Getting In
Prepharmacy Coursework
Courses at Other Colleges (Transfer Equivalencies)
The PCAT
Interviews
Join the Listserv
prepharmacy Club
Open House Information Sessions
Advising Sessions
Prepharmacy Coursework
A minimum of 70 semester credit hours of prepharmacy coursework is required for admission. Approximately 50-60 of those hours should be in required subjects; the remaining credit hours can be elective courses of your choice. Elective courses to consider (first few in order of preference) are Biochemistry, Genetics, Physiology, Medical Terminology, Psychology, Public Speaking, Healthcare Ethics, courses required by major, and UKCore general education courses. In addition, students who complete the Math Calculus option are encouraged to consider completing an algebra course as an elective. Algebra skills are relied on heavily in pharmacy school and on the PCAT. Since Calculus students typically haven't completed an algebra course since middle/high school, a refresher course is beneficial.
Prepharmacy courses should be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to the desired fall enrollment. Prior approval must be obtained by students wishing to take required coursework after the spring semester. One semester in organic chemistry, physics and either anatomy or microbiology must be completed by the end of the fall semester prior to our application deadline. Please note that a grade of D or below is NOT acceptable in any required prepharmacy course.
See the chart below for the number of semester credit hours required in each prepharmacy subject area and the exact courses as offered at the University of Kentucky. Students who wish to complete the prepharmacy coursework at another accredited Kentucky college or university should view our Transfer Equivalencies page, which has a list of courses needed at other Kentucky institutions.
The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is required for admission. For more information visit the PCAT page.
You can view sample prepharmacy schedules by clicking here: Sample Schedules [pdf]. A printer-friendly version of the below Prepharmacy Coursework is available.
| Prepharmacy Required Subjects | Number of Semester Credit Hours Required | UK Prepharmacy Courses |
| English |
2 semesters (6-7 semester credit hours) |
WRD/CIS 110 and 111 (UK students are required to take specific courses to meet UK’s writing requirement. Non-UK students may complete ENG 101 & 102 or two equivalent semesters of writing intensive courses. See notes below.) |
| Animal Biology & lab | 1 semester plus lab (4 – 5 semester credit hrs.) |
BIO 152 and Either BIO 151 or 153 or 155 (bio labs) |
| Microbiology & lab | 1 semester plus lab (4 –5 semester credit hrs.) |
BIO 208 & 209 (lab) (BIO 308 also acceptable; w/ BIO 209 lab) |
| Calculus (Students can choose to bypass Calculus by taking both College Algebra & Elementary Calculus.) | 1 semester (4 semester credit hrs. OR 6 semester hrs.- if taking College Algebra & Elementary Calculus) |
MA 113 OR both MA 109 (College Algebra) & MA 123 (Elementary Calculus)
(UK COP will NOT accept placement into MA 123 as completion of MA 109. A normal grade type and credit hours must be provided for MA 109. MA 109/123 are preferred the preferred courses given the emphasis on algebra, NOT Calculus, in pharmacy school and on the PCAT..) |
| Statistics | 1 semester (3 semester credit hours) |
STA 291 |
| Human Anatomy (Non-UK students may take Physiology or combined A/P courses if Anatomy is not offered at your school.) | 1 semester (3 semester credit hours) |
ANA 209 |
| General Chemistry & lab(s) | 2 semesters plus labs (8 - 10 semester credit hrs.) |
CHE 105 & CHE 111, (Students with AP credit are encouraged to at least repeat CHE 107, if not CHE 105 and 107.) |
| Organic Chemistry & labs | 2 semesters plus labs (8 - 10 semester credit hrs.) |
CHE 230 & CHE 231, CHE 232 & CHE 233 |
| Physics & labs (Algebra-Based Physics) | 2 semesters plus labs (8 - 10 semester credit hrs.) |
PHY 211 & PHY 213 |
| Microeconomics | 1 semester (3 semester credit hours) |
ECO 201 |
| Elective Courses | 10 - 19 hours of elective hours, depending on the number of hours earned in your required courses | Electives to consider (first few in order of preference): Biochemistry* (BCH 401G), Genetics* (BIO 304), Physiology* (PGY 206), Medical Terminology** (CLA 131), Psychology, Public Speaking, Healthcare Ethics, courses required by major, and UKCore general education courses. |
Additional courses required for joint PharmD/Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree: ACC 201 (Financial Accounting I), ACC 202 (Managerial Uses of Accounting), and ECO 202 (Macroeconomics).
Additional courses required for joint PharmD/Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MS PAS) degree: PSY 100 (General Psychology), PSY 223 (Developmental Psychology), SOC 101/ANT 101 (Sociology OR Anthropology).
*Highly preferred courses to prepare students for UK COP curriculum.
** Preferred courses to prepare students for UK COP curriculum.
English Notes:
Effective Fall 2011, UK requires all incoming freshman to complete WRD/CIS 110/111 too met UK's writing requirement. UK College of Pharmacy's English requirement is the same as UK's English requirement policy.
For students who entered UK prior to Fall 2011, students must take ENG 104, a first-year, 4-credit hour writing course, and an approved 200-level, 3-credit hour English course or appropriate equivalent, taken after achieving sophomore status.
For students enrolled at UK PRIOR to Fall 2004 or for non-UK students applying DIRECTLY to the UK Doctor of Pharmacy program and NOT to the University of Kentucky, ENG 101 and ENG 102 (or equivalent two semesters of English writing/literature courses) will meet our two semester English requirement.
