All students applying to the Doctor of Pharmacy program must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for admission to the program.
If you have any questions about equivalencies, contact the Pre-School of Pharmacy Advisor, or check to see if equivalencies for your school are available on the Course Equivalencies page.
Math & Science Courses
- Biology with labs - (8 cr. minimum)
- A complete two-semester integrated sequence of General Biology, to include a strong foundation in both Organismal Biology and Cellular/Molecular/Genetic Biology.
- If a sequence of general biology is not available, then:
- Semester system: Animal Biology and a course in Cell Biology (preferable) or Botany;
- Quarter system: Animal Biology and Cell Biology and Botany.
- Human anatomy, human physiology, and microbiology do not count toward the biology requirement.
- Chemistry with labs - (16 cr. minimum)
- A complete sequence of General Chemistry (at least 8 cr. minimum) and one year of Organic Chemistry ( 8 cr. minimum).
- Calculus for Math / Science Majors - (4-5 credits + competency in required topics)
- The Calculus requirement is content-based, not course-based. Please view the specific requirements here.
- Physics with labs - (8 cr. minimum)
- A complete sequence of introductory physics
Non-Math & Science Courses
- Communication "A"
- Course work equivalent to the UW-Madison Communication "A" requirement.
OR - A score of at least 4 on the AP English: Language & Composition exam
OR - A score of at least 4 on the AP English: Literature & Composition exam
OR - Acceptable UW System English placement test score(s):
- an ENGL score of at least 605, or
- an ECS score of at least 706, or
- a UWEPT score of at least 660 and a UWRCT score of at least 730
NOTE: A student who began his/her post-high school college education prior to summer 1996 and whose English background does not meet the above communication requirement may discuss his/her situation with the Pre-School of Pharmacy advisor. - Course work equivalent to the UW-Madison Communication "A" requirement.
- Microeconomics - (3-4 cr.)
- General economics and macroeconomics do not fulfill this requirement.
- Social Science - (3 cr.)
- General sociology or general anthropology or cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropology will count also as ethnic studies.
- Behavioral Science - (3 cr.)
- Introductory psychology or social psychology.
- Ethnic Studies - (3 cr.)
- Students who fulfill the ethnic studies requirement at schools outside the UW System must do so by selecting a course approved by UW-Madison; students who fulfill the requirement at UW System campuses may do so by selecting a course designated by the campus of attendance as fulfilling its ethnic studies/diversity requirement. (An ethnic studies course may count also as communication or social science or history or humanities, if it qualifies as such.)
- Other College Courses
- To bring total degree credits to 62 credits
Recommended Pre-Pharmacy Credit Load
In order to strengthen their applications for admission and demonstrate their preparedness for the rigorous demands of School of Pharmacy academic programs, applicants are encouraged to enroll in course loads of 14 - 16 credits per semester during pre-School of Pharmacy studies.
(Exception: A course load of 12 - 14 credits is recommended for the first semester of collegiate study to help students achieve a good start in college.)
Non-Major Curriculum Graduation Requirements
There are certain liberal arts courses that are required for graduation (not for admission). These graduation requirements are: 2 credits of history and 3 credits of humanities. If you have space in your pre-Pharm.D. program, you are encouraged to work ahead on these graduation requirements. However, do not put yourself into academic credit overloads to do so. Because of the rigorous nature of the pre-Pharm.D. program, we recommend that pre-Pharm.D. students take not more than sixteen credits per semester.