Background
We are a new student organization established at the University of Delaware. Our club began in spring semester of 2010 because we we all had an interest to pursue a career in the field of pharmacy. Thanks to staff members from both Thomas Jefferson University and the University of Delaware a new program was created to help us achieve this goal, Biological Sciences with a concentration in Pharmaceutical Sciences. We have also established connections with the Kaplan Center to help offer students the opportunity to enroll in their PCAT prep courses. Our goal is to guide students at the University of Delaware who have an interest in pharmacy through the process of deciding what path to take and how to apply to schools.
How to Join
The only necessary requirements to join this student organization is to show an interest in pharmacy. It is a club to learn more about how to apply to pharmacy school, what classes to take now, or even what pharmacy is all about if you just have an interest. You can get involved easily by attending scheduled meetings and contributing when possible. For more information please write an email with any questions you have to our president or any of our secretaries.
Links
Degree Requirements
PharmCAS
Pearson PCAT Registration
Kaplan
What Now?
In order to go to Pharmacy school and get your Doctor of Pharmacy, you don’t need a degree first although some people do wait until they have a degree before they go to pharmacy school. What you need is to finish the pre-requisite requirements which take a minimum of two years which include classes such as Organic Chemistry, Calculus, English, and Physics. There are numerous schools throughout the country which can be found on the page titled “Pharmacy Schools.” Make sure you visit the websites for ones that you are interested in to find out requirements that they have. The University of Delaware has a great program with Thomas Jefferson University which is seven years and also earns you a Bachelors degree in Biology. In this program, you spend the first three years at Delaware taking your pre-requisite classes and then complete four years at TJU earning your Doctor of Pharmacy. In your first year at TJU, the classes that you would take fulfill the credits to complete Delaware’s degree for a B.S. in Biology. For more information visit http://www.bio.udel.edu/ed/undergraduate/bs-degree-pharmaceutical-sciences.php.
Careers
Academic Pharmacists
Academic pharmacists teach and do research in colleges and schools of pharmacy.
Independent Pharmacist
Independent community pharmacists, who generally work in pharmacies. They dispense prescription medication, compound different forms of prescription drugs and counsel customersabout medications.
Pharmaceutical Industry Pharmacists
Pharmaceutical industry pharmacists work for drug manufacturing companies doing marketing, research and product development, quality control, sales, and administration.
Clinical Pharmacist
Clinical pharmacists provide drue information as well as monitoring and drug therapy. Working in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other health care settings. Their focus is mainly on the patient and his or her medication, ensuring the medication is used appropriately.
Community/Retail Pharmacists
Community Pharmacists give advice to customers on how to use prescribed medicines and will highlight when certain medicines should not be used in conjunction with alcohol or other types of medication.
Government Pharmacists
Government pharmacists work for the U.S. Public Health Service, the Veterans Administration, the Food and Drug Administration and the Armed Services. At the state and local level they are employed by regulatory, health and social service agency.
Home Care Pharmacists
Home Care Pharmacists, also known as home infusion pharmacy, mainly prepares injectables and delivers them to patients who are critically ill at home. Home Care Pharmacists do not dispense oral or external-use medications. They will often receives orders from doctors but still needs to communicate with nurses and the patient to ensure proper drug administration
Hospital Pharmacists
Hospital pharmacists work in hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes and advise the medical staff on the selection and effect of drugs. They may perform administrative duties, teach in schools of nursing, and work in patient care areas as members of a medical team.
Nuclear Pharmacist
Nuclear pharmacy is a specialty area of pharmacy practice dedicated to the compounding and dispensing of radioactive materials for use in nuclear medicine procedures. A specialty area of pharmacy practice is one that requires a concentration of knowledge in a once specific area.
Research Pharmacists
Research pharmacists, who may work in hospitals, universities or drug companies, developing new drugs and studying the side effects of drugs.