Pre-Pharmacy
The Pre-Pharmacy program is a one of HBU’s Health Professions Programs.
It is designed to help prepare you to apply to pharmacy schools.
There are six colleges of pharmacy located within Texas:
Texas A & M University-Kingsville,
Texas Southern University in Houston,
Texas Tech at Amarillo,
University of Houston,
University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, and
University of Texas at Austin. All offer a doctoral level degree in pharmacy. Each school has their own set of pre-requisite courses and students can fulfill all the prerequisites for these six school at HBU in our pre-pharmacy program. Please Note: Not all classes are required by all colleges of Pharmacy. The following is a list of course most often required:
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General Biology (BIOL 2454, 2455, 3301)
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Advanced Human Anatomy (BIOL 3456)
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Microbiology (BIOL 3414)
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Genetics (BIOL 3444)
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General Chemistry (CHEM 2415, 2416)
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Organic Chemistry (CHEM 3313, 3131, 3333, 3132)
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English (ENGL 1320, 1330, 2315 or 2325) hours vary
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Math (MATH 1313, 1434, 1451) varies
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Statistics (PSYC 2301)
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Physics (PHYS 1416)
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Economics (ECON 2311)
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US History (HIST 2313, 2323)
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US/Texas Government (POLS 1313, 2313)
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Speech (COMM 1323)
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Social/Behavioral Science (PSYC 1313, SOCI 1313) hours vary
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Fine Arts hours vary
Most students take an average of 2 1/2 to 3 years to complete the course requirements for pharmacy college. A prior degree is not required, though the applicant pools reveal that over half of the applicants have a degree in some field of study. Students should contact the professional schools of interest to determine exactly which courses are required.
Selecting Majors
Please be aware the pre-pharmacy is NOT a major. You should select a major based on your area of interest, but science majors are recommended in order to satisfy the prerequisite courses while you pursue your HBU degree. Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Biology majors are especially compatible with the pre-requisite courses required by most Texas pharmacy programs and are therefore recommended by the Health Professions Office.
Receive Advising
Dr Susan Cook is the Director and Mrs. Cathy Capes is the Coordinator of the Health Professions Programs. We are available for advising and questions on selecting majors, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, community service and clinical exposure by email or by making an appointment. Please contact
Dr. Cook or
Mrs. Capes for advising.
Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
The PCAT( Pharmacy College Admissions Test is required by all Texas pharmacy schools. Students are tested in chemistry, biology, quantitative analysis, verbal ability, reading comprehension, and writing. Students should take the PCAT the summer or fall prior to the year they plan to apply.
A Competitive Student
A competitive student will have a GPA of at least a 3.5 and a PCAT score of at least 70% in each section. Therefore, students must show academic strength in the sciences. Students nearing completion of requirements should check with the professional school as requirements change frequently.
Pharmacy experience is helpful and encouraged. The community service and pharmacy experience should be evident in the interview process revealing the student’s passion and sensitivity toward others and the profession. The pharmacy technician certification is not a requirement for admission. Essential traits and skills that must be observed include a conscientious mindset, strong verbal and written communication skills, an ability to pay attention to detail and sound decision making ability.