College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Harvard University
• Duke University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Yale University
• University of Pennsylvania

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of California—San Francisco
• University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
• University of Arizona
• University of California—San Diego
• University of Florida

Classes in the Major

Chemistry. Can't go making drugs to help people if you don't know what's in 'em. That's what leads to ground-up alligator noses and essence of quicksilver. What are you left with? A bunch of angry alligators and mercury poisoning. Consider this one of the fundamentals of the major as you learn everything you can about the entire periodic table. Learn why it's a bad idea to include cyanide in your medicines. Learn how much calcium is too much. Perhaps most importantly, learn how to not make medication explode, because if there's one thing medicine should never do, it's that.

Biology. This is the other fundamental. As you're learning about chemistry, learn about biology. Eventually, you're going to put the two together, like two halves of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. For now, really get to know that peanut butter. What is alive? How does it stay alive? Does adding it to soup help? (The answer to that last one is almost never, whether you're talking about peanut butter or one of life's delicate organisms.)

Genetics. Did you know that genetics has a large effect on who you are? Of course you did. You were awake that day in biology class. Genetics also determines what illnesses you can develop and what medications you're safe to take, as well. Here, you'll cover simple things like allergies and more complex things, like turning into a werewolf. Some people are actually allergic to silver, which is genetic. Genetics are the building blocks of life, and at their core: chemistry. It's a natural outgrowth of what you're already learning and it complements the basic parts of pharmacology.

Mathematics. Like any science program, there's a lot of math. We're sorry about that, we really are…unless you happen to like math, in which case, you're welcome. Math is especially important to pharmacologists. Why? A single decimal point is all that stands between someone's cough clearing up and a massive lawsuit involving hundreds of people. Learn your math well and you won't have to worry about that.

Physics. This is unfair. You're a chemist. What do you need with physics? Well, chemistry, biology, and math are all ways to describe how the natural world works. Chemistry and biology use some of the principles of physics, and not just when two monkeys happen to collide at high speeds. This is the last piece in the puzzle of the natural world. Besides, when someone asks you how far you can throw one of your pills, you'll know. Because of science.