Pre-Health Professions: Pharmacist

Pharmacist

Pharmacists distribute drugs prescribed by healthcare practitioners and they advise patients on how to properly use these medications. They are educated in all realms of medications including synergy, reactivity, and bioavailability. With this knowledge, they advise physicians on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

CAREER DESCRIPTION*

National median salary: $137,480
National projected career growth: 5%
Many work in either hospitals or pharmacies
Skilled on the biochemical mechanisms and actions of drugs
Some pharmacists own their own pharmacies
Fill prescriptions, verify instructions and interactions with other medications, inform of side effects, etc.

TYPICAL EDUCATION**

Years of school (including undergraduate): 8
Average Admittance GPA: 3.6
Bachelor’s degree recommended, not required

CAREER ENVIRONMENTS

Community pharmacists
Clinical pharmacists
Consultant pharmacists
Pharmaceutical industry pharmacists
Many more!

COMPETITIVE STUDENTS ALWAYS...

Maintain a competitive GPA
Shadow professionals in the field
Volunteer or work in the environment before applying

NEARBY SCHOOLS

Prerequisites vary by program. Students are responsible for ensuring all entrance requirements are met. Most schools prefer science classes to be taken in-person versus online.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER’S (UNMC) PREREQUISITES

Biological Sciences (minimum credits: 12)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
BIOL 1020 Principles of Biology & Lab	4	F, S, M	ENGL 1150 by placement
OR BIOL 1450 Biology I & Lab - Recommended	5	F, S, M	High School Biology and Chemistry
BIOL 2740 Human Anatomy & Physiology I & Lab	4	F, S, M	High School Biology and Chemistry
BIOL 2840 Human Anatomy & Physiology II & Lab	4	F, S, M	BIOL 2740

Chemistry and Physical Sciences (minimum credits: 12)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
CHEM 1180 & 1184 General Chemistry I & Lab	4	F, S, M	High School Biology and Chemistry
CHEM 1190 & 1194 General Chemistry II & Lab	4	F, S, M	CHEM 1180 and 1184 and MATH 1300 or 1320
CHEM 2250 Organic Chemistry I	3	F, S, M	CHEM 1190 and 1194
CHEM 2260 & 2274 Organic Chemistry II & Lab	5	F, S	CHEM 2250
Additional Chemical and Physical Sciences – one of the following:
CHEM 2400 & 2404 Quantitative Analysis & Lab	4	F	CHEM 1190 and 1194
PHYS 1110 & 1154 Physics for Life Science I & Lab	5	F, S, M	MATH 1300 or 1320 or MATH 1950

Mathematics and Statistics (minimum credits: 7)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
MATH 1950 Calculus I	5	F, S, M	MATH 1300 or 1320 and 1330
Choose one of the following:
PSYC 3130 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences	3	F, S, M	MATH 1120, 1300, or STAT 1530
BIOL 2020 Statistics for Life and Environ. Science	3	F, S	MATH 1120, 1130, 1300, or 1320
SOC 2130 Social Statistics	3	F, S, M	MATH 1120, 1130, 1300, or STAT 1530
STAT 3000 Statistical Methods I	3	F, S	MATH 1300 or 1320

General Education (minimum credits: 21)

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
May include additional courses in: Accounting, Business, Critical Thinking, Economics, Education, Ethics, Arts or Music, World Languages, Gerontology, History, Humanities, Literature, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, English Composition, and/or Public Speaking
It is strongly recommended that students consider the following courses while choosing their general education electives:
CMST 1110 Public Speaking Fundamentals	3	F, S, M	N/A
ENGL 1140 English Composition I with Support	4	F, S	ACT Composite score <13, SAT Composite score <760, High School GPA <2.3, or Last Known College GPA <2.0
OR ENGL 1150 English Composition I	3	F, S, M	AP Score 3, ACT 14-26, HS GPA 2.3+
ENGL 1160 English Composition II	3	F, S, M	AP Score 4, ENGL 1140 or 1150, or ACT 27+ or Reading or English score of 29+

_{While a degree is not required, a degree in Biology or Chemistry is strongly recommended.}

Strongly Recommended Courses for students who apply without a bachelor’s degree:

Course	Credits	Semester	Prerequisites
BIOL 2140 Genetics and Discussion	4	F, S, M	BIOL 1450 & 1750 and CHEM 1140 or 1180
BIOL 3240 Introduction to Immunology	3	F, S	BIOL 1450, 1750, and 2140, (BIOL 3020 recommended)
BIOL 2440 The Biology of Microorganisms & Lab	4	F, S, M	High School Biology and Chemistry
CHEM 4610 Biochemistry of the Metabolism	4	S	CHEM 2260 (CHEM 2274 recommended)
OR CHEM 4650 & 4654 Biochemistry I & Lab	4	F	CHEM 2260 and 2274 (BIOL 3020 recommended)
AND CHEM 4660 & 4664 Biochemistry II & Lab	4	S	CHEM 4650 and 4654

_{*Data and information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics}

_{**Data and information from UNMC}
_{Last update: 9.2025}

WHAT PRACTICING PROFESSIONAL SAY

“There's an opportunity for the pharmacist to play a much greater role in healthcare, especially with what we have going on in this country with the shortage of primary care physicians.”
-Gregory Watson, Pharmacist

“Pharmacy is exciting to me because there is, and will always be, so much to learn. I also have the opportunity to precept pharmacy students and develop my teaching skills. I am able to continue the reading and learning that gave me so much joy in my youth, and now, as a pharmacist, I can use what I am learning to positively impact the lives of my patients.”
-Dr. Bryan Mayfield, PharmD.

Contact Us

Health Careers Resource Center
307 Allwine Hall | 6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE | 68182-0070
Phone: 402.554.5980
Email: UNOHealthCareers@unomaha.edu