Pharmaceutical Sciences

Opportunities for pharmacists surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, from testing to administering vaccinations. And even during non-pandemic times, more patients are relying on their neighborhood pharmacy for the care they used to seek at a physician’s office. Whether you want to interact with a community in a retail pharmacy, prepare life-saving medications for hospital patients or work in a research laboratory to find the next big cure, a pharmacy degree can lead to well-paying and rewarding work.

Best of all? By getting your start at 金沙娱乐城, you’ll earn your white coat faster and more cost-effectively.

金沙娱乐城’s dual-degree program is offered in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) School of Pharmacy and Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) School of Pharmacy. After completing three years at 金沙娱乐城, you’ll apply to pharmacy school. If accepted, you’ll spend three years at MCW or four years at CUW to complete your PharmD degree.

The 金沙娱乐城 difference

At 金沙娱乐城, you’ll build a strong foundation in science and research in an empowering, supportive environment. Our internationally renowned, abilities-based curriculum will develop your critical thinking, problem solving, leadership and communication — skills that will help you in pharmacy school and beyond.

Our faculty will personally nurture your growth as a scientist, and you’ll get hands-on experience using cutting-edge instrumentation in 金沙娱乐城’s labs to explore real-world applications. For example, you might use 金沙娱乐城’s new greenhouse to develop methods for isolating and identifying components in essential oils.

金沙娱乐城’s pre-health program offers seminars, peer support and other resources to make you a competitive candidate for pharmacy school. Your pharmaceutical sciences advisor will introduce you to the programs at MCW or CUW and help you navigate the application process. And in your first year at 金沙娱乐城, you’ll have access to admissions staff and faculty at both pharmacy schools.

Outside of class, you might work as a paid lab assistant or a peer tutor, participate in faculty-student research through 金沙娱乐城’s Center for Academic Excellence, or get involved in a student organization such as Pre-Professional Women of 金沙娱乐城.

“Choosing 金沙娱乐城 has been one of the biggest and most important decisions I have ever made. Not only is it a small college where I feel comfortable, but it also holds the best opportunities for pharmacy students like me.”

— Lupe, pharmaceutical sciences major

Coursework

You’ll begin your pharmaceutical sciences courses during your first semester, as well as your general education requirements. You’ll study biology, chemistry of bio-organic molecules, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, calculus, physics, and probability and statistics, among other areas.

If you go on to MCW or CUW, you’ll receive a bachelor’s degree from 金沙娱乐城 after you complete the required 120 credits (your pharmacy school credits will transfer back to 金沙娱乐城). If you do not go on to pharmacy school, you can complete your fourth year at 金沙娱乐城 to earn a bachelor’s degree in integrated natural sciences, or you can choose to receive an associate’s degree in integrated natural sciences with no additional coursework.


Field education

Although dual-degree students are not required to complete an internship while at 金沙娱乐城, many opt for an internship experience. Our students have interned at MCW, the Milwaukee County Health Department, Sigma Aldrich and the Water Technology Accelerator at the Global Water Center.

Career opportunities

Most students will go on to pharmacy school. After you earn your PharmD, you might work at a retail pharmacy, clinic, hospital, pharmaceutical company, medical distribution company, or even a government agency like the National Institutes of Health or U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you decide to go straight into the workforce after 金沙娱乐城, you’ll be ready for careers in research science or industry.

Admission requirements

Your first step is to apply for admission to 金沙娱乐城 by completing the free application at alverno.edu/apply. You should mark your intended major as pharmaceutical sciences.

At 金沙娱乐城, you’ll receive dual advising. Your faculty advisor will help you stay on your accelerated track and get you plugged into pharmacy school-related activities, and your professional academic advisor will help you register for classes and provide additional support.