Why should I consider applying for the Minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences?

The minor is designed to make you more marketable, expand your career options in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and provides you with stronger credentials for a job or an advanced degree in the health care professions. It also enhances your Carolina experience by fostering a small community of select, like-minded students and providing you an opportunity to learn alongside current professional and graduate students.

How does the application process work?

We accept new applications from undergraduate students every fall semester. Typically, a link to the application survey is activated in late August after fall classes start. The application survey asks for usual information about you and your studies, your GPA, grades for any courses already completed in chemistry, math and biology, and courses in progress. It also asks you to send a transcript and to provide a brief statement explaining why you are interested in the pharmaceutical sciences.

The deadline for completing the application is usually in the first week of October. We review and respond to all applications immediately following the deadline. You can expect to receive a response before Fall Break and the opening of fall registration.

How many students are admitted to the minor each year?

We currently admit 14 students each year. We are limited by the number of undergraduates who can earn credit in our 500-level courses. This allows us to ensure a high-quality experience for all the students in our program.

Can I apply while currently taking one of the “must have completed” courses like CHEM 261 or MATH 231?

Yes! To enroll in courses for the minor, you must have completed CHEM 261 and MATH 231 and you must have completed or be enrolled simultaneously in CHEM 262. These courses are prerequisites and co-requisites, respectively, for our courses.

If you will successfully complete CHEM 261 and MATH 231 during the current fall semester, then your application will be considered. Once you demonstrate that you did earn a passing grade in each course (i.e., at the end of the fall semester), then you will be eligible to enroll in courses for the minor.

Can I apply this fall even though I won’t take CHEM 262 until next spring?

Yes! To enroll in courses for the minor, you must have completed CHEM 261 and MATH 231 and you must have completed or be enrolled simultaneously in CHEM 262. These courses are prerequisites and co-requisites, respectively, for our courses.
We will consider your application this fall and enroll you in PHRS courses for the Spring 2024 semester based on your promise to complete CHEM 262 during the next spring semester.

How strongly recommended are the cell biology and anatomy and physiology course before the start of the program?

The two biology courses (BIOL 240 and BIOL 252) are not required for admission. However, several of our courses rely on a student’s prior knowledge of cell biology and physiology. You can get by without them, but you may have to do some self-directed study during our elective courses to get up to speed.

Based on our experiences teaching in our professional pharmacy program (PharmD), we think that you’ll find those biology courses to be wonderful preparation for first-year PharmD coursework. So, don’t think of them as pre-requisites for courses in the minor, but rather courses that may help you long term!

If I have recognized AP credit that satisfied the MATH 231 course, will that satisfy the requirement for MATH 231 to apply for the minor?

Yes, your AP credit for MATH 231 will count. When you’re completing the application, please translate your AP exam score into a grade and use that on the application. Then, please add a note explaining that (it could be part of your interest statement or in the box for “Other relevant courses you wish to mention” unless you have other courses to enter here).

Should I take BIOL 240 if I have already taken BIOL 205? How should I fill in the grade for BIOL 205 on the application?

No, you don’t need to take BIOL 240 if you’ve completed BIOL 205. There are updates happening within the Department of Biology courses, and we’re currently accepting BIOL 205 in place of BIOL 240.

When you’re completing the application, please enter your grade for BIOL 205 in the spot for BIOL 240. Then, please add a note explaining that (it could be part of your interest statement or in the box for “Other relevant courses you wish to mention” unless you have other courses to enter here).

Are the courses listed as options (electives) for the minor offered every semester it is listed? For example, is PHRS 564 offered every spring?

Yes, the plan is to offer the courses every listed semester. However, that is ultimately up to each course director. So, we can’t guarantee that with 100% certainty.

On the application, should I check courses that I am currently taking such as CHEM 241?

Yes! For courses that you are currently taking, please choose “In progress” from the drop-down menu.

When will PHRS 100 be offered? It is listed on the UNC catalog site but not the Minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences page.

PHRS 100 is not available for enrollment currently, and there is no plan for its reactivation.

If I’m admitted to the program, can I take a research course that’s required for another department’s major (e.g., CHEM 395) to fulfill PHRS 395 credit for the minor?

In principle, you can receive credit towards the minor’s requirements for other department’s courses (e.g., CHEM 395). Those substitutions must be approved on a case-by-case basis by our program director. Please contact the director as early as possible to discuss your situation.

Can I take PHRS 395 for credit every semester?

No. We accept two semesters of PHRS 395 (i.e.,6 total credits) towards the minor’s requirements. While we hope that you’ll immerse yourself in research in the pharmaceutical sciences, we also want you to master knowledge introduced in other courses!