In our present-day society, graduates who work right at the centre of human healthcare stem from the Discipline of Pharmacy. They are at the forefront of the research and development of new treatments, expert advice of various medical options, and prescription and care management. Pharmacy is a medical program that cuts across chemistry, pharmaceutics (knowledge about the formulation of medicines), human biology and physiology, and pharmacology (the study of the interaction of drugs with the human body). A lot of pharmacy degrees are a combination of academic research, professional pharmacy skills (understanding legal and ethical issues and the interaction with patients), and vocational training.
By taking on this degree program, you will be exposed to various topics on drugs, prescriptions, medications, and clinical practice, and build more experience in responding to diverse medical scenarios. Pharmacy gives you the opportunity to specialize; for example, you may end up in the field of patient care or new medicine development.
Pharmacy Entry Requirements
Pharmacy entry requirements vary from one institution to another. Nevertheless, you need to be well-versed in Chemistry, along with other subjects such as physics, biology, and mathematics. Due to the competition in this field. You also need to have high grades in all the subjects and be proficient in the language that you would be taught.
For example, Roseman University of Health Sciences has the following requirements:
- Applicants must have a minimum of 60 semesters credit hours of study. Which is equivalent to 90 quarter hours at an accredited university or college in the United States or its equivalent elsewhere.
- He or she must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.8/4.0.
- Must have a “C” grade, or it’s equivalent or more in all science and math courses, and “B” or more in English Composition I and Speech/Communication.
- The individual must take the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
- Such a person must complete the Roseman’s supplemental application and PharmCas application.
Eligible applicants will have their records evaluated in accordance with the pharmacy school prerequisites. Due to the competition, only those on the top list will be invited for an interview.
Understanding The Assessment Methods and Course Structure
The list of pharmacy degrees available depends on where you intend to study. Bachelor of Pharmacy is offered in some parts of the world, whereas, in other places, you get a Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree program. Depending on what you want to achieve after your program or where you would like to be, you need to check where your qualifications will be recognized. Take the U.K; for example, you need to have an MPharm degree before you are accepted for the training course that provides you with the opportunity to register as a professional pharmacist.
The main pharmacy specializations you can focus on are pharmacology (understanding the interaction of drugs with the human body), Clinical practice (Provision of patient care), microbiology and immunology, drug development, pharmaceutical technology, obesity, and weight management. Pharmacy careers cut across academic institutions, research labs, doctor’s surgeries, hospitals, the armed forces, veterinary care, pharmaceutical companies, and national regulatory bodies.