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Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Pre-Pharmacy Emphasis

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Pre-Pharmacy: Medical Expertise Combined with Professional Care

As a pharmacist, you can touch patients’ lives and minister to their bodies through medicine. If this is God’s calling for your life, begin your journey to becoming an expert on how medicine works within living organisms. The pre-pharmacy emphasis at Pensacola Christian College provides a rigorous degree that can prepare you for greater success in pharmacy school.

During your undergraduate study, you’ll gain hands-on experience in science labs and learn under faculty with 40+ combined years of medical and clinical pharmacy expertise. Combining science with Bible and liberal arts subjects (English, communication, history, etc.) ensures that you receive both technical knowledge and the practical skills necessary to pursue your pharmacy degree.


Faith-Based Pre-Pharmacy

From every class at PCC (not just Bible), you’ll learn how ethics, high moral standards, and faithfulness to God’s Word can be applied to your profession. You’ll become an expert on how medicine affects the human body that God created. Building upon a solid foundation in science, mathematics, and liberal arts from a biblical perspective, the training you receive will set you apart and propel you toward advancing your degree.

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Pre-Pharmacy Emphasis Learning Outcomes

As a pre-pharmacy graduate, you will be able to

  • demonstrate understanding of key concepts necessary to solve problems in science and mathematics or explain life processes,
  • apply standard scientific conventions to present logical conclusions based on novel research data and the research of others,
  • use the biblical worldview to critique scientific claims and conclusions,
  • apply biblical principles to support decisions regarding ethical issues, and
  • demonstrate proficiency in entrance requirements for pharmacy school.
Pre-Pharmacy Emphasis Course Schedule

Pre-Pharmacy Program Highlight

Pharmacology

Get a sneak peek into your future in pharmacy with the in-depth study of Pharmacology (SC 442). You’ll learn the science of drug distribution and absorption in the human body. You’ll also explore how the body processes medicines as well as how the medicines work in the human body through pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Your Pre-Pharmacy Future

What can you do with a pre-pharmacy emphasis?

With a natural sciences degree with a pre-pharmacy emphasis from PCC, you’ll step into your next chapter with confidence. Whether you begin working as a pharmacy technician right away or begin pharmacy school, you’ll be prepared for success.

Here are a few of the countless career opportunities available to you.

  • Clinical Microbiologist
  • Pharmaceutical Sales
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Physician
  • Research

Here are a few of the grad schools our pre-pharmacy alumni have attended.

  • Campbell University
  • Cedarville University
  • Northeast Ohio Medical University
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • Union University School of Pharmacy
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • Western New England University

Here are a few of the many places that our pre-pharmacy alumni have worked.

  • Alleghany Memorial Hospital
  • Microbac Laboratories
  • Walgreens

Faculty Highlight

Wesley Robbins

Dr. Wesley Robbins

M.H.A., California Coast University
Pharm.D., Idaho State University

“Studying pre-pharmacy at PCC will better prepare the student to not only succeed in pharmacy school but get the most out of their pharmacy school education. This strong foundation which they will have obtained from PCC will be invaluable as they continue their education. It will not only allow them to do better in the classroom but will serve them lifelong in their interactions with patients and other medical professionals.”

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Alumni Spotlight

Audrey Anderson
Dr. Audrey Anderson ’18

PGY1 Resident at West Palm Beach VA Medical Center

“Once I knew that I wanted to spend my life becoming an expert on drugs, I just had to decide on where to start my education. PCC gave me a good foundation in chemistry, math, and biology onto which my pharmacy school courses have built.

I think that my pre-pharmacy courses encouraged me to develop critical thinking skills and to prioritize understanding concepts over memorizing and reciting details. These skills are vital for the development of a good pharmacist.”

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About the Pre-Pharmacy Emphasis

The purpose of the pre-pharmacy emphasis is to prepare students for admission to and successful completion of pharmacy school.

Preparation for pharmacy school begins in high school. Ideally, students should have a good understanding of basic physical sciences, a highly developed ability in mathematics, and competence to read rapidly and with comprehension. The minimum adequate preparation includes 2 units of algebra and 1 unit each of plane geometry, advanced mathematics (trigonometry and analytical geometry or precalculus), chemistry, and physics.

Students not prepared to enter directly into the pre-pharmacy curriculum will be able to make up certain deficiencies. In this case, time required to complete the pre-pharmacy emphasis could be expected to increase.

Chemistry may be claimed as a minor by taking 6 credits of CH electives (300- or 400-level) in addition to minor requirements.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Board has recognized PCC as a Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) training program. This exam is taken during a pre-pharmacy student’s sophomore year.

Knowledge of science is very important to understanding medicine. Admission requirements to pharmacy schools may require you to take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), which tests knowledge of biology, chemistry, and verbal and quantitative skills.

The PCAT is a specialized test that helps identify qualified applicants to pharmacy school. It measures general academic ability and scientific knowledge necessary for the commencement of pharmaceutical education. The PCAT is constructed specifically for colleges of pharmacy.

PCC has partnered with Cedarville and Union universities to provide a pathway for students to receive a guaranteed interview or direct admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at these schools by meeting conditions of the specific agreements. General eligibility requirements include prescribed undergraduate coursework, minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA, and a grade of “C” or higher in all prerequisite courses. Contact the Chair of Natural Sciences for specific requirements.

Pharmacy schools do not require students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree before entering pharmacy school. To be eligible for admission, students must meet certain entrance requirements, including approximately 90 credits of prescribed undergraduate coursework.

With the reverse transfer option, students may earn the B.S. in Natural Sciences, Pre-Pharmacy degree by successfully completing the first three years of courses required for the pre-pharmacy emphasis (92 total credits), including all liberal arts requirements, and one year (minimum of 28 semester hours) from an accredited pharmacy school. This option allows completion of both the bachelor’s and Pharm.D. degrees in as few as 7 years. After completing the first year of the Pharm.D. curriculum, students must submit an official transcript to PCC to be awarded the bachelor of science degree.

Students can apply for scholarships to receive financial aid.

See Scholarships
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Pre-Pharmacy Career Support

With Career Services and Career Link, students can start making connections with employers while on campus during Career Fair events. These services provide tools and resources designed to empower you for your career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Need help? Career Services staff are ready to assist you in researching employment opportunities, exploring job qualifications, and providing mock interviews and résumé support.

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