Chemistry - Pre-Pharmacy Concentration

The chemistry pre-pharmacy concentration allows you to meet the requirements to enter a professional pharmacy degree program and gives you a firm grasp of the science you need to succeed in that program.

Preparing You for Success

You gain a foundation in chemistry that shows you how drug compounds work in the body. Courses introduce you to research as early as your first year with opportunities to participate in faculty-mentored projects. You can continue research year-round through labs, independent studies and summer grants. Some of your research could be published in scientific journals.

By the time you graduate, your experiences include:

• Close mentoring relationships with faculty starting your first year, as the department boasts a 2:1 faculty-first-year student major ratio
• Hands-on experience using state-of-the-art lab equipment
• Opportunities to publish research with faculty and present your work at local, regional and national conferences
• Networking and professional growth through weekly seminars, departmental employment, the Chem Club and Chem Demo Crew

Making Your Mark

The chemistry pre-pharmacy major is valuable preparation for the Pharmacy College Admission Test. Recent chemistry pre-pharmacy graduates have attended PharmD programs at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Midwestern University, Ohio State University and Union University.

Chem/Biochem Common Requirements

Required Courses - 50-51 hrs.

• CHM 110: General Chemistry I - 3 hrs.
• CHM 111: General Chemistry I Laboratory - 1 hr.
• CHM 114: Chemistry of the Elements - 1 hr.
• CHM 116: General Chemistry II - 3 hrs.
• CHM 117: General Chemistry II Laboratory - 1 hr.
• CHM 252: Organic Chemistry I - 4 hrs.
• CHM 253: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I - 1 hr.
• CHM 256: Organic Chemistry II - 3 hrs.
• CHM 257: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II - 1 hr.
• CHM 292: Chemical Informatics - 1 hr.
• CHM 326: Analytical Chemistry - 4 hrs.
• CHM 360: Biochemistry - 3 hrs.
• CHM 380: Seminar I in Chemistry and Biochemistry - 0 hr.
• CHM 386: Seminar II in Chemistry and Biochemistry - 1 hrs.
• CHM 470 or 570: Physical Chemistry I - 3 hrs.
• CHM 480 or 580: Seminar III in Chemistry and Biochemistry - 1 hrs.
• BIO 151: Molecules to Cells - 3 hrs.
• BIO 152: Molecules to Cells Laboratory - 1 hr.
• PHY 110: University Physics I - 4 hrs.
  and PHY 201: University Physics II - 4 hrs.
  or PHY 107: General Physics I - 4 hrs.
  and 108: General Physics II - 4 hrs.
• MTH 121: Calculus I - 4 hrs.
  and MTH 122: Calculus II - 4 hrs.
  or MTH 115: Brief Calculus With Applications I - 4 hrs.
  and MTH 116: Brief Calculus With Applications II - 3 hrs.

Concentration Requirements

Required Courses - 29 hrs.

• CHM 361: Biochemistry Laboratory - 1 hr.
• CHM 436 or 536: Inorganic Chemistry – 3 hrs.
• BIO 230: Human Anatomy and Physiology I - 3 hrs.
• BIO 231: Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I - 1 hr.
• BIO 232: Human Anatomy and Physiology II - 3 hrs.
• BIO 233: Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II - 1hr.
• BIO 251: Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity - 3 hrs.
• BIO 252: Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory - 1 hr.
• BIO 406: General Microbiology - 4 hrs.
• MTH 111: Elementary Statistics - 3 hrs.
  or MTH 325: Probability and Statistics I - 3 hrs.
  or PSY 205: Quantitative Methods - 3 hrs.
  or BIO 260: Biological Statistics I - 1 hr.
  and BIO 261: Biological Statistics II - 2 hrs.
• PSY 101: Principles of Psychology - 3 hrs.
• ECO 221: Principles of Microeconomics - 3 hrs. 
  or ECO 222: Principles of Macroeconomics - 3hrs.

Elective Courses - 4 hrs.

• 4 additional hrs of CHM courses numbered CHM 301 or above