Medical College of Wisconsin Pharmacy School Prerequisites
If you are interested in becoming a MCW Pharmacy School student, you must complete the prerequisite courses listed below before you begin your coursework in our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. (Includes Prerequisite Course Guides).
Prerequisite Course List
Prerequisite | Required | Recommended |
General Biology | 2 Courses (lab optional) | Foundations of Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Botany, Marine Biology, General Biology, Human Structure, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Animal Physiology |
Advanced Biology | 2 Courses (lab optional) | Genetics, Neuroscience, Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Pathophysiology, A&P 1 & 2, Bacteriology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Genetics, Genomics |
General Chemistry | 3 Courses (lab optional) | General Chemistry 1 & 2, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry |
Organic Chemistry | 2 Courses with at least 1 lab | |
Statistics | 1 Course | Intro to Statistics, Biostatistics, Data Analysis, Accounting or Business Statistics |
College Algebra | 1 Course | Must be a 100 level or higher Math course. We will accept Calculus, Trigonometry, Calculus with Geometry |
English | 1 Course | Must be a 100 level or higher English, Literature, Reading or Writing course |
Public Speaking | 1 Course | Must be a 100 level or higher Public Speaking, Speech, or Communication course |
General Education | 4 Courses | Physics, Economics, Calculus, Ethics, Humanities, Social Sciences, Religion. No studio Art, Theater, or Physical Education |
All Prerequisites
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Prerequisites must be completed at a regionally-accredited university, college or community college in the U.S. or Canada.
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Online and hybrid taught classes may be accepted only from a regionally-accredited university, college, or community college in the U.S. or Canada.
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Prerequisites must be a minimum of three semester credits or approximate quarter hours and be completed with a grade of C or better (pass or satisfactory on a competency based scale).
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General Education courses may not include studio, performance or physical education.
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A maximum of 12 credits of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) or College in the Schools (CIS) credit may be accepted if it appears on a college transcript.
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English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learners (ELL) classes cannot satisfy the English or Public Speaking course requirements.
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Science courses must be completed within seven years of the desired year of entry.
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A final official transcript will be required prior to the start of classes in the desired year of entry.
Eligibility
How Do I Know if I am Eligible?
If you wish to become a MCW Pharmacy School student, you must file an application through PharmCAS.
*The final application deadline for Summer enrollment for the MCW Pharmacy School is June 1 annually. Applications completed and submitted by this deadline will be given full consideration for admission to the MCW Pharmacy School.
Effective March 12, 2020,completion of the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)/Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is not required; rather, it's optional. If you believe the PCAT/MCAT provides evidence of your academic preparedness for the MCW PharmD program, you are encouraged to take the PCAT/MCAT and submit your scores to PharmCAS. For example, this could apply to students at or near the minimum cumulative/prerequisite GPA requirement or students who completed science prerequisite coursework more than seven years ago.
Applicants who meet the minimum requirements and do not complete or submit PCAT/MCAT scores will receive a holistic application review and be considered competitive candidates for the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Complete the minimum pre-pharmacy requirements at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada.
*All pre-pharmacy requirements must be completed by June 30, 2021. Students considering applying for admission to the MCW Pharmacy School must complete 90 credit hours of undergraduate study prior to matriculating to be considered for matriculation into the program.
Achieve the minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by the MCW Pharmacy School. The average cumulative GPA for the most recently admitted cohort of students was 3.10.
Achieve the minimum prerequisite GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale as calculated by the MCW Pharmacy School. The average prerequisite GPA for the most recently admitted cohort of students was 3.20.
Submit three professional or academic references by the appropriate deadline.
*Letters of recommendation must be submitted through PharmCAS.
Demonstrate the proper motivation for, and your commitment to, the profession of pharmacy through previous health-related work, volunteer experiences, research, or other related experiences.
Complete, and submit via PharmCAS, a personal statement demonstrating your written communication skills necessary to interact successfully with patients and colleagues.
Complete the MCW Pharmacy School applicant interview process, by invitation only.
All final official transcripts can be sent electronically to: pharmacy@mcw.edu
Applicants may elect to mail official documents to:
MCW Pharmacy School
Office of Student Affairs
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
An application to the MCW Pharmacy School is considered complete when all application criteria have been submitted by the June 1 deadline.
What Happens After I am Interviewed?
The MCW Pharmacy School has a rolling admissions decision process. Rolling admissions means your application will be reviewed shortly after a complete PharmCAS application is received. The final application submission deadline is June 1 annually. Although incoming applications will be reviewed on a continual basis, you are encouraged to submit your application early to receive priority in selection, as interview spaces and seats in the class become limited closer to the deadline.
The MCW Pharmacy School Office of Student Affairs, Admission Committee, and Dean reserve the right at any time to rescind an offer of provisional admission to an applicant who does not meet or successfully complete the above listed criteria.
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Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding the MCW Pharmacy School prerequisites, please contact the Pharmacy School Office of Student Affairs.
MCW Pharmacy School
8701 Watertown Plank Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 955-7476
pharmacy@mcw.edu
Angela Kowalski, MS
Enrollment Program Manager
Office of Student Affairs
(414) 955-2646
akowalski@mcw.edu
