Program Details


Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The pharmaceutical sciences degree provides students with

  • coursework and laboratory opportunities in the pharmaceutical sciences
  • highly sought after skills desired by employers in research environments
  • over 90% success rate of being accepted into graduate and health professions programs (medical, dental, veterinary)
OCCUPATIONS
This program prepares students for careers in the health sciences and research. Graduates are highly qualified for placement into advanced degree programs (MD, DDS, DVM, OT, PT, PHD) or for research opportunities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

YEARS REQUIRED
Typically 4 years of study

The learning goals and outcomes of the curriculum provide students with:
 
    "a strong interdisciplinary component that integrates the chemical and biological sciences for applications in the pharmaceutical sciences".

"and a background in the liberal arts that prepares students to be engaged citizens and reflective practitioners".

Natalie Arter, PSCI SR and Dr. Craige Wrenn in Pharmaceutical Science Lab
Students are required to complete the Drake Curriculum and take courses in biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics as well as electives in biology (physiology, cell and molecular biology), chemistry (organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry), physics and pharmaceutical sciences.

Students in the junior year of the program participate in a discovery-based laboratory course that focuses on lab skills, instrumentation techniques, research design and ethics in science.

In their senior year, students are required to develop, in conjunction with a faculty member, a research project to complete their capstone experience at Drake. Following completion of this year long project, students prepare a presentation and an oral defense of their work in a seminar to faculty and peers.



EDUCATIONAL GOALS
Knowledge, Skills, and Values Consistent with the Science and Application of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Goal 1. Knowledge Base of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Students will demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts and theories in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Goal 2. Research Methods and Experimental Design in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Students will understand and apply basic research methods in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, including research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
Goal 3. Critical Thinking Skills in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Students will use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry and the scientific approach to solve problems.
Goal 4. Values in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Students will be able to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, act ethically, and reflect other values that are the underpinnings of Pharmaceutical Sciences as a discipline.
Goal 5. Information and Technological Literacy
Students will demonstrate information competence and the ability to use computers and other technology for many purposes.
Goal 6. Communication and Collaborative Skills
Students will be able to communicate effectively in a variety of formats and actively participate in collaborative environments.
Goal 7. Career Planning and Development
Students will emerge from the major with realistic ideas regarding how to implement their knowledge, skills, and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings.




Curriculum

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First Year
FALL
CHEM 001/3Chemistry I/Lab4 CR
FYS ---First Year Seminar3 CR
IS 044Information Tools3 CR
BIO 012Biology4 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

14
SPRING
CHEM 002/4Chemistry II and Lab4 CR
MATH 050Calculus I4 CR
BIO 013Biology4 CR
ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives3 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

15
Second Year
FALL
CHEM 107/9Organic Chemistry and Lab4 CR
ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives6 CR
ELEC ---Drake Curr Written Communication AOI3 CR
STAT 060Statistics for the Life Sciences3 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

16
SPRING
RHET 073Public Speaking3 CR
BIO  095Medical Microbiology3 CR
ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives6 CR
CHEM 108/10Organic Chemistry II and Lab4 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

16
Third Year
FALL
ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives3 CR
BIO 129Physiology5 CR
PHAR 130Biochemistry4 CR
PHAR 131Intro to Pharm Sci3 CR
PHAR 188Phar Sci Seminar1 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

16
SPRING
PHAR 140Pharmaceutics2 CR
PHAR 188Phar Sci Seminar1 CR
ELEC ---Science Elective3 CR
PHAR 163Pharmacology3 CR
PHAR 152Instrumentation Methods/Lab3 CR
ELEC ---Drake Curriculum/General Electives3 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

15
Fourth Year
FALL
PHAR 189Phar Sci Seminar1 CR
ELEC ---Science Electives9 CR
PHAR 142Kinetics3 CR
PHAR 196Senior Research3 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

16
SPRING
PHAR 196Senior Research3 CR
ELEC ---Science Electives12 CR
PHAR 189Phar Sci Seminar1 CR

Semester Total Credit Hours

16
Total Program Hours: 124


Program Notes:

Science Electives

The following courses may be used to fulfill the 24 hours of science electives required during the junior and senior year:

Chem 165 --- Physical Chemistry I --- 4 cr.
Chem 166 --- Physical Chemistry II --- 4 cr.
Chem 182 --- Adv. Analytical Chem --- 4 cr.
Phy 011 --- Physics I --- 4 cr.
Phy 012 --- Physics II --- 4 cr.
Bio 165 --- Cell Biology --- 4 cr.
Bio 186 --- Molecular Biology --- 3 cr.
Phar 119 --- Topics in Neuropharmacology 3 cr.
Phar 114 --- Advances in Cardiac Disease --- 3 cr.
Phar 118 --- Neurodegenerative Disease --- 1 cr.
Phar 127 --- Exercise Physiology --- 3 cr