Pre-Pharmacy - Associate of Science

The Pre-Pharmacy - Associate of Science program prepares students interested in becoming pharmacists for transfer to a 4-year institution. The courses outlined in the program of study have been carefully selected using the basic admission requirements for a number of pharmacy programs as a guide. Provides students with a solid foundation using a set of carefully selected courses, which will maximize the transfer of coursework.

Courses were selected to include the general admission criteria used by pharmacy schools and formal transfer agreements HFC maintains with many of the universities throughout Michigan. Pre-Pharmacy students are strongly encouraged to work closely with the Pre-Pharmacy coordinator before they select their courses.

Pharmacy Options

HFC offers our students two distinct program options. The first option is the Pre-Pharmacy Academic Transfer program, which is designed for the transfer of coursework by students primarily interested in applying to pharmacy schools. The second program option at HFC is a one-year Pharmacy Technician program. The technician curriculum prepares the students for employment assisting pharmacists. Courses in the Pharmacy Technician program prepare students for employment immediately. Pharmacy technician courses do not transfer to pharmacy schools.

NOTE: If a student’s primary intent is to become a pharmacist, the Associate in Science Degree in Pre-Pharmacy is the program of study which should be followed.

Educational Requirements

Admission to pharmacy schools is highly competitive and very selective. Typically, pharmacy programs will use some variation of grades and admission test scores in their selection process. The specific admission criteria for schools of pharmacy vary with each individual program.

There are three pharmacy programs in Michigan as well as the 17+ pharmacy programs in the general Midwest region. Because admission to pharmacy schools is so competitive, students interested in becoming a pharmacist should explore all of their options, including current admission requirements for multiple pharmacy schools.

HFC maintains close contact with many pharmacy programs in an effort to keep the program of study and course transfer agreements up-to-date.

Annually, admission representatives from a number of pharmacy programs are on campus to visit and discuss their programs with HFC students. Students need to contact, visit, and frequently monitor for themselves the admission requirements for their target Pharmacy Schools as these requirements do periodically change.

NOTE: Students should meet with the Pre-Pharmacy coordinator on a regular basis to select and sequence the program of study courses.

Required Core Courses

• PHT-144: PHT-144: Current Issues in Pre-Pharmacy and PCAT Preparation
• BIO-152: Cells and Molecular Biology
• BIO-233: Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO-234: Anatomy and Physiology II
• BIO-251: Microbiology
• CHEM-141: Principles of General and Inorganic Chemistry I
• CHEM-142: Principles of General and Inorganic Chemistry II
• CHEM-241: Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM-242: Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM-243: Microscale Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
• PHYS-131: General Physics I