Completing Prerequisites
– Applicants may apply before all prerequisite courses are completed.
– Prerequisite coursework should be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to fall enrollment.
– On a case-by-case basis, applicants may be permitted to complete a prerequisite course during the Summer I term prior to fall entry.
Grade Requirements
- All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
- Credit/No Credit and Pass/Fail grades are not accepted.
- An exception will be made for courses completed during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2020 and 2020–2021 academic years).
Course Delivery Options
- Prerequisite courses and labs may be completed in person or online.
- A course may be used to satisfy only one prerequisite requirement.
Credits Accepted
Credits must appear on an official college transcript. There is no limit on the number of AP, IB, or CLEP credits that may be applied toward prerequisite requirements.
AP
Advanced Placement (AP) credit
IB Credit
International Baccalaureate (IB) credit
CLEP
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit
Foreign Coursework
Applicants who have completed coursework at a foreign institution must submit an official course-by-course transcript evaluation from one of the following agencies
WES
World Education Services
ECE
Educational Credential Evaluators
Quarter Hour Conversion
If your institution uses the quarter-hour system, convert semester hours to quarter hours by multiplying by 1.5.
Example: 4 semester hours × 1.5 = 6 quarter hours
Pre-Pharmacy Courses
| Courses | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| College Algebra | 3 |
| Chemistry 1 & 2 w/labs | 8 |
| Organic Chemistry 1 & 2 w/labs | 8 |
| Biology 1 & 2 w/labs | 8 |
| Microbiology w/lab | 4 |
| *Selectives: Choose from Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Quantitative Analysis, Physical Chemistry, Statistics, Calculus, Physics, Critical Thinking, Logic | 9 |
| *General Electives (your choice) | 20 |
| Total Credits | 60 |
Financial Aid Eligibility
To qualify for federal financial aid, students must have completed at least 72 semester credit hours of coursework.
Students with Fewer Than 72 Credit Hours
Students who enter the PharmD program with fewer than 72 semester credit hours are not eligible for federal financial aid until they reach the 72-hour requirement.
Because the UAMS College of Pharmacy requires 60 semester credit hours of prerequisite coursework for admission, most students in this situation will need to complete 12 or fewer additional credit hours during the fall semester of their first year in the PharmD program. Once they have completed a total of 72 semester credit hours, they may become eligible for federal financial aid.
Students with 72 or More Credit Hours
Students who enter the PharmD program with 72 semester credit hours or more may be eligible for federal financial aid, provided they meet all other federal aid requirements.