UB Programs At-A-Glance

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 Program

The Pharmaceutical Sciences major program is a four-year program leading to a bachelor of science degree in pharmaceutical sciences. While the major is structurally a basic science program (like biochemistry, biology, etc.), it is also a unique interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to achieve better understanding and control of the factors influencing clinical response to drug therapy.

Areas of interest in pharmaceutical sciences 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 dosage forms and systems; to biopharmaceutics, which encompasses the study of the relationship between the nature and intensity of biologic effects of drugs and various dosage formulation factors; to pharmacokinetics, which is the science of the quantitative analysis of drug concentration and drug effects in the body; to clinical pharmacokinetics, which is concerned with the application of pharmacokinetics to the safe and effective therapeutic management of individual patients.

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 include 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; biopharmaceutics, which encompasses the study of the relationship between the nature and intensity of biologic effects of drugs and various dosage formulation factors; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which are the sciences of the quantitative analyses of drug concentrations and therapeutic effect, respectively, in the body; and 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 research scientists 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 teaching assistants (TA’s) do?

They assist in laboratories and recitations.

For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.

About Our Faculty

See a list of our undergraduate faculty.

Practical Experience and 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 faculty mentors who will guide them through their research projects. 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 and Further Study

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, the 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, including positions as:

  • Consumer safety officers
  • Drug analysts
  • Manufacturing/production technologists
  • Marketing/sales drug detail representatives
  • Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers
  • Research associates in: Bioanalysis, drug delivery, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics
  • Science librarians


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:

  • Biochemists
  • Health careers
  • Pharmacologists
  • Professors
  • Researchers


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 within 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%

Additional Information

Links to Further Information About This Program