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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Pharmaceutical Sciences, BS

Pharmaceutical Sciences, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
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        • Pharmacy, PharmD
        • Pharmacy Studies, BS
        • Pharmaceutical Sciences, BS
        • Health Sciences Entrepreneurship, Minor
        • Pharmaceutical Sciences, Minor
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • College of Science
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    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences is geared toward highly motivated students who are strongly focused on careers in a number of competitive areas:

  • Research: biomedical/pharmaceutical research, biomedicine, and/or the pharmaceutical/biotech industries
  • Healthcare: curriculum provides opportunities to meet the core requirements requested by medical, veterinary and dental schools, while providing an immersive background in research and the pharmaceutical sciences

​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 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 program of study with elective courses in interest areas aligned with their developing career trajectories.

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 such as medical, veterinary or dental school, or enter the biopharmaceutical industry. The BS degree requires a minimum of four years of study and at least one co-op experience. 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 satisfy a set of academic standards that include maintaining an overall GPA of 3.000 or better. A grade of C is the minimal passing grade for any of the required courses in the major.

Bachelor of Science Students in this program are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 each semester to remain in good academic standing and to progress towards graduation. If a student's cumulative GPA falls below the required 3.000, a student may be on probation for only two semesters, or until the course is offered again, unless the advisor approves an action plan that specifies a longer (but definite) period. A student may only be placed on probation twice during enrollment in the program and must correct all deficiencies, as specified, in each respective action plan during the applicable probationary period. Failure to remediate the deficiency within the agreed time may result in dismissal from the program.

The program also requires students to seek out and establish, with program support, research opportunities with a faculty-level mentor. It is advised that students get involved in laboratory research during their first year in the program. Each student must secure a laboratory research opportunity by the fall semester of the second year and complete a course to develop lab based research skills. 

Securing a Laboratory Research Experience

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 (Lab Research Rotation (PHSC 2100)) and the writing and completion of an undergraduate thesis (comprised of Senior Thesis (PHSC 4997) and Senior Thesis Continuation (PHSC 4998)). Each student must take 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 Introduction to Health Science Research (PHSC 2650) and, as needed, through work with a faculty advisor within the Bachelor of Science 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.  Students must have an overall GPA of 3.000 or better.

Academic Appeals

Students who believe that they were erroneously, capriciously, or otherwise unfairly treated in an academic or cooperative education decision may petition to appeal the decision. Refer to the Bouvé College of Health Sciences Academic Affairs Appeals Process and the Northeastern University Appeals Policies and Procedures.

Program Learning Outcomes

Please visit Bouvé College Program Learning Outcomes for the specific student learning outcomes for this program.

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.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
SEMESTER 1
PHMD 1000College: An Introduction1
PHSC 1001Introduction to Contemporary Pharmaceutical Sciences1
SEMESTER 2
PHSC 2650Introduction to Health Science Research4
SEMESTER 3
PHSC 2320Biochemistry4
PHSC 2100Lab Research Rotation4
SEMESTER 4
PHSC 2000Professional Development for Pharmaceutical Sciences Co-op1
SEMESTER 5
PHSC 2301
and PHSC 2302
Human Physiology 1
and Human Anatomy Lab
4
PHSC 2400Research Ethics for Beginning Health Scientists4
SEMESTER 6
PHSC 2330Immunology3
PHSC 3411Pharmaceutics 14
PHSC 3419Pharmaceutics Laboratory1
PHSC 3801Principles of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 14
PHSC 4995Practicum4
SEMESTER 7
Elective4
Elective 4
SEMESTER 8
Elective4
Elective4
SEMESTER 9
PHSC 3802Principles of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 24
PHSC 4997Senior Thesis4
SEMESTER 10
PHSC 3430Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics3
PHSC 4998Senior Thesis Continuation4

Supporting Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
SEMESTER 1
BIOL 1111
and BIOL 1112
General Biology 1
and Lab for BIOL 1111
5
SEMESTER 2
BIOL 1113
and BIOL 1114
General Biology 2
and Lab for BIOL 1113
5
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
General Chemistry for Science Majors
and Lab for CHEM 1161
and Recitation for CHEM 1161
5
MATH 1245Calculus with Applications4
SEMESTER 3
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
and CHEM 2319
Organic Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHEM 2311
and Recitation for CHEM 2311
5
PHYS 1145
and PHYS 1146
Physics for Life Sciences 1
and Lab for PHYS 1145
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
PHYS 1147
and PHYS 1148
Physics for Life Sciences 2
and Lab for PHYS 1147
5
PHTH 2210
and PHTH 2211
Foundations of Biostatistics
and Recitation for PHTH 2210
4

Writing Requirement

Course List
Code Title Hours
SEMESTER 1
ENGW 1111First-Year Writing4
SEMESTER 9
ENGW 3306Advanced Writing in the Health Professions4

Program Requirements

Some NUpath requirements are not explicitly satisfied by required courses. Students are responsible for satisfying these requirements with open electives. 

Premed students have the opportunity to complete all necessary coursework via required and elective courses in the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. Please refer to premed course requirements.

Minimum of 145 semester hours required

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 11114BIOL 11134Vacation or volunteer research experienceVacation or volunteer research experience
BIOL 11121BIOL 11141  
ENGW 11114CHEM 11614  
PHMD 10001CHEM 11621  
PHSC 10011CHEM 11630  
Elective4MATH 12454  
Elective4PHSC 26504  
 19 18 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CHEM 23114CHEM 23134PHSC 23013CO-OP
CHEM 23121CHEM 23141PHSC 23021 
CHEM 23190CHEM 23200PHSC 24004 
PHYS 11454PHYS 11474  
PHYS 11461PHYS 11481  
PHSC 23204PHTH 22104  
PHSC 21004PHTH 22110  
 PHSC 20001  
 Elective4  
 18 19 8 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
CO-OPPHSC 23303Elective4Elective4
 PHSC 38014Elective4Elective4
 PHSC 34114  
 PHSC 34191  
 PHSC 49954  
 0 16 8 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
PHSC 49974PHSC 34303  
PHSC 38024PHSC 49984  
ENGW 33064Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 15  
Total Hours: 145
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