Pre-Pharmacy Program
Contact: Dr. E Larry Nordyke 713-525-3169 or nordyke@stthom.edu
Dr. John A Palasota 713-525-6918 or japalaso@stthom.edu
Undergraduate preparation for the study of pharmacy requires a strong foundation in science and mathematics and a background in the humanities and social sciences. While a student may major in liberal arts or other non-science majors, the student should be advised that a strong background in science and mathematics is essential. A prior degree is not required, though many students enter the program with a baccalaureate degree. The student showing interest in the field of pharmacy should be a dedicated learner, detailed oriented, organized, possess good judgment and problem solving skills and have excellent oral and written communication skills.
Pharmacy school admission data for the last five academic years (Table I) shows that 50% of St. Thomas applicants were accepted to pharmacy school. In our opinion, the acceptance statistic is indicative not only of the success of the pre-pharmacy program but also the high quality of teaching at the University.
Table I. Pharmacy School Applications Fall 2001 – Spring 2005
| Applicants |
Accepted |
% App Acc |
| 16 |
8 |
50 |
There are six pharmacy schools in Texas: Feik School of Pharmacy at University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), Rangel College of Pharmacy at Texas A & M Kingsville (TAM), College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Texas Southern University in Houston (TSU), Texas Tech at Amarillo (TT), the University of Houston (UH), and the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Table II lists some information about these programs.
Table II. Preprofessional Course Requirements for the Pharmacy Schools in Texas
| Schools |
UIW |
TAM |
TSU |
TT |
UH |
UT |
|
Biology with Laboratory
|
4 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
|
Vertebrate/Comparative Anatomy
|
- |
- |
4 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Microbiology with Laboratory
|
4 |
4 |
- |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Genetics
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
3 |
|
General Chemistry with Laboratory
|
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Organic Chemistry with Laboratory
|
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
General Physics with Laboratory
|
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
|
College Algebra
|
3 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Pre-Calculus 3
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Calculus I
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Statistics
|
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|