You are ready to begin applying to the UW‒Madison School of Pharmacy after you have made plans to complete your 72 credits of prerequisite college-level courses at any accredited institution. Prerequisites do not need to be completed at the time of application but must be completed before you begin the PharmD program in the fall. Summer coursework is accepted.

All prerequisite courses can be taken online, however, we recommend that science coursework be taken in an in-person format, if available. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better. In addition, courses taken for P (Pass), CR (Credit), or SD (Satisfactory-Disruption) during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through the Spring of 2021 semester may be used to satisfy prerequisite requirements.

Update to the prerequisite requirements for Fall 2022:

Human Physiology (1 semester) or Anatomy and Physiology I & II (2 semesters) is a prerequisite starting Fall 2022 admission. Single-term introductory courses that combine Anatomy and Physiology will not satisfy this requirement.

Note for Fall 2023 Applicants: the Physics lab will no longer be required. In addition, the Social Science, Diversity (Ethnic) Studies, and Humanities requirements will no longer be individual/distinctive requirements. Instead, applicants must take four courses (and a minimum of 12 credits) among the content areas of Social Science and/or Humanities and/or Foreign Language and/or Diversity Studies. This allows for additional flexibility as applicants complete general education requirements and elective coursework at their current college/university. See this updated Fall 2023 Prerequisite Course Grid for those looking to apply for Fall 2023 admission.

PharmD Prerequisite Courses (Fall 2022 Admission)

You can use the prerequisite grids below to ensure you meet all standards or track your academic progress.

The Admissions Committee may be concerned about math and science coursework that may have been completed more than 10 years ago. If this may apply to you, consult with our admissions advisor regarding your specific situation.

If an applicant earns a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution, the following prerequisite requirements will be satisfied: English Composition/Communication “A”, Social Science, United States Diversity/Ethnic Studies, and Humanities

A calculus course designed for math/science majors.

A general chemistry I & II course sequence (2 courses). Labs required.

An organic chemistry I & II course sequence (2 courses). Labs required. The lab can either be a part of each lecture component or can be a standalone 2-credit lab.

A complete two-semester integrated sequence of general biology, to include a strong foundation in both organismal biology and cellular/molecular/genetic biology. If a sequence of general biology is not available, then a combination of a single general biology course combined with an upper level course in cellular/molecular/genetic biology will be accepted. Labs required.

A microbiology course focusing on the study of microorganisms and their activities; emphasis on structure, function, ecology, physiology, and genetics. A lab is not required.

If Human Physiology course is taken, onlyone course is required.
If Anatomy and Physiology I & II are taken both courses in the two-course sequence are required.

An introductory physics course as part of a physics course sequence. Lab required.

A college-level statistics course will satisfy this requirement.

An English composition course, or coursework equivalent to the UW‒Madison Communication “A” requirement.

This requirement will be satisfied if you earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation.

Most social science courses (Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Anthropology, History, and Economics) will satisfy this requirement.

This requirement will be satisfied if you earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation.

Courses that satisfy the ethnic studies requirement:

Focuses on the increasingly multicultural aspects of life in U.S. society, and/or
Provides a critical examination of discrimination against ethnic/racial minorities in the U.S., and/or
Focuses on the history, experience, or cultural traditions of ethnic/racial minorities in the U.S.

Many students take a cultural anthropology course to satisfy this requirement. However, there are many other acceptable courses, which may sometimes be cross-listed in several departments, including anthropology, sociology, history, etc. Students should review their course catalog to determine which courses they think will address these requirements. If you are unsure, please send us the course name and number for review.

This requirement will be satisfied if you earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation.

Most humanities courses (art, literature, music, theatre, philosophy, some history courses and foreign language courses will satisfy this requirement. Six credits (typically 2 courses) are required.

This requirement will be satisfied if you earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution prior to matriculation.

Applicants must complete a minimum of 72 total credits before beginning the PharmD program.

AP & IB Test Credit Policies

If your AP/IB tests appear as completed courses on your pre-pharmacy transcript, we will honor your school’s test score requirements. For example,, if you earn credit for general chemistry at your college through an AP test, the PharmD program will give you credit for this course (regardless of the score received).

If you completed prerequisite coursework at UW–Madison, AP and IB test credits will be granted according to the UW‒Madison Credit by Exam policies.

International Coursework

While many of our program prerequisites can be completed outside of the United States, two course requirements must be completed at an accredited college or university within the U.S.: