Pre-Pharmacy
Pharmacists are key members
of the patient’s healthcare team. The professional
responsibilities of pharmacists include, drug delivery
and medication safety, patient education and advocacy,
monitoring drug therapy, and research and clinical studies.
While the majority of pharmacists work in community
pharmacies, there is an increasing demand for pharmacists
in a wide variety of occupational settings. Pharmacists
work in hospitals and other institutional settings,
managed care facilities, the pharmaceutical industry
with careers in product development, marketing, public
relations and sales.
 In
order to become a pharmacist, a student must graduate
from an accredited Doctor of Pharmacy or Pharm.D. program.
The Pharm.D. degree program typically requires two years
of undergraduate coursework followed by four academic
years of professional study. The majority of students
entering a pharmacy program will have three or more
years of college experience. The pre-pharmacy program
at Missouri Southern allows students to meet the pharmacy
school requirements while working towards a Bachelor
of Science in Biology. Some students choose to major
in chemistry to meet the pre-professional requirements
of pharmacy school. The classes required for admission
into a pharmacy program vary from one pharmacy school
to the next but students should expect to take courses
in anatomy, physiology, calculus, physics, general and
organic chemistry, as well as English and humanities.
Pre-pharmacy students are encouraged to get guidance
from their academic advisor and to research different
pharmacy school admission requirements. For a list of
accredited pharmacy programs, go to: http://www.aacp.org/site/tertiary.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=593&DID=4225&TrackID=.
Many pharmacy programs require
applicants to submit scores from the Pharmacy College
Admission Test (PCAT). For more information about the
PCAT exam, go to: http://www.aacp.org/site/tertiary.asp?TRACKID=&VID=2&CID=687&DID=5052.
Successful applicants to pharmacy
programs typically have work experience or exposure
to the pharmacy profession. The Biology Department offers
pre-pharmacy students internship opportunities that
allow them to work with practicing pharmacists. This
is an excellent way to gain knowledge and familiarity
with the pharmacy profession.
For more information about the
pre-pharmacy program at Missouri Southern, contact one
of the Biology Department’s pre-pharmacy advisors:
Dr. Dorothy Bay or
Dr. Crystal Lemmons.
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