEM 1308/1108
Organic Chemistry I and Lab CHEM 3305/3105
Organic Chemistry II and Lab CHEM 3306/3106
Biology I and Lab BIOL 1403
Biology II and Lab BIOL 1404
Microbiology and Lab MBIO 3401
Physics I and Lab PHYS 1403
Statistical Methods MATH 2300
Calculus I MATH 1451
English I ENGL 1301
English II ENGL 1302
English Literature ENGL 2305, 2306, 2307, 2308, or any 3000-level literature
Communication Studies COMS 2300 or CARS 2300
Humanities and Social Sciences: 15 Hours Total May use HIST 2300 & 2301 and POLS 1301 & 2306 to partially fulfill the 15 hours

Humanities/ Social Sciences :

Courses may be selected from Anthropology, Communications (excluding Public Speaking above), Economics (excluding Economics above), Ethnic Studies, Family Living / Human Development, Geography, Government, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. --- Note: Performing and Fine Arts (including Music), Physical Education, Foreign Languages, Computer Science, Religion or similar courses will not meet this requirement.

Frequently check with the programs to which you plan to apply

prerequisites and/or application procedures can change.

Other Requirements

Exams & Certifications:

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is required for admission to the program.

For application and/or prerequisite information, please contact each professional school and check their websites frequently.

Pharmacy Schools

To learn more about professional degree programs in pharmacy both in Texas and elsewhere, please visit the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) directory here

Success Roadmap

PPHC Advisors have created a year-by-year PDF guide to being Pre-Pharmacy.

Application Information

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board