Pharmacy
Expert on medicines and how they affect the human body
What You'll Study
Pharmacy is more than counting pills. Pharmacists are the drug experts of the medical world. They ensure patients get the right medicine, at the right dose, without dangerous interactions.
- Pharmaceutics
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Therapeutics
- Pharmacy Law
- Patient Counseling
- Compounding
- Immunology
Example Classes
How to Know If You'll Like It
You'll probably enjoy this if...
- ✓You are great at Chemistry but want to help patients
- ✓You are extremely detail-oriented (wrong dose = danger)
- ✓You have a good memory for drug names and effects
- ✓You want a healthcare job that is less physically messy than nursing/medicine
- ✓You are a clear communicator
You might not enjoy this if...
- ✕You struggle with chemistry
- ✕You dislike interacting with the public ( Retail pharmacy is customer service)
- ✕You find memorization tedious
- ✕You want to diagnose (Pharmacists advise, Doctors diagnose)
Self-Check Quiz
Answer these questions honestly to see if this major might be a good fit for you.
Do you read the side effects on medicine bottles?
Career Outcomes
Featured In-Demand Careers
Pharmacist
Dispense medications, counsel patients, and ensure safe and effective pharmaceutical care.
Biomedical Engineer
Apply engineering principles to healthcare, developing medical devices, prosthetics, and diagnostic equipment.
Physician (MD)
Diagnose and treat illnesses, prevent disease, and improve patient health through medical expertise.
Other Common Career Paths
- •Pharmacist (Retail/Hospital)
- •Pharmaceutical Researcher
- •Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- •Medical Science Liaison
Industries
Try It First
Test if you like this field before committing to a major:
Look up the interactions between two common drugs (e.g., Aspirin and Warfarin).
Interview a local pharmacist about their day.
Research how a new drug (like Ozempic) actually works in the body.
Related Majors
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, lots of chemistry and biology.
No, that's a technician. Pharmacists review safety, consult doctors, and give vaccines.
PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) is the standard in US. BPharm in some other countries.
Very good, six figures starting.
Dispensing is. But clinical judgment is not.
Ready to Explore This Major?
Get personalized guidance on whether Pharmacy is right for you and how to build a competitive profile.