Tony Breitbach, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry
My goal as an instructor is to facilitate students in realizing their educational goals, and to foster a deeper understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment for the subject.
Pre-Pharmacy
Clarke offers students the opportunity to prepare for entrance into professional programs in the area of health science while completing their undergraduate degree. Many health science programs require a baccalaureate degree as a pre-requisite for entrance into the professional program. Although the application for admission into professional programs must be sought independently by the student, Clarke pre-professional health science faculty will act as advisers to students who wish to fulfill pre-requisites for admission into specific programs. These advisers will also assist students in seeking admission to the following programs.
Program Details
A Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree generally requires three years of undergraduate studies followed by four years of graduate studies. Clarke students interested in PharmD should check the required prerequisites for their intended graduate program in order to best plan their undergraduate courses with their advisor. As a general guide, PharmD prerequisites include the following Clarke courses:
- BIOL 115, Fundamentals of Cell Biology and Genetics (4 hours)
- BIOL 116, Ecology, Evolution and Diversity (4 hours)
- BIOL 211 and 212, Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II (8 hours)
- BIOL 270, Genetics (4 hours)
- BIOL 332, Microbiology (4 hours)
- CHEM 110 and 111, General Chemistry I and II (8 hours)
- CHEM 221 and 222, Organic Chemistry I and II (8 hours)
- CHEM 340, Biochemistry (4 hours)
- MATH 220, Statistics (3 hours)
- MATH 225, Calculus I (4 hours)
- PHYS 110, Elements of Physics I (4 hours)
- BUEC 121, Microeconomic Principles (3 hours)
- Compass Electives
The PharmD prerequisites overlap significantly with the BA in Biology and BA in Chemistry undergraduate degrees at Clarke. An advantage of completing one of these degrees is the opportunity for research and professional mentoring, which will strengthen the student’s application to PharmD programs. Students who wish to complete one of these degrees before pursing their PharmD should also meet with a faculty member to plan the sequence of courses.
Entrance to the PharmD program is competitive. Most successful applicants have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. An additional requirement for admission is often the successful completion of a standardized examination such as the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT). Students generally apply to PharmD programs through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PCAS), a centralized distribution, collecting and processing service.
Admission to Clarke University
Application for admission into professional programs must be sought independently by the student. The pre-professional health science advisers will assist students in seeking admission to the following programs as well as acting as an adviser to the students who wish to fulfill pre-requisites for admission into specific programs. Students planning to enter any of the following programs are encouraged to consult with advisers regularly.
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Apply to Clarke today to begin your journey.
There’s more to college than going to class.
The Classroom and Beyond
Study Abroad
Clarke University offers several faculty-sponsored study abroad experiences to destinations such as Spain, Scotland, Ireland, and Japan. Study abroad trips encourage you to experience different cultures, broaden your mind, and discover your own passions.
Internships
You will learn by observation and participation at off-campus laboratories or field settings through internships and experiential education ventures. Internships often facilitate entrance into the job market and are highly recommended for acceptance into some graduate programs.
Facilities & Equipment
Clarke’s 46,000-square-foot, three-story science building provides flexible and modern spaces designed to seamlessly integrate lecture and lab areas while fostering a collaborative, hands-on learning environment. The 10-table medical school-quality gross anatomy lab gives Clarke students an opportunity to learn with the best resources. Having 10 cadavers in the lab increases the probability of finding interesting surgical procedures and observing anomalies, which enhance learning opportunities.
Clubs & Organizations
Life at Clarke is living traditions, being proud, participating in the campus community, and being an active member of our greater community.
The Clarke Compass
The Clarke Compass is your guide to discover yourself, your passion, and your unique path. Through coursework and out-of-class experiences you will design your own unique educational path to make the most of your time at Clarke.
But don’t take our word for it…
Our Students & Alumni
Tyler Cooksley
Chemistry '20
My experience at Clarke provided me with a very solid understanding of the physical sciences and a great background when learning about pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the drug making process. Being in a smaller program allowed for more one-on-one with the professors, which I felt really helped my learning and got me to the place that I am today.
Ariel Spillner
Chemistry '21
The advice I would give a Clarke student considering pre-pharmacy would be to learn and develop a good study habit that works for you, that best utilizes your time, and does not physically, mentally, or emotionally over stress you. Professors are an excellent resource to build those habits and those habits have served me well at Clarke, in pharmacy school, and beyond.
97%
Graduate outcomes
Percent of graduates reporting being employed in their field or continuing their education.
11:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
Intimate classroom settings and one-on-one attention from professors foster learning.
28/7
Student population
Our students come from 28 states and seven countries.
Other Programs to Explore
Experience Clarke Pre-Pharmacy for Yourself