Pharmaceutical Science
Are you curious about how medications actually work to prevent and treat disease? Do you want to know what makes some medications safer and more effective than others? Are you driven to find new ways to help people with cancer, heart disease or asthma live longer, healthier lives? This program—internationally renowned and one of the first of its kind in the U.S.—is designed specifically for students who want to discover, develop and optimize drugs.
What will I learn?
As a pharmaceutical sciences student, you’ll start with classes in a variety of scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, calculus and physics. From there, you’ll study physiology and pharmacology, then explore how drugs move and act within the body (including biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics). In addition, you'll learn about the safety and impact of various medications.
Pharmacy vs. Pharmaceutical Science
- Pharmacy leads to a PharmD degree and is for students who want to work as a pharmacist (a licensed health care provider).
- Pharmaceutical science is focused on drug discovery, development and evaluation, and is designed for students who want to work in the pharmaceutical research and manufacturing industry.
What can I do with a pharmaceutical sciences degree?
As a pharmaceutical sciences grad, you'll likely be involved in discovering medications, developing them for patients to use and ensuring they are safe. Some of the most popular careers include:
- Consumer safety expert.
- Drug analyst.
- Educator.
- Manufacturing specialist.
- Pharmaceutical marketing or sales representative.
- Research associate.
You'll be able to choose where you want to work, too. Some of your options include working at a university, a hospital, a regulatory agency such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a laboratory like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.
Of course, you can always continue your education with a graduate degree in pharmacy or pharmacology or in a related field such as medicinal chemistry, nursing, public health, medicine, bioengineering or biotechnology.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $63,070.00 | $30.32 | Rapid Growth |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $113,840.00 | N/A | Rapid Growth |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.