Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) program at the Duquesne University School of Pharmacy gives students the opportunity to engage in pharmaceutical research and pursue one of four tracks: pharmacology, pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, or pharmacy administration.

Students in the BSPS program apply principles and theories of chemistry, biology, biochemistry and engineering in designing and developing new drugs and therapies and gain a theoretical and technical grounding in the natural sciences and graduate ready for a career in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies or for further academic studies including pharmacy–including transitioning into the Pharm.D. program, medicine, dentistry, law, M.S. and Ph.D. programs and more!

Program Information

Unlock your potential with our Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. Explore drug discovery, research, and industry insights. Apply now!

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's

School

School of Pharmacy

Duration

4 Years

Required Credit Hours

125-126

Contact The Admissions Team!

Jason Stack, MBA, Ed.D.

Director, Recruitment & Admissions

Sam Pulver

Coordinator, Admissions

Our well-funded research program allows students to work with cutting-edge scientists on world-class projects that will shape medicine for years to come. You’ll earn a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree that could reflect medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics or pharmacy administration—helping to shape the world of pharmaceutical sciences.

Carl Anderson, Ph.D. Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs and Research

Curriculum

125-126 Credits

Course Number Course Title Credits
BIOL 111 General Biology I W/ Lab I 4
BIOL 203 & 204 Introductory Microbiology W/ Lab 4
BIOL 207 & 209 Anatomy & Physiology I & II (No Labs Required) 6
CHEM 121 & 122 General Chemistry I & II W/ Labs 10
CHEM 211 & 212 Organic Chemsitry I & II W/ Labs 8
MATH 115 Calculus I 4
MATH 116 Calculus II 4
BRDG 101 First-Year Writing 3
BRDG 102 Writing & Literature 3
BRDG 103 IPE Health Research Skills 1
BRDG 105 Intro To Ethical Reasoning 3
ENGL 302W Scientific Writing (Communication/Creative Expression) 3
EQ 104–145 Essential Questions Seminar 3
MATH 225 Intorduction To Biostatistics 3
PHIL 252 Health Care Ethics: Philosophy (Ethical Reasoning/Moral Responsibility) 3
HIST 151/203/214/251 Global History (Cultural Fluency & Social/Historical Reasoning) 3
  Years 1 & 2 Total 65
126 Credits Total

Year 3 Fall
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 350 Biochemistry I: Peptides and Carbohydrate Metabolism 3
PHBM 355 / 355R Human Physiology and Pathology I/Recitation 4
PHCE 360 / 360R Pharmaceutical Principles & Drug Delivery Systems I with Pharmaceutics Principles/Recitation 3
MATH 525W Applied Statistics with Regression 3
THEO 141 / 142 Theology (Critical Thinking & Problem Solving) 3
  Years 3 Fall Total 16
     
Year 3 Spring
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 351 Biochemistry II: Metabolism, Protein Synthesis & Nucleic Acids 3
PHBM 356 / 356R Human Physiology and Pathology II/Recitation 4
PHCE 361 / 361R Pharmaceutical Principles & Drug Delivery Systems II with Pharmaceutics Principles/Recitation 3
COMM 202W Business and Professional Communication (Communication and Creative Expression) 3
  Electives (General or Professional) 3
  Years 3 Spring Total 16
  Years 3 Total 32
     
Year 4 Fall
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHCE 430 Biopharmaceutics 3
CHEM 340 Instrumental Analysis 3
CHEM 301 Physical Chemistry for Life Science 4
  Electives (General or Professional) 3
  Independent Study/Senior Thesis 2
  Years 4 Fall Total 15
     
Year 4 Spring
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 351 Pharmacokinetics 3
PHBM 356 / 356R Foundations in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 3
  Electives (General or Professional) 6
  Independent Study/Senior Thesis 2
  Years 4 Spring Total 14
  Years 4 Total 29
125 Credits Total
Year 3 Fall
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 350 Biochemistry I: Peptides and Carbohydrate Metabolism 3
PHBM 355 / 355R Human Physiology and Pathology I/Recitation 4
PHCE 360 / 360R Pharmaceutical Principles & Drug Delivery Systems I with Pharmaceutics Principles/Recitation 3
GPSC 570 Drug Mechanisms 3
THEO 141 / 142 Theology (Critical Thinking & Problem Solving) 3
  Years 3 Fall Total 16
     
Year 3 Spring
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 351 Biochemistry II: Metabolism, Protein Synthesis & Nucleic Acids 3
PHBM 356 / 356R Human Physiology and Pathology II/Recitation 4
PHCE 361 / 361R Pharmaceutical Principles & Drug Delivery Systems II with Pharmaceutics Principles/Recitation 3
COMM 202W Business and Professional Communication (Communication and Creative Expression) 3
  Electives (General or Professional) 3
  Years 3 Spring Total 16
  Years 3 Total 32
     
Year 4 Fall
Course Number Course Title Credits
PHCE 430 Biopharmaceutics 3
CHEM 340 Instrumental Analysis 3
GPSC 576 Neuronal Pharmacology & Toxicological Principles 3
  Electives (General or Professional) 3
  Independent Study/Senior Thesis 2
  Years 4 Fall Total 14
     
Year 4 Spring
Course Number Course Title Credits
GPSC 695 Seminar 3
PHBM 352 Foundations in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 3
  Electives (General or Professional) 6
  Independent Study/Senior Thesis 2
  Years 4 Spring Total 14
  Years 4 Total 28
126 Credits Total

Year 3 Fall
Course Number Course Title Credits
HLTS 285 Foundations of Health Promotion and Disease Mitigation 3
PHBA 310 American Healthcare System 2
PBHL 301 OR Introduction to Epidemiology 3
HLTM 211
HADM 311W Healthcare Law and Policy 3
MATH 525W Applied Statistics with Regression 3
THEO 141 / 142 Theology (Critical Thinking & Problem Solving) 3
  Years 3 Fall Total 17
     
Year 3 Spring
Course Number Course Title Credits
COMM 399 Global and Cultural Issues in Health Communication 3
PBHL 201 Introduction to Public Health 3
MATH 435 Fundamentals of Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis 3
HADM 317 Health Informatics 3
PMHP 205 Medical Terminology for Pre-Health Students 1
  Electives (General or Professional) 3
  Years 3 Spring Total 16
  Years 3 Total 30
     
Year 4 Fall
Course Number Course Title Credits
GPSC 593 Research Methods in Health Services and Outcomes Research 3
GPSC 592 Evidence Synthesis in Healthcare 3
PHPR 448 Pharmacy Practice IV: Drug Literature Evaluations 2
GPSC 515 Ethics in Research 1
  Electives (See Pharm Admin Elective Options) 3
  Electives (See Pharm Admin Elective Options) 3
  Years 4 Fall Total 15
     
Year 4 Spring
Course Number Course Title Credits
GPSC 594 Qualitative Methods in Healthcare Research 3
  Independent Study/Senior Thesis 4
  Electives (See Pharm Admin Elective Options) 3
  Electives (See Pharm Admin Elective Options) 3
  Electives (See Pharm Admin Elective Options) 3
  Years 4 Spring Total 16
  Years 4 Total 31