College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Coloardo Denver

Pharmaceutical Careers

The following links may provided information for those individuals seeking general information about Pharmacy and it's related topics as a profession.

Further information about the pre-requisites and general information about Pharmacy as a general profession can be found below following the list of schools.

For information about Doctor of Pharmacy Graduate Programs, Pharmacology Graduate Programs, or Pharmaceutical Science Programs, please click on the appropriate link below. You will find a list of schools that offer each of these programs as well as some general information about the pre-requisite courses and admissions information.

Doctor of Pharmacy

General Information about the PharmD Pre-requisites and Application Process at the Univ. of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Program Description

The University of Colorado School of Pharmacy offers an entry-level Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. The curriculum for this professional program is divided into two components consisting of didactic coursework and clinical clerkships. The didactic coursework provides a strong academic background in areas such as pharmaceutics, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaco-therpeutics, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, drug literature evaluation, clinical services management, instructional methods and research design. The clinical clerkships consist of an on-site clinical training under the supervision of clinical faculty members, giving the student the opportunity to develop and strengthen clinical skills and to participate as an integral member of the health care team. During the clerkship experience, the student contributes to optimal patient care by applying the knowledge and skills learned in the didactic portion of the program. the clerkships include a required core of pharmaco-therapy and drug information experiences, in addition to a wide variety of elective programs.

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree requires a minimum of six years of study after graduation from high school. A minimum of two years is required in pre-pharmacy study and individuals may complete those courses at one of the other three University of Colorado Campuses (Denver, Boulder, or Colorado Springs) or at most accredited colleges. Four years of professional pharmacy course work is completed at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy.

Required Pre-Requisite Coursework

Core Courses

  • General Chemistry with lab - 2 semesters or equivalent (8-10 credit hours)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab - 2 semesters or equivalent (8-10 credit hours)
  • General Biology with lab - 2 semester hours or equivalent ( 8-10 credit hours)
  • Microbiology with lab - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Anatomy or Anatomy and Physiology - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Physics (algebra or calculus based) - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Calculus for math/science majors - 1 semester or equivalent
  • English Composition - 2 semesters or equivalent
  • Public Speaking - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Economics - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Social Sciences - Cultural Anthropology, history, psychology or sociology - 1 semester or equivalent

Additional Courses

  • General Education - 14 semester hours or equivalent. This does NOTinclude vocational, arts and crafts, or physical education courses.

Admission Procedure

To apply to the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, you must submit the following;

  • A completed official application from received postmarked no later than December 1 of the year prior to admission.
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your academic and professional activities, submitted on official "Letter of Reference" forms provided as part of the application packet.
  • Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities attended
  • A non-refundable application fee of $50.00

The letters of reference and transcripts may be sent independently of the other application materials. The application deadline is December 1 but the deadline for all other credentials is December 31. A personal interview with the School of Pharmacy Admissions Committee will be required for applicant finalists.

Admission Evaluation

A minimum cumulative gpa of 2.5 and a 2.75 in the core courses is necessary to be considered for admission. However, historically, the average grade point of the entering class has been well above 3.3. Thus, admission is highly selective and competitive and is dependent upon the number of applications received each year and the qualifications of the applicant pool. A committee evaluates candidates on the following criteria;

  • Cumulative grade point average from all previous institutions attended
  • Pre-requisite grade point averages
  • On site written assignment
  • Letters of recommendation
  • On site Interview
  • Full time enrollment for at least on semester in a pre-pharmacy program

For further information, feel free to contact the School of Pharmacy at 1-303-315-6100

Schools

Eastern US Schools

Click here for a list of schools in the Eastern United States, or information about other types of programs

Western US Schools

Below is a list of schools Located in the Western United States that Offer a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) Degree. General Application and Admissions Information can be found at the end of the list of schools.

Pharmacology

General Information about the Pharmacology Pre-requisites and Application Process

The Pharmacology programs at most institutions have the same pre-requisite course work as those for the PharmD programs. These courses are listed below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the individual schools you are interested in to find out the specific details about applications and deadlines, as well as any other specific pre-requisites for that particular school.

It is important to remember that in addition to the required course work, evidence of exposure to the field is critical. You must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge of the field to know that it is what you want to go into.

Required Pre-Requisite Coursework

Core Courses

  • General Chemistry with lab - 2 semesters or equivalent (8-10 credit hours)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab - 2 semesters or equivalent (8-10 credit hours)
  • General Biology with lab - 2 semester hours or equivalent ( 8-10 credit hours)
  • Microbiology with lab - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Anatomy or Anatomy and Physiology - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Physics (algebra or calculus based) - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Calculus for math/science majors - 1 semester or equivalent
  • English Composition - 2 semesters or equivalent
  • Public Speaking - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Economics - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Social Sciences - Cultural Anthropology, history, psychology or sociology - 1 semester or equivalent

Additional Courses

  • General Education - 14 semester hours or equivalent. This does NOTinclude vocational, arts and crafts, or physical education courses.

Schools

Eastern US Schools

Click here for a list of schools in the Eastern United States, or information about other types of programs

Western US Schools

General Application and Admissions Information can be found at the end of the list of schools. Schools Located in the Western United States that offer a Pharmacology Degree:

 

Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Pharmaceutical Science programs at most institutions have the same pre-requisite course work as those for the PharmD and/or Pharmacology programs. These courses are listed below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the individual schools you are interested in to find out the specific details about applications and deadlines, as well as any other specific pre-requisites for that particular school.

It is important to remember that in addition to the required course work, evidence of exposure to the field is critical. You must be able to demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge of the field to know that it is what you want to go into.

Required Pre-Requisite Coursework

Core Courses

  • General Chemistry with lab - 2 semesters or equivalent (8-10 credit hours)
  • Organic Chemistry with lab - 2 semesters or equivalent (8-10 credit hours)
  • General Biology with lab - 2 semester hours or equivalent ( 8-10 credit hours)
  • Microbiology with lab - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Anatomy or Anatomy and Physiology - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Physics (algebra or calculus based) - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Calculus for math/science majors - 1 semester or equivalent
  • English Composition - 2 semesters or equivalent
  • Public Speaking - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Economics - 1 semester or equivalent
  • Social Sciences - Cultural Anthropology, history, psychology or sociology - 1 semester or equivalent

Additional Courses

    General Education - 14 semester hours or equivalent. This does NOTinclude vocational, arts and crafts, or physical education courses.

Schools

Eastern US Schools

Click here for a list of schools in the Eastern United States, or information about other types of programs

Western US Schools

Schools Located in the Western United States that Offer a Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences:

Pharmacy Technician Programs

  • Front Range Community College Pharmacy Technician Program; 3645 W. 112th Ave., Westminster, Colorado, 80031; 303-404-5550

Last Updated 5/26/03