Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences major studies medications: how they work, how they are made and how they are dispensed safely. Pharmacy-related programs range from pharmacy technician certificates to bachelor's degrees in pharmaceutical sciences and the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) required to practice as a pharmacist.

A Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences major includes coursework in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy law and ethics, dosage calculations, and pharmacy operations and more. You build skills such as medication accuracy, dosage calculation, pharmacy software, and regulatory compliance. Typical degrees: pharmacy technician certificate, bachelor's in pharmaceutical sciences, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).

Typical courses include pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy law and ethics, dosage calculations, pharmacy operations, and patient counseling. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Pharmacy technician certificate, bachelor's in pharmaceutical sciences, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). In the latest federal data, 271 colleges reported certificate awards, 103 colleges reported associate awards, 62 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 89 colleges reported master’s awards, and 144 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences include pharmacy technician, pharmacist, pharmacy aide, chemical technician, and medical scientist. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include pharmacy technician (typical training: 3–12 months), pharmacist (typical training: 6–8 years), pharmacy aide (typical training: 1–4 weeks), chemical technician (typical training: 2 years), and medical scientist (typical training: 5–8 years after a bachelor’s).

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences majors build skills such as medication accuracy, dosage calculation, pharmacy software, regulatory compliance, and customer service.

Good pairings include Chemistry (builds the chemistry foundation behind how drugs work), Business (useful for pharmacy management and retail operations), and Spanish (helps you counsel patients about their medications).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as pharmacy technician, pharmacist, and pharmacy aide, and enjoy subjects like pharmacology and medicinal chemistry. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacy law and ethics; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

447 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (61), Texas (42), Puerto Rico (29), Florida (19), and Illinois (15), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

347 of the colleges that offer pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences studies medications: how they work, how they are made and how they are dispensed safely. Nursing prepares you to assess, treat and educate patients as part of a healthcare team. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences leads to careers such as pharmacy technician and pharmacist, while Nursing leads to careers such as registered nurse and licensed practical nurse.

Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences studies medications: how they work, how they are made and how they are dispensed safely. Healthcare Administration teaches you to manage the business side of hospitals, clinics and health systems. Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences leads to careers such as pharmacy technician and pharmacist, while Healthcare Administration leads to careers such as medical and health services manager and medical administrative assistant.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, such as Pharmacy Technician Training.