What Do Pharmacists Major In?
Pharmacists must earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) before becoming licensed pharmacists. Many pharmacy schools require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree, and while there is not usually a specific major required there are several bachelor's degree programs available that can help prepare students for pharmacy school.
Most undergraduate schools do not offer a pharmacy major, but several schools do offer bachelor's degree programs in pharmaceutical sciences and/or pre-pharmacy programs. Both program types generally help aspiring pharmacists prepare for doctoral programs by providing the science courses and training needed to enter pharmacy school. Here we examine each kind of bachelor's degree program and its requirements in more detail.
Pharmacist Major Requirements
Bachelor's degree programs in pharmacy are typically offered as Bachelor of Science (BS) degree programs in pharmaceutical sciences. Most pharmacy bachelor's degree programs are not available online; students in these on-campus programs receive hands-on training in laboratory-based coursework. These programs commonly take four years to complete and may include research opportunities.
Pharmaceutical sciences degree programs include coursework in areas like math, biology, physics, and chemistry. These programs also discuss topics in areas like drug interactions, dosage formulation, drug design, and quality assurance and can help prepare students for additional careers outside of being a pharmacist, such as research careers in academia, industry, and more. Specific course topics may include:
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacotherapy
- Pharmacy calculations
- Pathophysiology
- Drug development
- Biochemistry
Requirements for Pre-Pharmacy Majors
Pre-pharmacy programs are a little different, as these programs are non-degree programs that help students complete pharmacy school prerequisites within a chosen major. Due to the hands-on nature of pharmacy-related courses, pre-pharmacy degree programs with some online coursework are rare. Students in these programs usually complete coursework on campus and may work with a special pre-professional advisor to ensure they select a major that can help them meet requirements for pharmacy school.
One of the most common pre-pharmacy majors is biology, as these degree programs typically include many of the prerequisite courses for pharmacy school already. However, other suggested majors include areas like biochemistry, psychology, or environmental science. Depending on the major, students may end up graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or BS degree. Students in pre-pharmacy programs typically need to take pharmacy school prerequisite courses in subjects like:
- Calculus
- General chemistry
- General biology
- Organic chemistry
- Microbiology
- Anatomy and physiology
- English
Pharmacy Major Salary
According to PayScale.com, graduates with a BS (or BSc) in Pharmacy earned an average annual salary of $121,000 as of November 2019. However, this statistic includes job titles like pharmacist, clinical pharmacist, retail pharmacist, and pharmacy director. These professionals typically need to earn a PharmD after their undergraduate studies.
Many pharmacy majors go on to earn their PharmD and become licensed pharmacists. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported an average annual salary of $123,670 for pharmacists as of May 2018. Health and personal care stores had the highest level of employment for pharmacists in 2018, where they made an average salary of $122,380. However, pharmacists who worked in outpatient care centers made the highest annual salary of $137,530.