Information for Pre-Pharmacy Students

There are two pharmacy programs in Washington, at the University of Washington and at Washington State University. Both are four-year programs leading to a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. While neither program requires a bachelor's degree at this time, beginning with fall of 2008 WSU requires extensive prerequisites which cannot be completed at the community college level. The prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of the spring quarter preceding the autumn start of the program. The UW admitted 86 students this year and WSU admitted 94 students. Admission is competitive with GPAs generally in the 3.6 range. Students with a GPA lower than 3.0 will not be considered for admission. Even though a bachelor's degree is not required, many successful applicants do have one and other pharmacy programs in the country may require one. Applicants should plan to pursue a bachelor's degree. Relevant experience is very important.

Prerequisite coursework required by UW and WSU
General chemistry BCC CHEM& 161,162,163 (Previously CHEM 140,150,160)
Organic chemistry BCC CHEM& 261,262,263 (Previously CHEM 231,232,243)
Biology BCC BIOL& 211,212,213 (Previously BIOL 201,202,203)
Microbiology BCC BIOL& 260 (Previously BIOL 250)
Math and Statistics BCC MATH& 151 and BA 240 (Previously MATH 124)
English composition BCC ENGL& 101 and 201
Public Speaking BCC CMST& 101 or 220 (Previously SPCH 100 or 220)
Microeconomics BCC ECON& 201*
Ethics BCC PHIL 240 or 265*
General Psychology BCC PSYC& 100*
Physiology BCC BIOL& 241* (Previously BIOL 260)
Human Anatomy BCC BIOL& 242* (Previously BIOL 261)
Biochemistry WSU MBIOS 303, UW BIOC 405 and 406*
Immunology WSU MBIOS 440, UW MICROM 442*
Genetics WSU BIOL 301 or 408 or MBIOS 404*
Physiology WSU BIOL 353*
Human Anatomy WSU BIOL 315**

* Classes required by WSU only at this time, UW will require a speech course for 2009.

Sample schedule for Bellevue Community College with AAS

Fall Winter Spring Summer
Year 1 CHEM& 161 (6)
ENGL& 101 (5)
MATH& 151 (5) 		CHEM& 162 (6)
ENGL 201 (5)
BA 240 (5) 		CHEM& 163 (6)
CMST& 220 (5)
ECON& 201 (5) 		Humanities (5)
Soc Sci (5)
Year 2 BIOL& 211 (6)
CHEM& 261 (6)
PHIL 265 (5) 		BIOL& 212 (6)
CHEM& 262 (6)
PSYC& 100 (5) 		BIOL& 213 (6)
CHEM& 263 (6)
BIOL& 260 (6) 		 

The above sample schedule provides 110 credits and does not include any lower math, English, or other classes which may needed to bring skills up to college level. MATH& 151 requires assessment or the completion of MATH& 142 Pre-calculus II. More than two academic years are required in order to complete the prerequisites for pharmacy school and some courses must be done at a university. Applicants should plan to apply to a university to complete a bachelorÍs degree. Courses that are taught in sequence should be finished at the school at which they are started. Experience in a pharmacy setting while an undergraduate is extremely important and should be done throughout the undergraduate years. Experience may be paid or volunteer work.

Additional requirements of the WSU School of Pharmacy

Computer literacy, (demonstrated experience or BCC CS 110 or BTS 161)
First Aid/CPR certification

Applicants must have completed the lower division General Education Requirements for WSU. GERs are fulfilled by either a bachelor's degree or the Associate of Arts and Sciences transfer degree from BCC. If an applicant has neither degree, he or she must fulfill the specific GERs for WSU. Consult the WSU website for details.

Application to pharmacy school

Only US citizens and permanent residents are admitted to UW and WSU Pharmacy Schools.

University of Washington Washington State University
www.pharmacy.washington.edu http://www.pharmacy.wsu.edu/
November 1 application period open November 1 application period open
January 1 application deadline February 1 application deadline
PharmCAS application PharmCAS application
UW Supplemental application WSU Supplemental application
Two letters of recommendation Three letters of recommendation
Personal interview Personal interview
Pharmacy College Admission Test Professional goals statement

Information on the PCAT: www.pcatweb.info
Information on the PharmCAS application: www.PharmCAS.org
Washington State Board of Pharmacy: www.doh.wa.gov/Pharmacy
Schools that accept International Students: www.f1study.com

Contact the BCC Science Division office, L 200, 425-564-2321 for an advising appointment.

BCC reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran. Please visit http://bellevuecollege.edu/equal.asp

Bellevue Community College
Bellevue Community College Advising Center
Bellevue Community College Science Division

This page most recently modified on 4/27/08.