Pharmacy
Every day, millions of people around the world are able to live happier, healthier, longer lives thanks to medications managed by trusted, expert pharmacists. If you like working with people and learning how medications can prevent and treat health conditions, pharmacy could be the right path for you. This program, which you can start as a first-year student, leads to a graduate-level degree for a career as a pharmacist—consistently named as one of the most respected health care professions.
What will I learn?
You'll start with required courses focused on chemistry, biology and the pharmacy profession. As you advance into the doctorate, you’ll learn more about physiology, how to assess patients and your responsibilities as a pharmacist. With a solid foundation in place, you’ll learn about specialties such as cardiovascular health, reproductive health and infectious diseases, to name a few. You’ll also spend time in our simulated pharmacies and practice labs, building your knowledge (and working on your people skills) as you get ready to practice your craft.
Pharmacy vs. Pharmaceutical Science
- Pharmacy leads to a PharmD degree and is for students who want to work as a pharmacist (a licensed health care provider).
- Pharmaceutical science is focused on drug discovery, development and evaluation, and is designed for students who want to work in the pharmaceutical research and manufacturing industry.
What can I do with an pharmacy degree?
The obvious answer is that you’ll be a pharmacist. But what you may not realize is how many choices you’ll have within that field, including:
- Community pharmacist. Interact directly with customers while working at a community store, an independent pharmacy or a community health center.
- Hospital pharmacist. Work with doctors and nurses in an inpatient setting.
- Consultant pharmacist. Support nursing homes and other facilities, as well as individual patients receiving home health care.
- Government pharmacist. Consider a career with Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs, military branches, and other local, state, and national agencies.
- Veterinary pharmacist. Help take care of a variety of animals.
- Professor. Teach future pharmacists at a university while also conducting your own research.
- Clinical drug development. Take the lead in researching the clinical uses of new drug candidates and new uses for commonly used medications.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $88,780.00 | $42.68 | Rapid Growth |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $113,840.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
| Pharmacists | $85,700.00 | $41.20 |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.