Pharmacy is the art and science of dispensing drugs and educating patients about medications and their use. In addition, pharmacists advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions and side effects of medications.
To prepare for a career in pharmacy, a student must complete a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) degree at a professional college of pharmacy. Almost all of our students attend the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy (UIC), Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP), or St. Louis College of Pharmacy (SLCP). Each offers a different program and has a different set of pre-pharmacy requirements which are described below.
Eastern Illinois University is not affiliated with any colleges of pharmacy and cannot guarantee admission to a professional school. Students who apply to pharmacy schools will be competing with students applying from other colleges and universities.
Advisement checklist and suggested course sequence (PDF) Revised Fall, 2012
Tentative course offerings
For additional information, please visit the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Regional Pharmacy School Options
The University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy enrolls over 600 students. The college offers the Pharm. D. degree and requires all students to complete the equivalent of two years of pre-pharmacy study in a college or university before entering the program. Students with a 2.50 grade point average or better may apply and, once accepted, spend an additional four years completing the program. The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) is required for admission.
The Chicago College of Pharmacy, which opened in 1991, is a part of Midwestern University. Enrollment at CCP is almost 400 students. CCP offers a four-year program leading to the Pharm. D. degree. All entering students must have completed the equivalent of two years of pre-pharmacy study in a college or university. Students with a 2.50 GPA or better may apply. The PCAT is required.
St. Louis College of Pharmacy is a private, independent college which enrolls 800 students. The college recruits most of its students directly from high school. SLCP offers a six-year program leading to the Pharm. D. degree. Students may also apply to transfer to SLCP after one or two years of pre-pharmacy studies at a college or university. If accepted, they will complete the remaining four or five years of the program at SLCP. The PCAT is recommended for prospective transfer students.
Other regional universities with pharmacy programs include: Purdue University and Butler University (both in Indiana), Drake University (Iowa), University of Iowa, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Necessary Undergraduate Coursework
The following is a listing of two-year pre-pharmacy requirements for the UIC College of Pharmacy, Chicago College of Pharmacy (CCP) and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (SLCP):
| Requirement | EIU Courses |
|---|---|
| General Biology with Laboratory (Two Semesters) | BIO 1100, 1300 |
| Human Anatomy (UIC and SLCP) | BIO 2200 |
| Human Physiology (SLCP only) (Not Transferable) | BIO 2001 |
| General Chemistry with Laboratory (Two Semesters) | CHM 1310, 1315; 1410, 1415 |
| Organic Chemistry with Laboratory | CHM 2440, 2445, 2840 (Two Semesters) CHM 2845 |
| Physics | PHY 1151, 1152; PHY 1161, 1162 (UIC only) |
| Math (Through Calculus) | MAT 1330, 1400, 1441 |
| Written Communication | ENG 1001, 1002 |
| Speech Communication (UIC and CCP) | COM 1310 |
| Psychology (SLCP Only) | PSY 1879 |
| Sociology (SLCP Only) | SOC 2710 |
| General Education (see below) 9-12 semester hours Distribution in general education courses (UIC): General education is classified into three categories. Students must complete at least one course (three semester hours) in each of the three areas below. The subjects listed in parentheses are examples of appropriate courses. General education requirements for CCP and SLCP are similar.
|
|
