The Pharmacy Chemistry Sequence: Orgo + Biochem Online- Pharmacy carries the heaviest chemistry load of any pre-health path, and the chemistry prerequisites aren’t independent courses — they’re a sequence that builds on itself: general chemistry, organic chemistry I and II, and biochemistry. Because each course is a prerequisite for the next, the smart move is to plan the whole chain at once rather than scrambling for each course separately. You can complete the entire pharmacy chemistry sequence online, self-paced, as regionally accredited credit that posts to an official transcript, at $695 per course. This page lays out the full sequence, why bundling it makes sense, how to order it, and how it keeps your science credits current and on one timeline.
Here is the chemistry chain nearly every PharmD program requires, in order:
| Step | Course | Maps to |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Foundation | General Chemistry (w/ lab) | CHEM 152 |
| 2. Organic I | Organic Chemistry I (w/ lab) | CHEM 251 |
| 3. Organic II | Organic Chemistry II (w/ lab) | CHEM 252 |
| 4. Biochemistry | Biochemistry I (and sometimes II) | CHEM 330, CHEM 331 |
Each course has its own detailed page: general chemistry, Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, and biochemistry. See the complete pharmacy prerequisites guide for how chemistry fits the broader requirement set.
Treating the chemistry prerequisites as one coordinated sequence — rather than four separate decisions — has real advantages:
You can run the chemistry chain alongside independent sciences — like A&P and microbiology and physics and calculus — since those don’t depend on the chemistry order.
Each course in the sequence is $695, with no separate application or registration fees. That matters most for organic chemistry, which many providers price at roughly $1,195 to $1,785 per course — so completing the full chemistry chain here, rather than piecing it together elsewhere, can represent a substantial saving across the sequence. For the detailed cost comparison, see the cheapest way to take pharmacy prerequisites online.
Confirm your exact chemistry requirements. Programs differ on how many general chemistry and biochemistry semesters they require and on lab and recency policies, and acceptance of any outside course is never automatic. Confirm the full sequence 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.
The chemistry sequence carries enormous weight in the science GPA pharmacy admissions scrutinize — these are the courses programs watch most closely, especially now that the PCAT is retired and coursework carries the admissions load. Strong grades across the chain are among the most powerful signals you can send. If you’re rebuilding a science GPA or refreshing expired credits, completing the sequence with strong recent grades does both at once; see retaking prerequisites to get into pharmacy school.
Most pharmacy applicants complete the chemistry sequence while working or finishing other prerequisites, which is exactly where a self-paced format earns its place. You can move through the chain at a sustainable pace — one course at a time, in order — without waiting for semesters to start. Meanwhile, the non-chemistry sciences that don’t depend on the chemistry order can run alongside it. A practical rhythm looks like this: work the chemistry chain as your primary track, and slot independent courses such as A&P and microbiology or physics and calculus into the gaps. That keeps the whole prerequisite load moving without overloading any single stretch.
The chemistry chain is the heaviest part of the pharmacy prerequisite load, but it isn’t the whole picture — and bundling chemistry is most effective when you plan it alongside your remaining requirements. While the chemistry courses run in sequence (general chemistry, then organic I and II, then biochemistry), the non-chemistry sciences can often run in parallel, since they don’t depend on the chemistry chain. That includes anatomy and physiology and microbiology, covered in A&P and microbiology for pharmacy online, and the quantitative requirements covered in physics and calculus for pharmacy prerequisites. Running the independent sciences at the same time as the chemistry sequence is the fastest way to clear the full load without extending your timeline. For the complete list and how everything fits together, see the complete pharmacy prerequisites guide, and if you’re rebuilding a science GPA, the chemistry bundle pairs naturally with the strategy in retaking prerequisites to get into pharmacy school. The point of bundling isn’t only price — it’s a coherent plan that keeps every credit current and every course in the right order. For a single applicant, completing the whole chemistry sequence at $695 per course represents a substantial saving over providers charging well over a thousand dollars for organic chemistry alone — and bundling the sequence means one decision, one timeline, and one transcript building toward your science GPA rather than a scramble for each course in turn. And because the chemistry chain is what most often determines an applicant’s timeline, getting it onto a single coordinated plan early is the surest way to keep the whole application on schedule — finishing each course with the grade posted before your deadline and every credit comfortably inside the recency window your programs set.
Typically general chemistry, organic chemistry I and II, and biochemistry — a sequence where each course builds on the last. Confirm how many general chemistry and biochemistry semesters each program requires.
Yes. Each course is available self-paced and regionally accredited, posting to an official transcript. Confirm acceptance, including labs, with your programs and PharmCAS before enrolling.
General chemistry first, then Organic Chemistry I, then Organic Chemistry II, then biochemistry — each is a prerequisite for the next, so order matters.
Each course is $695, with no separate application or registration fees. Because organic chemistry runs $1,195–$1,785 at many providers, completing the chain here can save substantially.
Because each is a prerequisite for the next, take them in order rather than simultaneously. You can, however, run independent sciences like A&P or physics in parallel with the chemistry chain.
It keeps the courses in the right order, maintains momentum on cumulative material, keeps credits inside recency windows, and simplifies transcripts and verification with one regionally accredited source.
Continue with Organic Chemistry I, biochemistry for pharmacy online, 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.
