Academic Prerequisites
In order to be eligible for admission, you must satisfactorily complete a minimum total of 92 quarter units (equivalent to 62 semester units) of academic course work at another college. Our prerequisites are a part of this required minimum number of units.
You may be in the process of completing the prerequisites when you submit the application, but all prerequisites must be satisfactorily completed prior to September 1 of the year of entry into the program.
Overview of Academic Prerequisites
One semester unit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter units. To convert semester units to quarter units, multiply the semester units by 1.5.
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Minimum Quarter Units
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Subject
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12
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General Chemistry, must include:
1 year of lecture and lab
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12
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Organic Chemistry, must include:
1 year of lecture and lab
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12
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Biology, must include:
1 lab
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4
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Physiology, mammalian (whole animal or human)
Anatomy, plant physiology, or cell physiology courses may not be used to fulfill this prerequisite.
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8
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Physics, must include:
1 lab in electricity and magnetism
Calculus-based physics strongly recommended
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8
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Mathematics, must be:
2 courses in calculus
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8
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English, must be:
2 courses in college composition
Technical, professional, science, creative, and ESL writing courses are not eligible to meet this English requirement.
If you are not a United States citizen or permanent resident (or if you're not sure), see Information for International Applicants.
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28
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Electives in the Humanities and/or Social Sciences
(Technical, professional, math, and science-related courses are not eligible to meet Electives in the Humanities and/or Social Sciences requirements.)
Must include all of the following:
- 1 course in economics (macro- or micro-), and
- 1 course in public speaking or debate, and
- 1 course in psychology, sociology, or cultural anthropology
Courses in interpersonal communications are not eligible to meet the public speaking or debate requirement.
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92 quarter units total
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No Course Substitutions
We do not accept petitions for course substitutions at this time.
These are Minimum Units Only
The number of units listed above is the minimum number of units required in each subject area. There are several factors that are used to determine if a course, or series of courses, may be used to fulfill a prerequisite. As such, in order to fulfill the content requirement of a prerequisite subject area, some applicants may be required to complete more than the number of units listed.
Why Must I Verify Prerequisite Course Work?
The descriptors provided for the prerequisites are only some of the factors considered to determine if a course is acceptable to meet a prerequisite. When fulfilling these prerequisites with course work from your college or university, there may be differences in the names of courses, the number of courses you are required to take, and the number of units you must complete.
The only absolute way to ensure that you are taking course work that will meet these prerequisites is to only take course work approved by the Office of Student & Curricular Affairs.
How to Verify Prerequisite Course Work
To determine if you've met our prerequisites, see Verifying Your Prerequisite Course Work.
Next Requirement: Computer Literacy
Go To: Step 1: Minimum Eligibility Requirements
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Shortcut to This Page
To reach this page quickly or share it with others, use pharmacy.ucsf.edu/go/prereqs, which redirects to a longer URL.
Frequently Asked Questions About Minimum Eligibility Requirements
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Should I still apply if my grade point average is just above the minimum of 2.80?
Admission is competitive and our evaluation is based on all aspects of the application in addition to your grade point average. This includes your science grades, curriculum, recommendations, essays, and interview results. Competition also varies from year to year depending upon the size and strength of the applicant pool. You should consider all of these factors and should not base your decision to apply solely on your GPA.
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Is a bachelor's degree required for admission?
No, only the pre-pharmacy requirements are required. However a degree may make an applicant more competitive for admission, and in recent years a large majority of our successful applicants have held bachelor's degrees.
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Do I have to take the PCAT or GRE?
No. We do not require any standardized test.
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Do I have to take the TOEFL examination?
No. We do not require any standardized test.
See all frequently asked questions about PharmD admissions
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