Pharmacy or chemistry degree?

Question

i have got into university to study a masters degree in chemistry, to start in september. i was hoping to go into pharmaceuticals after my degree.

i have a part time job in a pharmacy, and have been told by many of the people that work there that pharmacy would be a better option for me. is this true?

also, if i did graduate with a masters degree in chemistry, are there any courses that i could do to become a pharmacist?

i am more interested in the manufacturing of medicines rather just dispensing them.

Answer 1

If you want to make medicines, then training in pharmacy is almost certainly a waste of time.  That's true whether you want to discover and develop new medicines, or you want to manufacture them (engineering).

You didn't say where you live.  In the US, a pharmacist must be licensed and be a graduate of a pharmacy degree program (D. Pharm.) - typically a four year program.  Would any of your MS chemistry work count towards that?  It would probably depend on the school in question.  

Study organic and analytical chemistry to boost your chances, if you really want to continue pharmacy as an option.  Those will also be good for getting into drug discovery.

Short answer:  I'd stick with the chemistry degree.  It's shorter, and a M.S. degree is a pretty good entry point for pharma companies.  Make sure your department/advisor know about your interests - maybe there's an internship program you could take advantage of?  A little bit of industrial experience would go a long long way towards getting you hired right out of school.