Health Professions Advising at Mason

What classes should I take?

Pre-pharmacy students

It is important that pre-pharmacy students view individual graduate programs' websites to make sure about required coursework that deviates further from prehealth requirements.

More pharmacy programs are strongly preferring students who have completed at least three years of college, and over 80% of matriculants have at least a bachelor's degree.

Anatomy and Physiology courses

Most pharmacy programs are starting to require 6 semester hours of coursework in human anatomy and physiology. The courses that are explicitly entitled "Human Anatomy and Physiology" are designed for allied health professionals and thus cannot satisfy major requirements for science courses. This results in some confusion about satisfying these requirements.

Until there is clarification from the College of Science and the College of Health and Human Services, here are the appropriate courses with caveats.

Biology 425 Human Physiology

• Most academically and scientifically rigorous
• Appropriate for science majors
• Prerequisites Biol 213 and 303.
• No lab (which pharmacy programs prefer)
• Only one semester

Health & Human Services 270-271 Overview of Human Physiology/Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology

• Two-semester course with virtual labs
• Limited to 28 students per semester.
• Requires permission of instructor. Recommend competency in Biol 213.
• Does not satisfy science major requirements. Awaiting approval for general education requirements for HHS students.

Biology 124-125 Human Anatomy and Physiology

• Two-semester course with labs
• Does not satisfy science major requirements.

Biochemistry and upper-level biology courses

Pharmacy programs expect students to be able to understand biological molecular structures. Biochemistry is a required course for many pharmacy programs (like VCU) and is a preferred course for other programs.

Because of the way health care is changing, pharmacy programs strongly value applicants who take coursework in genetics, molecular biology, advanced cell biology, or immunology. Microbiology for many programs is a required or preferred class.

Consider business

Because pharmacists are autonomously working in community pharmacies and even in clinical trials, financial management is desirable. If you are not a prepharmacy student, consider taking these courses if your professional goals include operating your own practice (like in dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary medicine) or working in a business setting (including big pharma).

While coursework (like MGMT 301 or MKTG 301) is recommended, it is just as important to get "real world" experience. Getting involved in student activities and project/fiscal management (for example, as a president or treasurer of a club) provides some experience.

Required Coursework
Introduction

Biology classes

Chemistry classes

Physics classes

Mathematics and Psychology classes

Writing-Intensive classes

Non-Mason classes

Note to Pre-dental students

Note to Pre-pharmacy students

About Low Grades

Other questions

Research

External links
New Century College Life Science Track Information