Pharmaceutical Sciences, BS
The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences is geared toward highly motivated students who are strongly focused on careers in biomedical/pharmaceutical research, biomedicine, and/or the pharmaceutical/biotech industries. The educational approach is an innovative paradigm that immerses students into undergraduate research at the earliest possible time and promotes graduate-style mentorship and experiential learning in the context of an intensive scientific curriculum with specialized educational opportunities. Pharmaceutical sciences are by nature highly interdisciplinary: pharmacology; physiology; structural biology; medicinal chemistry; pharmaceutics and the allied fields of toxicology, chemical biology, and nanomedicine; and a spectrum of emerging health science disciplines that span classical life sciences, engineering, and biotechnology. All students take courses in basic chemistry, basic biology, organic chemistry, physiology, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. Students can then further specialize their educations with elective courses in areas of their interest and their developing career trajectories.
Entering students are expected to initiate a self-directed search for opportunities to participate in laboratory research. In the first year, students complete Introduction to Health Science Research (PHSC 2650), a course that introduces students to scientific literature, hypothesis generation, and use of the scientific method to investigate unsolved problems. To facilitate student identification and research, this course also introduces students to faculty researchers from within and outside of the university, with the goal of matching students with faculty research mentors.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program will have a solid foundation in the science of drug discovery, delivery, evaluation, and development, as well as specialized training at the undergraduate level in research labs. The program prepares students to pursue graduate studies, enroll in professional programs, or enter the biopharmaceutical industry. The BS degree requires a minimum of four years of study and provides for at least one co-op period. Graduates are positioned to pursue MS and PhD programs in the biomedical sciences, medical schools, and other health professional degree programs.
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences—Progression Standards
The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences requires students to maintain a set of academic standards that include maintaining an overall GPA of 3.000 or better and a science GPA of 3.000 or better. A grade of C is the minimal passing grade for any of the required courses in the major. The program also requires students to seek out and establish laboratory research opportunities with a faculty-level mentor. It is advised that students get involved in laboratory research during their first year in the program. It is required that the student secure a laboratory research opportunity by the spring semester of the second year and complete Lab Research Rotation (PHSC 2100) by the end of the second year.
All students admitted to the pharmaceutical sciences major will need to adhere to progression policies to enter the third year of the program. At the end of the second year, fall semester, failure to complete all required course work at or exceeding program standards and/or to not involve oneself in a laboratory research opportunity will be considered a professional deficiency. According to standard policy, affected students will be invited to meet with the School of Pharmacy Academic Standing Committee and may prepare a report describing how they will satisfy outstanding requirements by the end of the summer of the second year for consideration by the committee. If the plan is not accepted, or accepted but not executed by the end of summer of the second year (or as agreed), then the student will be dismissed from the program. Under such circumstances, the student can follow standard School of Pharmacy policies to appeal.
Securing a Laboratory Research Opportunity
The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences requires students to earn a minimum of 12 credits for laboratory research through participation in a research rotation (Laboratory Research Rotation) and the writing and completion of an undergraduate thesis (comprised of Senior Thesis and Senior Thesis Continuation). Students must have the initiative to seek out opportunities for undergraduate laboratory research either on campus, off campus at a neighboring university, or in an industry setting accessible to the student, under the direction of a faculty-level mentor. Students are assisted with securing laboratory research experiences through participation in the Introduction to Health Science Research course during the spring of the first year and as needed, through work with a faculty advisor within the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. A variety of university resources are also available to assist students in finding opportunities, including the Bouvé College Office of Research, the Northeastern University Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, the Northeastern University Integrated Initiative for Global Health, and various other departmental and college resources across Northeastern University.
Change of Major
Students are eligible to transfer into the program at any point prior to the third year of the program. All students who wish to transfer into the program and have completed Biology 1 with lab and Chemistry 1 with lab must have earned a grade of B or better and have an overall GPA of 3.000 or better.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
University-Wide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
NUpath requirements Interpreting Culture (IC), Societies and Institutions (SI), and Differences and Diversity (DD) are not explicitly satisfied by required courses. Students are responsible for satisfying these requirements with open electives.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| PHMD 1000 | College: An Introduction | 1 |
| SEMESTER 2 | ||
| PHSC 2650 | Introduction to Health Science Research | 4 |
| SEMESTER 3 | ||
| PHMD 1201 and PHMD 1202 | Introduction to Pharmacy Practice and Lab for PHMD 1201 | 3 |
| PHSC 2301 and PHSC 2302 | Human Physiology 1 and Human Anatomy Lab | 4 |
| SEMESTER 4 | ||
| PHSC 2100 | Lab Research Rotation | 4 |
| PHSC 2303 and PHSC 2304 | Human Physiology 2 and Human Physiology Lab | 4 |
| PHSC 2400 | Research Ethics for Beginning Health Scientists | 4 |
| SEMESTER 5 | ||
| PHSC 2320 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| PHSC 3411 | Pharmaceutics 1 | 4 |
| PHSC 4501 | Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry 1 | 5 |
| SEMESTER 6 | ||
| PHSC 3412 | Pharmaceutics 2 | 4 |
| PHSC 3419 | Pharmaceutics Laboratory | 1 |
| PHSC 4502 | Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry 2 | 5 |
| PHSC 5360 | Anti-Infectives | 4 |
| Optional Elective | 0-4 | |
| SEMESTER 7 | ||
| PHSC 4997 | Senior Thesis | 4 |
| Statistics/Experimental Design Requirement | ||
| Foundations of Biostatistics | ||
or PHSC 6214 | Experimental Design and Biostatistics | |
| Toxicology Requirement | 3 | |
Complete at least 3 semester hours in the area of toxicology taken after successful completion of PHSC 4502. Contact your advisor for course options. | ||
| NUpath Elective | 4 | |
| SEMESTER 8 | ||
| PHSC 2330 | Immunology | 3 |
| PHSC 3430 | Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics | 3 |
| PHSC 4998 | Senior Thesis Continuation | 4 |
| NUpath Elective | 4 | |
Supporting Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| BIOL 1111 and BIOL 1112 | General Biology 1 and Lab for BIOL 1111 | 5 |
| CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1213 | General Chemistry 1 and Lab for CHEM 1211 and Recitation for CHEM 1211 | 5 |
| PSYC 1101 | Foundations of Psychology | 4 |
| SEMESTER 2 | ||
| BIOL 1113 and BIOL 1114 | General Biology 2 and Lab for BIOL 1113 | 5 |
| CHEM 1214 and CHEM 1215 and CHEM 1216 | General Chemistry 2 and Lab for CHEM 1214 and Recitation for CHEM 1214 | 5 |
| MATH 1241 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| SEMESTER 3 | ||
| PHYS 1149 and PHYS 1150 | Physics for Pharmacy and Lab for PHYS 1149 | 5 |
| CHEM 2311 and CHEM 2312 and CHEM 2319 | Organic Chemistry 1 and Lab for CHEM 2311 and Recitation for CHEM 2311 | 5 |
| SEMESTER 4 | ||
| CHEM 2313 and CHEM 2314 and CHEM 2320 | Organic Chemistry 2 and Lab for CHEM 2313 and Recitation for CHEM 2313 | 5 |
Writing Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SEMESTER 1 | ||
| ENGW 1111 | First-Year Writing (a grade of C or higher required) | 4 |
| SEMESTER 5 | ||
| ENGW 3306 | Advanced Writing in the Health Professions | 4 |
Program Requirement
132 total semester hours required