Program Overview

Pharmaceutical Sciences, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program in Pharmaceutical Sciences is designed to train students in a multidisciplinary approach, enabling them to contribute to the advancement of new pharmaceutical technologies. The program focuses on areas such as accelerated chemical synthesis, molecular-based assays, biopharmaceutical techniques, novel diagnostics, computational chemistry, and gene therapies.

Overview

Pharmaceutical scientists are rapidly changing the field of drug discovery and development. Graduates of this program may seek employment in public and private sectors or choose to pursue graduate degrees such as a Ph.D., M.D., or Pharm.D.

Specialization in Medicinal Pharmacology

The specialization in medicinal pharmacology within the B.S. degree is designed to prepare students for healthcare-related careers, such as medicine, pharmacy, physician associate, and nursing. This specialization can also be used as preparation for research-oriented careers, such as drug development.

Admission

Students may be admitted to the Pharmaceutical Sciences major upon entering the University as freshmen, via change of major petition, or as transfer students from other colleges and universities.

Requirements

• Lower-Division Requirements:
  • General Chemistry sequence
  • Organic Chemistry sequence
  • Calculus and physics sequences
  • Biology courses
• Upper-Division Requirements:
  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Physical Biochemistry
  • Biopharmaceutics and Nanomedicine
• Upper-Division Electives (8 units)
  • Courses may be selected from a list of approved electives

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Pharmaceutical Sciences majors satisfy the upper-division writing requirement by completing BIO SCI 100 with a grade of C- or better, followed by the completion of PHRMSCI 174L and PHRMSCI 177L.

Optional Specialization in Medicinal Pharmacology

• Complete the lower-division course requirements
• Upper-Division Requirements:
  • General Microbiology
  • Medical Microbiology Laboratory
  • Human Physiology Lab
  • Human Anatomy with Pathological Correlates
• Upper-Division Electives:
  • Select 8 units from the upper-division electives listed

Sample Program

A sample program outline is provided, detailing the courses to be taken each quarter for four years.

Related Programs

Related programs include the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Pharmacological Sciences, Ph.D., and Pharmacology, M.S.