Biochemistry for Pharmacy School Online- Biochemistry is one of the most universally required pharmacy prerequisites — nearly every PharmD program expects it, because it bridges the organic chemistry you’ve learned and the biological systems pharmacy is built on. You can take biochemistry for pharmacy school online, self-paced, as regionally accredited credit that posts to an official transcript, at $695 per course. This page explains why biochemistry is so widely required, what it covers, whether you need one semester or two, how it sequences after organic chemistry, and how it feeds the science GPA pharmacy admissions weigh most.
Biochemistry sits at the intersection of chemistry and biology, describing the molecular processes that drive living systems. For pharmacy, that connection is essential — the professional curriculum in pharmacology and medicinal chemistry assumes a biochemistry foundation. That’s why it appears on almost every program’s prerequisite list, typically after the organic sequence. With the PCAT retired and admissions leaning on coursework and science GPA, a strong biochemistry grade is another clear readiness signal. See the complete pharmacy prerequisites guide for where it fits.
Biochemistry applies chemical principles to biological molecules and processes:
This is academic course content describing the science itself, building on organic chemistry — the foundation later professional coursework draws on. Confirm whether your programs require a lab component with biochemistry.
Programs differ on how much biochemistry they require — some expect a single semester, others a two-course sequence. PrereqCourses offers both, mapping to CHEM 330 (Biochemistry I) and CHEM 331 (Biochemistry II). Check each target program’s requirement so you take the right amount — neither too little to satisfy the prerequisite nor more than you need.
| If your program requires… | Take |
|---|---|
| One semester of biochemistry | CHEM 330 (Biochemistry I) |
| A two-semester sequence | CHEM 330 + CHEM 331 |
Because biochemistry builds on organic chemistry, take it after completing the organic sequence. The molecular reasoning from Organic Chemistry I and II — functional groups, mechanisms, structure — is exactly what biochemistry applies to biological molecules, so arriving with that foundation makes the course far more manageable. If you haven’t finished organic yet, start with Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II first.
PrereqCourses delivers biochemistry online and self-paced through Upper Iowa University, regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, at $695 per course. As institutional credit, it posts to an official transcript — the form PharmCAS programs recognize — and feeds your science GPA. You can start any time and move at your own pace. Begin on the pharmacy prerequisites page, and if you need the full chemistry chain, the pharmacy chemistry sequence bundle coordinates organic and biochemistry together.
Confirm how much biochemistry your programs require. Some programs want one semester, others two, and some specify a lab; acceptance of any outside course is never automatic. Confirm with each program’s admissions office and PharmCAS before enrolling. We don’t guarantee admission or transfer, and this page covers prerequisites only — not clinical or pharmacological topics.
Biochemistry is a frequently aged-out prerequisite — because it’s usually taken late in a pre-health sequence, career changers and gap-year applicants often find it has expired under a program’s recency window. Refreshing it both restores eligibility and, with a strong grade, raises your science GPA. See retaking prerequisites to get into pharmacy school and pharmacy prerequisite recency rules.
Biochemistry is where the chemistry chain pays off: it takes the molecular reasoning from organic chemistry — functional groups, structure, reactivity — and applies it to the proteins, enzymes, and metabolic pathways of living systems. That’s exactly the bridge the PharmD curriculum needs, which is why biochemistry sits at the end of the prerequisite chemistry sequence and why nearly every program requires it. Arriving with a solid organic chemistry foundation makes biochemistry click, because you’re applying familiar principles to new (biological) molecules rather than learning chemistry from scratch.
| Applicant | Why this course |
|---|---|
| First-time pre-pharmacy students | A near-universal requirement, taken after organic chemistry. |
| Expired-credit applicants | Often aged out, since biochemistry is taken late in the sequence. |
| Career changers | Frequently the final science gap before applying. |
| GPA rebuilders | A strong grade raises the heavily weighted science GPA. |
Biochemistry requirements vary more than the organic sequence does, so it’s worth confirming the specifics with each target program before you enroll. Programs differ on a few points: whether they require one semester or two, how many credit hours they expect, whether a lab component is needed, and how recent the coursework must be. Some PharmD programs satisfy the requirement with a single comprehensive biochemistry course; others expect a two-semester sequence. The cleanest way to avoid taking too little — or more than you need — is to pull each program’s prerequisite list, note exactly what it asks for, and confirm in writing with the admissions office that the specific course (CHEM 330, or CHEM 330 and 331 together) will satisfy the requirement. Because PharmCAS verifies coursework and calculates your science GPA from it, you also want to be sure the course is categorized and recognized correctly. Confirming up front means the biochemistry credit you earn counts exactly as intended, feeds your science GPA, and lands inside the program’s recency window — rather than leaving you to discover a mismatch after you’ve completed the course. When in doubt, ask the program and PharmCAS directly; both are accustomed to this question.
For programs that require the full sequence, the two semesters divide the subject naturally. A first biochemistry course (CHEM 330) typically covers the structure and function of the major biomolecules — proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids — along with enzyme behavior and the chemistry that connects organic chemistry to living systems. A second course (CHEM 331) generally moves into metabolism and the regulated pathways that build and break down those molecules, building on the first. This is academic course content describing the biochemistry itself, the foundation later professional coursework draws on, not clinical or pharmacological material. Knowing how the sequence splits helps you confirm whether a program’s requirement is met by one course or two, and plan accordingly within the recency window.
Yes — nearly every PharmD program requires biochemistry, because it bridges organic chemistry and biological systems that the professional curriculum depends on. Confirm the exact requirement with each program.
Yes. A self-paced, regionally accredited online course that posts to an official transcript — like CHEM 330/331 — can satisfy this requirement. Confirm acceptance, including any lab requirement, with your programs and PharmCAS.
It depends on the program — some require one semester, others a two-course sequence. PrereqCourses offers both (CHEM 330 and CHEM 331). Check each target program’s requirement.
After. Biochemistry builds on the organic chemistry sequence, so completing Organic Chemistry I and II first makes it far more manageable.
Each biochemistry course is $695, with no separate application or registration fees, as regionally accredited institutional credit that posts to an official transcript.
It can — many programs expire science prerequisites after roughly five to seven years, and biochemistry is often aged out for career changers. A refresh restores eligibility and can raise your science GPA.
Continue with the Organic Chemistry II page, the pharmacy chemistry sequence, and the complete pharmacy prerequisites guide.
Authoritative resources: PharmCAS on coursework and the application, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education on program accreditation, the American Chemical Society on chemistry education, and the Higher Learning Commission on regional accreditation.
