Compare Popular Online Bachelor's in Healthcare Programs
Overview of a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy
Becoming a pharmacy technician, assistant, or licensed pharmacist requires significant education and training. First, you need to earn a four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Administration, or Pre-Pharmacy degree. Many biology degrees also prepare you for pharmacy graduate studies, as they cover similar prerequisite courses like chemistry, biology, medical terminology, and drug design.
In addition to biology coursework, you’ll need to acquire knowledge in organic chemistry, wellness screenings, prescription medications, drug design, medication safety, pharmacy law, and more. These courses can be challenging but are essential for becoming a pharmacist. Completing the required licensing is worth the effort, as the rewards of being a pharmacist are significant.
Your bachelor's degree can vary in form— for example, you may graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Pharmacy or major in biology with a chemistry concentration. If your school doesn’t offer a specific pharmacy degree, discuss your goals with an admissions counselor to ensure you meet the necessary requirements.
Pharmacy programs typically cover topics such as organic chemistry, pharmacology, immunotherapy, microbiology, and patient care, and may require prerequisites like physics, calculus, and communications. Many of these courses also require lab work, which can be time-consuming but adds valuable hands-on experience. Future pharmacists are often familiar with long hours and the term "all-nighter".
PROS
An undergraduate Bachelor of Pharmacy or pharmacy administration degree offers numerous benefits. Most notably, it prepares graduates for graduate studies for a Master of Pharmacy program and helps fulfill licensure requirements to become a pharmacist. Additionally, pharmacy professionals gain valuable skills they can apply in their careers, such as counseling patients on medications and performing health screenings.
Graduates can work in pharmacy practice or retail settings as pharmacy assistants or technicians. They may also find opportunities in pharmaceutical research labs or other areas of the pharmaceutical industry. Before pursuing a Master of Pharmacy, some may choose to explore fields like pure research, veterinary sciences, or life sciences. The scientific training gained from a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree opens many career doors.
CONS
While a Bachelor of Pharmacy program offers many benefits, there are also some drawbacks. One significant downside is that it is only a step toward becoming a pharmacist; you will still need to complete a Master of Pharmacy. Graduate school tends to be more challenging than undergraduate work, and you will also face demanding licensure exams before entering pharmacy practice.
Additionally, the financial burden of education can be substantial. Most students graduate with significant student loans, and some may need additional loans for living expenses. While pharmacists are well-compensated, there is no guarantee that your salary will cover all obligations and provide a comfortable lifestyle. However, federal student loan forgiveness programs may offer relief for those who work in non-profit organizations or government-run facilities, such as the Veterans Administration.
What Pharmacy Bachelor’s Degrees are Available Online?
Online Bachelor of Science – Pre-Pharmacy:
This degree is tailored for students seeking a career as a pharmacist. The courses are primarily STEM-related such as chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus. These programs are designed to groom students for graduate work in pharmacy.
Online Bachelor of Science – Biology:
This degree can be applied to your later pharmacy master's degree if you make sure to add enough of the right chemistry courses. Discuss this approach with your adviser.
Online Bachelor of Arts and Sciences:
Chemistry: Much like the BS in Biology, this degree will help prepare you for a baccalaureate degree in pharmacy, but you should consider taking certain biology courses, such as human anatomy & physiology, as well as non-STEM courses such as Legal Issues in Pharmacy. Your adviser can help you determine how to best prepare for a baccalaureate program.
Online Bachelor/Master of Science – Pharmacy:
These combined-degree programs are a great idea since they streamline your academic preparation. You’ll only need to apply to a single program and when you graduate you will be prepared for work as a Pharmacist.
Find Your Online Pharmacy Program
Admission Requirements
Every baccalaureate program in pharmacy, pre-pharmacy, or biology will have its own requirements for incoming students. Some departments require a full admission process involving a minimum GPA, course prerequisites, and even recommendations from faculty. Regardless, the typical coursework for a pre-pharmacy student is quite rigorous and you should strive to maintain a solid 3.0 average, at a minimum. If you have completed your associate in pharmacy, you will be required to provide your transcripts and GPA. Though your undergraduate program might not require that, your dream graduate school probably will.
How long does it take to earn this degree?
A typical bachelor's degree in pharmacy is designed to take four years. However, some colleges and universities have structured their curriculum so that you have at least a couple of courses that extend beyond the four-year mark. Additionally, many, if not most students, take up to six years to complete their baccalaureate degrees. This may be because of the demands of work or family but do try to avoid extending your time in school for too long. Once you graduate, you still need to complete an online master's program to become a pharmacist, so strive to maintain a full load of courses in every term.
Potential Careers in Pharmacy with a Bachelor’s
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representative:
Your knowledge of science and any pre-pharmacy courses will certainly help you sell pharmaceuticals to doctors in your sales area. This is a terrific way to put your baccalaureate degree to work if you don't have any interest in pursuing a graduate degree. Your salary might vary depending on what drugs you represent and the area in which you work.
Average Salary: $84,500 - Registered Nurse:
You will need to return to school for nursing, but your science background and knowledge of pharmacology will help you rise to the top of your field. Registered nurses can work in a wide range of specialty areas including psychiatry, obstetrics, surgery, geriatrics, pediatrics, and more.
Average Salary: $65,400 - Laboratory Manager:
With all of your experience in lab science courses, this position might be the perfect fit after graduation. You'll ensure that your lab is cleaned to specifications, is stocked with all relevant equipment, and that all relevant safety regulations are followed. With a bit of experience, you could design and set up labs to suit new research projects. You might receive a large bonus if your lab makes a tremendous breakthrough.
Average Salary: $70,500 - Medical Equipment Sales:
Though this profession is quite a divergence from your laboratory science background, your familiarity with the healthcare field is bound to pay off. In fact, you might specialize in research equipment. When you show doctors that you are conversant in the language of science, they are sure to pay attention and offer you their business.
Average Salary: $59,500 - Nurse Practitioner:
With more training, you can put your pharmaceutical training to use in nursing. You'll first need to become a licensed registered nurse and then work through a graduate degree. Your training will also involve a residency, much like a doctor, but your professional hours will be far less intense.
Average Salary: $97,500
Options to Advance
Your bachelor's degree in pre-pharmacy or biology can open a lot of doors on its own. You can move into pharmaceutical sales, laboratory management, or medical equipment sales, for starters. However, you will find that there are few jobs that call for this degree, specifically. However, you will see your opportunities and salary increase when you move on to graduate studies in pharmacy or even medicine. Some biology or pharmacy majors decide that they prefer a more clinical position, so they pursue a career as an RN, or nurse practitioner. Your undergraduate degree will inform your work and can inform your professional life in ways you never imagined.
Find Online Pharmacy Programs
Best Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Programs
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, INPurdue has an interesting pharmaceutical sciences degree program that can take two tracks. Students can choose a pre-doctoral program that grooms them for a PharmD (doctoral) degree or a non-pharmacist track that prepares student to pursue some aspect of drug research.
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences – Pre-Doctor of Pharmacy Program
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
-
University of Toledo
Toledo, OHThe University of Toledo's five-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree is designed to prepare you for a life in pharmacy. The degree includes three experiential rotations that you can complete either in Toledo or Cleveland, though the department might accept other locations. If you decide that you'd rather not become a pharmacist, you can elect to take a degree in pharmaceutical sciences, which will prepare you for a career in research.
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
-
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NCECSU's pharmacy department can prepare you for a PharmD (doctoral) degree in Pharmacy. You might also choose to use your degree to pursue other tracks such as those leading towards academia or pharmaceutical research. ECSU claims that it produces candidates for some of the top pharmacy graduate programs in the nation.
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Bachelor of Science – Biology, Chemistry, or Biology Education
-
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SCThe University of South Carolina is a major university that has many resources to offer STEM students. State of the art labs and first-rate instructors will groom you for you later master's or doctoral work in pharmacy. Some students even complete a two-year pre-pharmacy program and then progress directly into a PharmD program that results in a doctoral degree and a career as a pharmacist.
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pre-Pharmacy & PharmD
-
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, NYThe Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences aims to create scientists who work to further the advancement of our pharmaceutical options. For your degree choices, you must either pursue pharmacology or pharmaceutics. Some may even take the BS/MS track that results in a master's degree in only five total years.
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Sciences – Pharmacology Concentration
- Bachelor of Sciences – Pharmaceutics Concentration
- Bachelor/Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Traditional School Options
-
Grand Canyon University
OnlineGCU specializes on online education and their BS in Biology - Pre-Pharmacy Degree. Their program lets you add a few courses to your biology degree that will prepare you for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Biology – Pre-Pharmacy option
- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
-
University of Florida - Online
OnlineThe University of Florida Online offers a biology degree that you can apply to your later studies in pharmaceutical sciences. You can discuss your specific career plans with an adviser who can point you in the direction you need to prepare for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Arts in Biology
-
Excelsior College
OnlineExcelsior College offers an online degree in natural sciences which offers a concentration in biology. With a biology concentration, you can apply your coursework to further studies in chemistry and thus become prepared for the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT).
Degrees Offered:
- Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences – Biology Concentration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a degree in this field usually called?
A bachelor’s in pharmacy can have several titles, though it is most often called a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS).
Can you take a different major still move into this field?
There are many options for those who wish to work in pharmacy when it comes to which major they complete in school. While it might be best to complete the most pertinent major, such as one in pharmacy, you can also earn a license to work in a pharmacy without doing so. For example, those who complete science-focused majors, such as those in biology or biomedical sciences, can take the courses and tests required to earn licensure without too much trouble. And even those who did not earn degrees in science-focused majors can take and pass these courses, though they are likely to have a harder time because so much of the information will be new to them. Even so, if you completed a major that is not a traditional science degree, you may still be able to make your way into a pharmacy career if you are willing to put in the extra effort required.
Are there any cons to working as a pharmacist?
There can be negatives to any career. Those associated with pharmacy work are usually related to stress and overwork. Some areas have low numbers of pharmacists, which means that those places where they work can be very busy with people who need to pick up their daily medication, pick up a medication for a sudden illness, or have their medication explained to them. Pharmacists can be required to work long hours, especially if they are the only practicing pharmacists in a specific location. You’ll also need to stand for long periods of time as these specialists usually work behind a counter and stand to interact with customers or patients. You’ll have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders to help these people get or remain well, and you may need to work through weekends or holidays. The pay is often excellent, but some of these stresses can be off-putting for those considering this as a career.
Search All Programs