Pharmaceutical Sciences
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
517 Hochstetter Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-1200
Phone: 716.645.2842
Fax: 716.645.3693
Web: www.pharmacy.buffalo.edu/psci_adm_ugrad_index.shtml
Kathleen M. K. Boje
Undergraduate Director and Advisor
boje@acsu.buffalo.edu
About the Department
The Pharmaceutical Sciences department was one of the first in the country to offer a B.S. program, with the first degree conferred in the 1960s. The department's comprehensive scientific research approach to educating students has led to an outstanding reputation throughout the country. The Pharmaceutical Sciences program emphasizes a laboratory research experience by requiring a structured laboratory course, participation in an individualized research project, and presentation of research results. The four-year B.S. degree program emphasizes the foundational principles of science and research relevant to the pharmaceutical sciences discipline.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: B.S., Minor
Combined: B.S./M.S.
About Our Degrees
The pharmaceutical sciences are interdisciplinary fields of study which seek to achieve better understanding and control of the factors influencing clinical response to drug therapy. Emphasis is given to the application of pharmacokinetics and physical-chemical principles to questions of pharmacological and clinical importance.
The Pharmaceutical Sciences major program is a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. While the program is structurally a basic science program (like biochemistry, biology, and so forth), it uniquely offers an interdisciplinary field of study which seeks to achieve better understanding and control of the factors influencing clinical response to drug therapy.
Areas of interest in pharmaceutics range from the physical chemistry of pharmaceutical systems, which is concerned with the development and optimization of the physical/chemical properties of traditional and novel drug delivery systems; to biopharmaceutics which encompasses the study of the relationship between the nature and intensity of biologic effects of drugs and various dosage form formulation factors; to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics which are the sciences of the quantitative analyses of drug concentrations and therapeutic effect, respectively, in the body; to clinical pharmacokinetics and clinical pharmacodynamics which are concerned with the application of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to the safe and effective therapeutic management of individual patients.
Pharmaceutical Sciences - B.S.
This four-year degree program educates students to be pharmaceutical researchers engaged in drug discovery and development research.
Pharmaceutical Sciences - B.S./M.S.
This combined degree program for academically qualified students allows for completion of both B.S. and M.S. requirements in the pharmaceutical sciences in less than six years. Students must be enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Sciences B.S. program. Students in this program will be awarded one degree only (B.S./M.S.), and therefore do not graduate with a separate B.S.
Acceptance Criteria - B.S.
Minimum GPA of 2.5 in all prerequisite science courses.
Application to the department with a UB DARS report is recommended early in the second semester of the second year.
Acceptance Information
Deadline: March 15 for the following Fall semester
Number of applicants (2003-2004): 70
Number of accepted majors: 12-15
Total number of majors currently enrolled: 30
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Courses
The typical class size for:
Upper level/advanced courses is: 12-150
In the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, what do student teaching assistants (TA’s) do?
They assist in laboratories and recitations.
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
Special Academic Opportunities
All students are required to take PHC 408, a 3-credit undergraduate research participation project. A laboratory, computer data analysis or library research experience is an important and unique feature of the Pharmaceutical Sciences program at UB. Students with scientific research experience are highly sought after by prospective employers.
For PHC 408, students identify a faculty mentor who will guide the student through their research project. This course is highly flexible and individualized due to the nature of the one-on-one interaction between the student and faculty member. Students are exposed to research methods and hypothesis testing; the role of research methods in experimental design, execution and data analysis; and methods to communicate the research findings.
While each student is required to complete 3 credits of PHC 408, highly interested and motivated students may choose to undertake more research credits, up to a maximum of 10 credits. Students who elect to complete the minimum 3 required credits may choose to enroll in other science elective courses offered by other departments, for a minimum of 6 credits.
Extracurricular Activities
See the UB Student Association.
Career Information
Graduates of this program are well educated as entry-level researchers. Graduates are well prepared to fulfill positions within the pharmaceutical industry, in sales, or to continue on to graduate studies.
Skills gained in this program include:
Researching, analyzing, interpreting, reasoning, managing, advising, organizing, problem solving, detail orientation, writing, editing, teaching, speaking to groups, reading critically, ability to think critically, evaluating, advising, and selling.
Career Choices
The broad scope of scientific interest associated with the pharmaceutical sciences discipline provides students with an extensive vista of career opportunities. Qualified graduates are highly sought for employment in pharmaceutical research environments. Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates may find opportunities in university, hospital or pharmaceutical industry settings, such as:
- Consumer safety officer
- Drug analysts
- Manufacturing/production technologists
- Marketing/sales drug detail representatives
- Peace Corps/VISTA volunteer
- Research associates in: Bioanalysis, drug delivery, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics
- Science librarian
Alternatively, they may pursue graduate studies leading to the M.D., D.D.S., B.S./M.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degrees, and then pursue careers such as:
- Biochemist
- Health careers
- Pharmacologist
- Professor
- Researcher
What percentage of graduates goes on to find related employment?
More than 90%
Salary Information
Salaries range greatly from one occupation, position, and work setting to another. According to Annual AAPS-Pharm Tech Employment Surveys, a person with a B.S. and 0-5 years of experience can anticipate an average salary of $45,000 with the pharmaceutical industry.
Post-undergraduate Opportunities
Many graduates enter medical or dental schools, or continue their studies to obtain a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics. These Ph.D.'s teach, carry on independent research in a university or hospital, or enter industrial research.
What percentage of graduates goes on to graduate school?
Approximately 10%
Aulitional Information