Health Sciences

Pre-Pharmacy Program


The Pre-Pharmacy Program is designed to prepare qualified students to enter LIU Pharmacy (the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at LIU Brooklyn). The program consists of a six year curriculum leading to a Doctorate of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and is separated into two phases:

  • Pre-professional (Pre-Pharmacy) Phase - two years of study to be completed at LIU Post
  • Professional Phase - four years of study to be completed at LIU Pharmacy
Doctor of Pharmacy

Dramatic changes taking place in the health-care system are creating many new and exciting roles for pharmacists. Fundamental to the changing role of the pharmacist is the evolving concept of pharmaceutical care, which has been defined as "the responsible provision of drug therapy for the purpose of achieving definite positive outcomes that improve a patient's life." The pharmacist is now not only responsible for the safe and effective distribution of prescription and nonprescription medication, but is also assuming the role of pharmaceutical therapy advisor and manager, having increasingly more patient-care responsibilities. Under the paradigm of pharmaceutical care, the entry-level pharmacist is expected to participate fully in the management of the patient, including the rendering of independent clinical judgments. The pharmacist must be proficient in the search for and retrieval of information from the scientific literature, utilization of complex pharmacokinetic models to determine appropriate doses, development of individualized pharmaceutical care plans, communication with patients and health professionals, documentation of pharmaceutical interventions taking into account patients' knowledge, beliefs, and behavior, pharmacoeconomic analysis of alternative pharmaceutical interventions, and justification of services billed to managed health-care organizations and other payers.


About the Pre-Professional Program

Successful completion of two years of pre-professional study (P-1 and P-2) in the basic sciences, mathematics and humanities provides the foundation for admission to the professional pharmacy curriculum. Selection is based on several factors that include, but are not limited to grade point average; test scores; personal statement; letters of recommendation; and interview. Only those P-1 or P-2 students who meet the following progression requirements will be eligible to apply to the first professional year of study (P-3) at LIU Pharmacy at LIU Brooklyn:

  1. Satisfactory completion of all P-1 and P-2 course requirements.
  2. An overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B").
  3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B") in all required P-1 and P-2 math and science courses.
  4. Completion of the PCAT.
  5. Submission of a PharmCAS application.

To be accepted as a Pre- Pharmacy major, an incoming freshman must have an SAT score of at least 1,000 and a high school average of 80 or, if below 1,000 on the SATs, then an average of 85.
Students not accepted into the Pharmacy Program at the Brooklyn Campus may continue at LIU Post as Biomedical Sciences, Health Information Management, Health Sciences, Medical Imaging, Biology, Chemistry or Physics majors (or other appropriate fields).

Early Assurance Admission

Early Assurance students who complete the two-year pre-professional phase at LIU Brooklyn or Post and meet the stated progression requirements (see below) are guaranteed a seat in the first professional year (P-3) of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. High school students must submit an application to the LIU Admissions Office at the Brooklyn or Post campus. Candidates who specify pre-pharmacy on their application and who demonstrate academic success in high school will be offered a Guaranteed Admission, if available.  Students offered a guaranteed seat in the professional phase of the Pharm.D. are expected to perform well in their pre-professional courses. The guaranteed admission to the doctoral phase of the highly selective Pharm.D. program is contingent upon the successful completion of criteria listed below.

  • Enroll at Long Island University upon completion of secondary school studies.
  • Remain continuously enrolled at LIU in the pre-professional phase and be ready for professional phase studies.
  • Satisfy all of the prerequisite classes for entry into the Pharm.D. program with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 in all course work, a math/science grade point average of 3.25 and a grade of at least a “C-” in each prerequisite class.
  • Participate in the academic advising and career seminar programs provided by the pre-pharmacy advisors at LIU.
  • Participate in community service for at least 20 hours per year.
  • Successfully complete an on-site interview during the second year of pre-professional studies.
  • Adhere to the LIU Pharmacy Code of Conduct.

Students who at any time discontinue eligibility for the guaranteed admission program will need to apply for progression through the regular admission process, which is very competitive and not guaranteed. 


Program of Study

Natural Sciences Core (a minimum of 20 courses – 68 Credits)

Course (Pre-Requisite)   Credits
COL 101 College 101 (not required for transfer students) 1
BIO 103 General Biology I 4
BIO 104 (BIO 103) General Biology II 4
BIO 7 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4
BIO 8 (BIO 7) Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4
BMS 90 Microbiology in Health Sciences 4
CHM 3 (MTH 3) Principles of Chemistry I 4
CHM 4 Principles of Chemistry II 4
CHM 21 (CHM 4) Organic Chemistry I 4
CHM 22 (CHM 21) Organic Chemistry II 4
ECO 10 Introduction to Microeconomics 3
ENG 1 Composition 3
ENG 2 Composition: Argument and Analysis 3
ENG 7 (ENG 1 & 2) Western Literature: Classical, Medieval, Renaissance 3
ENG 8 (ENG 1 & 2) Western Literature: Enlightenment to Modern 3
HIS 1* &  HIS 2* or PHI 14* & PHI 19* Western Civilization to the 18th Century  and  Western Civilization since 1789  or  Symbolic Logic and Medical Ethics 3
MTH 7 (MTH 3) Calculus and Analytical Geometry I 3
PHY 3 (MTH 7) University Physics I 4
PSY 1 General Psychology I 3

*Students must take both History 1 and History 2 or any two courses from Philosophy 8 through 37. The following philosophy courses are particularly recommended for students in the pre-pharmacy program: PHL 8, PHL 10, PHL 13, PHL14, PHL 18, PHL 19. The Philosophy sequence is strongly recommended by LIU Pharmacy.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
For students that seek to secure placement in other Pharmacy programs outside of Long Island University, addition pre-requisite courses may be required. The undergraduate classes required for admission into a pharmacy degree program vary significantly from one institution to the next. Due to the variations in admission requirements and procedures among the colleges and schools of pharmacy, it is advisable to research different pharmacy programs. Visit the pharmacy school Web sites for course requirements. School specific information is also available on the PharmCAS site and in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) annual publication, "Pharmacy School Admission Requirements". These publications can be found at http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Pages/PSAR.aspx

Pre-requisite course for some Pharmacy schools may also include:

Course (Pre-Requisite)   Credits
CHM 71 Basic Biochemistry 4
MTH 19 or 41 or BIO 141 or ECO 72 Statistics 3
PHY 4 (PHY 3) University Physics II 4

Course Descriptions

BIO 103 General Biology I

Processes fundamental to all living things such as energy utilization, growth, development, and reproduction will be examined from the perspective of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. The goal will be a comprehension of the functioning of the living organism as embedded in the integration of these fundamental biological mechanisms. Not open to students who have taken BIO 1M or BIO 3. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Fall, 4 credits

BIO 104 General Biology II

This course introduces patterns and processes of organisms and groups of organisms with emphasis on their origin, evolution, and the relationships among them and their environments. Topics include evolution, population genetics, systematics, animal behavior and ecology. Not open to students who have taken BIO 1S or BIO 4. Three hours lecture, Three hours laboratory.
Prerequisite BIO 103 is required. Prerequisite of not having taken BIO 1S or BIO 4 is required.
Spring, 4 credits

BIO 7 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

This course covers the structure and function of the human body, including basic biochemistry, cell structure, cell division, cell respiration, tissue composition, genetics, and the nervous and endocrine systems. Laboratory focuses on relevant physiological experiments and histology. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Fall,4 credits

BIO 8 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

This course covers the body's organ systems in detail, including the musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, excretory, digestive, and reproductive systems. Relevant dissection, histological studies, and physiology are all featured in the laboratories.
Prerequisite BIO 7 is required. Spring, 4credits 

BMS 90 Microbiology in Health Sciences

This course is required for all medical biology majors and health related majors including those students seeking graduate study in the biological sciences and those seeking admission into professional schools. The course introduces the principles of clinical microbiology and characteristics of microorganisms, host-parasite relationships, resistance, immunity, hypersensitivity, public health, epidemiology as well as applied, medical and industrial microbiology; includes clinical diagnostic methods such as culture, control, identification, sterilization, microbiological techniques and concepts; emphasizes those techniques specifically employed in the clinical microbiological laboratory.
Fall and Spring, 4 credits

CHM 3 Principles of Chemistry I 

In this course, the basic principles of Chemistry are stressed to prepare the student for further work in the sciences.
Prerequisite MTH 3 or Corequisite MTH 7 or MTH 8 is required. Three hours lecture, one three-hour laboratory.
Fall, 4 credits per semester

CHM 4 Principles of Chemistry II

This course is the second part of a two semester sequence that includes the study of colligative properties, kinetics, chemical equilibria, acid-base Chemistry, chemical thermodynamics, and electro-chemistry.
Prerequisite of CHM 3 is required. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.
Spring, 4 credits

CHM 21 Organic Chemistry I

This course is a systematized study of the nomenclature, structure, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds, including qualitative organic analysis and organic reaction mechanisms.
Prerequisite CHM 4 is required. Three hours lecture, four hours laboratory.
Spring, 4 credits
 

CHM 22 Organic Chemistry II

This course is a systematized study of the nomenclature, structure, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds, including qualitative organic analysis and organic reaction mechanisms.
Prerequisite of CHM 21 is required. Three hours lecture, four hours laboratory.
Fall, 4 credits

CHM 71 Basic Biochemistry

This course is a one-semester introduction to the major concepts of biochemistry including carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Pre-requisite CHM 22 or CHM 25 is required. Three hour lecture; Three hour laboratory.
Every Semester, 4 credits

ECO 11 Introduction to Macroeconomics

This course discusses the important economic theory and concepts that facilitate understating economic theories and concepts that facilitate understanding economic events and questions. Its main focus is on analyzing the behavior of important economic aggregates such as national income, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates and economic growth. The effects of the government’s monetary and fiscal policies on economic growth and inflation are also examined.
Every Semester, 3 credits

ECO 12 Introduction to Microeconomics

This course discusses the important economic theories and concepts that facilitate understanding economic events and issues. Its main focus is on the choices made by consumers, producers, and governments, and there interactions of these choices. Topics include demand and supply, consumption, and production, competitive and non-competitive product markets, markets for resources, and welfare.
Every Semester, 3 credits

ENG 1 Composition

English 1 is an introductory writing course that uses interpretation and analysis of texts to promote clear thinking and effective prose. Students learn the conventions of academic writing. In addition, students learn how to adapt writing for various audiences and rhetorical situations. This course is required of all students unless exempted by Advanced Placement credit or successful achievement on the SAT examination in writing. Students exempted by assessment or department proficiency examination must take an upper-level English course in substitution after completing ENG 2. Special sections are offered for students in the Program for Academic Success (P sections), for nonnative speakers (F sections), and for students identified as needing more personalized attention (S sections). No Pass/Fail option
Every Semester, 3 credits

ENG 2 Composition: Argument and Analysis

English 2 is a course in analysis and argumentation, focusing on scholarly research and documentation. Building on the work begun in English 1, the course develops knowledge of complex rhetorical and stylistic techniques and culminates in a library research paper. This course is required for all students unless exempted by Advanced Placement credit. Special sections are offered for students in the Program for Academic Success (P sections) and for non-native speakers (F sections). No Pass/Fail option.
Every Semester, 3 credits

ENG 7 Western Literature: Classical, Medieval, Renaissance

The development of the common culture of Western civilization will be illustrated through such works of the Bible as Genesis and Job and through masterpieces of such writers as Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Virgil, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton. Selected works from non-Western cultures may be introduced for comparison. Not open to students with credit for ENG 303. Students who complete both ENG 7 and ENG 8 fulfill the Core requirement in literature or language.
Prerequisites of ENG 1 and ENG 2 are required.
Every Semester, 3 credits

ENG 8 Western Literature: Enlightenment to Modern

The development of the various national cultures of European civilization during the 18th, 19th, and earlier 20th centuries will be illustrated through literary masterpieces of such writers as Moliere, Voltaire, Blake, Mary Shelley, Goethe, Melville, Dickinson, Flaubert, Dostoevsky, Ibsen, Pirandello, Kafka. Selected works from non-Western cultures may be introduced for comparison.  Not open to students with credit for ENG 304. Students who complete both ENG 7 and ENG 8 fulfill the Core Requirement in literature or language.
Prerequisites of ENG 1 and ENG 2 are required.
Every Semester, 3 credits

HIS 1 Western Civilization to 1789

This course examines significant religious, cultural and political aspects of Western civilization from the fall of Rome through the Enlightenment.
Fall, 3 credits

HIS 2 Western Civilization since 1789

A general survey of Western history from the eighteenth century to the present that covers important events and developments like the French Revolution, industrialization nationalism, liberalism, imperialism, the First World War, the Russian Revolution, the  rise of fascism, World War Two and the Holocaust, the Cold War, the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, and globalization.
Every Semester, 3 credits

MTH 7 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I

This course covers the derivative of algebraic and trigonometric functions with applications to rates, maximization and graphing and integration and the fundamental theorem. This course cannot be taken for credit by any student who has completed or is currently taking MTH 1 or 6.
Prerequisite of MTH 3 with a grade of C- or better or permission of department is required. 
Every Semester, 4 credits

MTH 19 Basic Statistics

This course is directed toward understanding and interpreting numerical data. Topics covered include: descriptive statistics, regression, correlation, sampling techniques and elements of inferential statistics. This course cannot be taken for credit by any student who has completed or is currently taking MTH 23, MTH 41/BIO 141 or MTH 8.
Annually, 3 credits

PHI 19 Medical Ethics

This course will explore philosophical issues raised by modern medical technology and practice, such as: experiments on humans and animals; genetic engineering; transplants; the responsibility of the hospital to the community; decisions about who gets limited medical resources; the issues surrounding AIDS; mental illness and behavior control; patient rights, including the right to the truth.
Fall, 3 credits

PHY 3 University Physics I 

Physics 3 is the first half of an introductory, calculus-based, physics course for science and mathematics majors, covering the laws and principles of mechanics, thermodynamics, and waves.
Prerequisite or corequisite of MTH 7 is required. Four lecture hours and two laboratory hours each week. Annually, 4 credits

PHY 4 University Physics II

Physics 4 is the second half of an introductory, calculus-based physics course for science and mathematics majors. It is concerned with the laws and principles of electricity, magnetism, and optics, and includes an introduction to modern physics.
Prerequisites of PHY 3 and MTH 7 and co-requisite of MTH 8 are required. Four lecture hours and two laboratory hours each week.
Annually, 4 credits

PSY 1 General Psychology I

This course is a survey of the principles of psychology. Learning, motivation, emotion, sensation, perception, statistical methods and the biological basis of behavior are among the topics covered.
Every Semester, 3 credits

Sequence of Courses

Freshman

Fall   Spring  
Course Title Credits Course Title Credits
BIO 103 - General Biology I 4 BIO 104 - General Biology II 4
CHM 3 - Principles of Chemistry I 4 CHM 4 - Principles of Chemistry II 4
ENG 1 - Composition 3 ENG 2 - Composition Argument/Analysis 3
MTH 7 - Calculus & Analytical Geometry I 4 ECO 11 – Intro to Macroeconomics 3
COLL 101 - Freshman Seminar 1 PHI 19 - Medical Ethics 3
Library Competency 0    
       
Total Credits 16 Total Credits 17

Sophomore

Fall   Spring  
Course Title Credits Course Title Credits
BIO 7 - Human Anatomy  & Physiology I 4 BIO 8 - Human Anatomy  & Physiology II 4
CHM 21 - Organic Chemistry I 4 CHM 22 - Organic Chemistry II 4
ENG 7 - Western Lit. Classical 3 ENG 8 - Western Lit. Enlightenment 3
PSY 1 – General Psychology I 3 HIS 2- Western Civil. since 1789 3
PHY 3 - University Physics 4 BMS 90 - Microbiology in Health Sciences 4
       
Total Credits 18 Total Credits 18

CONTACT

School of Health Professions