Accelerated/Dual-Degree
Biology or Chemistry
The Pharmacy Studies program offers a core curriculum in the sciences, mathematics, social sciences, and humanities to prepare for entrance into a professional curriculum at institutions that offer a Doctor of Pharmacy degree program.
pharmacy student filling a needle
Program Location

Pre-Pharmacy

The pre-pharmacy program coordinator will work with you to take the courses needed to apply for admission to a Pharm.D program, including the School of Pharmacy at Notre Dame.

Pathway Options

  • Undergraduate Prerequisite Only, Pre-Pharmacy Studies Track 
  • Undergraduate BA, Configured for Pre-Pharmacy Studies
  • Accelerated BA-Pharm.D. Track (3 + 4 Undergraduate/Professional Curriculum)

Earning a BA in Preparation for a Pharm.D. Degree

Choose to complete a degree in chemistry or biology while also taking necessary prerequisites and then apply to pharmacy school to pursue a Pharm.D. degree.

Advantages

  • Earn a Second Degree
  • Strengthen Pharmacy School Application
  • Additional Career Options

The majority of students (>85%, nationally) accepted to Schools of Pharmacy have earned a bachelors degree prior to starting work on their PharmD program.

Accelerated 3+4 Year BA-Pharm.D. Program

Choose to earn both a BA (in biology or chemistry) and a Pharm.D. degree in an accelerated undergraduate/professional program.

This program consists of three years of coursework in the Undergraduate Studies, followed by a four-year professional curriculum of pharmacy in the School of Pharmacy.

See Course Catalog for Requirements

Applying to Pharmacy School

You are responsible for understanding the admission requirements for the Pharm.D. program of your choice.

All applicants must complete:

  • Required Course Work
  • Application through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS.org)
  • School of Pharmacy Supplemental Application
  • Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
  • Individual Letters of Recommendation
  • Interview

Experiential learning (shadowing) in pharmacy-related activities is an important part of the path to pharmacy school.

School of Pharmacy at Notre Dame

We will guarantee interviews to up to 15 students each year from the Undergraduate Studies traditional pre-pharmacy program.

BA in Biology Accelerated Coursework
Fall Spring
First Year
CHM-110 4 CHM-111 4
BIO-111 4 BIO-239 Genetics 4
MAT-211 Calculus 4 RST-201 3
NDMU-100 3 LSP-101 3
ENG-101 3 ENG-101 3
[18 credits]   [17 credits]  
Second Year
CHM-210 4 CHM-211 4
BIO-201 Human Anatomy & Physiology 4 BIO-202 Human Anatomy & Physiology 4
PHY-101 4 PHY-102 4
LSP-102 3 LSP-103 3
PHL-201 3 ECO-211/212 3
[18 credits]   [18 credits]  
Third Year
BIO-340 Microbiology 4 BIO-300/400* 4
RST-Upper Level 3 MAT-215 Statistics 3
English Literature 3 PHL-330 or PHL-339 3
PED (not transferable to SOP) 1 Fine Arts 3
PSY/POL or SOC 3 PSY/POL or SOC 3
History 3 [16 credits]  
[17 credits]      

*In the third year, students must take one additional upper division (300/400) biology course in either the fall or spring semester.

BA in Chemistry Accelerated Coursework
Fall Spring
First Year
CHM-110 4 CHM-111 4
BIO-111 4 BIO-239 Genetics 4
MAT-211 Calculus 4 MAT-212 4
NDMU-100 3 LSP-101 3
ENG-101 3 ENG-101 3
[18 credits]   [18 credits]  
Second Year
CHM-210 4 CHM-211 4
BIO-201 Human Anatomy & Physiology 4 BIO-202 Human Anatomy & Physiology 4
PHY-101 4 PHY-102 4
LSP-102 3 LSP-103 3
PHL-201 3 ECO-211/212 3
[18 credits]   [18 credits]  
Third Year
BIO-340 Microbiology 4 MAT-215 Statistics 3
English Literature 3 PHL-330 or 339 3
PED (not transferable to SOP) 1 History 3
PSY/POL or SOC 3 PSY/POL or SOC 3
CHM-350 Chemical Literature 1 CHM-450 Chemistry Seminar 1
CHM-301 or 303 4 CHM-302 or CHM-305 4
[16 credits]   [17 credits]  
Summer
First Year
Fine Arts 3
Second Year
RST-201 3
Third Year
RST Upper Level 3

Students may need to complete coursework during the summer to fulfill program requirements.

First-Year School of Pharmacy Course of Study

Students in the B.A.-Pharm.D. program who have successfully completed 36 credits in the School of Pharmacy first-year professional curriculum will be granted their Bachelor of Arts in biology or chemistry upon completion of the following courses:

Fall Spring
PHRD-300: Foundations for Pharmacy Practice 2 PHRD-306: Pharmacist Care Lab II 2
PHRD-301: Pharmaceutical Calculations 1bc PHRD-308: Developing the Leader Within 2
PHRD-302: Pharmacy & the U.S. Health Care System 3 PHRD-309: Immunology 3bc
PHRD-303: Pharmaceutics I & Lab 4bc PHRD-310: Care of Diverse Populations 3
PHRD-304: Pharmacist Care Lab I 2 PHRD-311: Pharmaceutics II & Lab 4bc
PHRD-305: Biochemistry 4bc PHRD-312: Pharmacy Practice Management 3
PHRD-307: Applied Biomedical Sciences Workshop 3bc [17 credits]  
[19 credits]      

bCourses credited towards a B.A. in Biology
cCourses credited towards a B.A. in Chemistry

What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University

Small class sizes, faculty mentoring, and hands-on experiences offer an environment of individualized learning while collaborative research opportunities enhance the student experience.

Research & Internship Opportunities

One of the hallmarks of our rich educational environment is the opportunity to participate in research in your field of interest.

Independent Research Projects

Work directly with faculty in the Biology or Chemistry Department, or with the NDMU School of Pharmacy in the Department of Pharmaceutical Science to perform unique experiments.

Sister Alma Science Year Fellowship

Apply for the competitive Sister Alma Science Year fellowship for an opportunity to be matched with a laboratory doing cutting-edge science research at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins University.

The fellowship selects three students who receive a year-round stipend as well as summer on-campus housing.

Faculty Student Collaborations

Nancy Kreiter Student Research Day provides the perfect forum to showcase your hard work with a formal research presentation to the Notre Dame community.

Experiential Learning

Dedicate time to shadow various pharmacy professionals for a first-hand look at the pharmacy profession.