Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program within the VCU School of Pharmacy will equip students with the knowledge, technical and functional skills essential for the development of innovative pharmaceutical products and therapies that will help improve the quality of human life.

With a strong foundation in basic and applied sciences and hands-on training in teaching laboratories, students will be prepared to tackle real-world problems during on and off-campus experiential learning opportunities while pursuing their degrees. These opportunities include an externship and a yearlong capstone project where student teams, under the supervision of a faculty expert, will work to address open-ended problems in pharmaceutical sciences.

Graduates of the program will be prepared to seek entry-level positions in life sciences industry, research and development, service laboratories and government agencies or to pursue advanced graduate and professional studies. Students will be prepared to work in areas related to the development, formulation, characterization, manufacturing, quality control and assurance, marketing and sales, clinical research coordination, drug safety and pharmacovigilance, medical writing and communication, and regulatory affairs of pharmaceutical products and therapies.

Student learning outcomes

• Demonstrate professionalism and ethical conduct expected of pharmaceutical scientists.
• Explain the fundamental principles of pharmaceutical sciences as they relate to the discovery, development, manufacturing and approval of pharmaceutical products and therapies.
• Employ basic and advanced pharmaceutical sciences knowledge, skills and attitudes to design and test drug products and therapies.
• Apply critical thinking, team science, innovative mindset and advanced problem-solving skills to address problems in pharmaceutical sciences.
• Compare the strengths and limitations of different processes, methods and tools in the discovery, development, manufacturing and approval of drug products and therapies.
• Create solutions to "real world" problems in pharmaceutical sciences using basic and advanced pharmaceutical sciences knowledge, skills and appropriate attitudes.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

For more information, please visit the B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences website. 

Degree requirements for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.

Recommended course sequence/plan of study 

Freshman year
Fall semester		Hours
BIOL 151	Introduction to Biological Sciences I (satisfies general education BOK for natural science and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)	3
BIOZ 151	Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I	1
CHEM 101	General Chemistry I (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)	3
CHEZ 101	General Chemistry Laboratory I	1
MATH 151	Precalculus Mathematics (satisfies general education quantitative foundations)	4
PSCI 101	Career Exploration in Pharmaceutical Sciences I	1
UNIV 111 Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication	Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations)	3
	Term Hours:	16
Spring semester
BIOL 152	Introduction to Biological Sciences II	3
BIOZ 152	Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II	1
CHEM 102	General Chemistry II	3
CHEZ 102	General Chemistry Laboratory II	1
MATH 200	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	4
PSCI 102	Career Exploration in Pharmaceutical Sciences II	1
UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II	Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations)	3
	Term Hours:	16
Sophomore year
Fall semester
BIOL 205	Basic Human Anatomy	4
CHEM 301 & CHEZ 301	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
STAT 210	Basic Practice of Statistics	3
PSCI 201	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Product Development I	1
UNIV 200	Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations)	3
	Term Hours:	16
Spring semester
CHEM 302 & CHEZ 302	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	5
PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206	Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory	4
PSCI 202	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Product Development II	1
PSCI 320	Molecules to Medicine I	2
	Term Hours:	12
Junior year
Fall semester
BIOL 300	Cellular and Molecular Biology	3
BIOL 303	Microbiology	3
CHEM 403	Biochemistry I	3
PSCI 330	Molecules to Medicine II	2
General education courses		6
	Term Hours:	17
Spring semester
BIOL 455	Immunology	3
PHYS 201	General Physics I (satisfies general education BOK for natural science and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)	4
PSCZ 355	Analytical Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences	2
PSCI 420	Molecules to Medicine III	2
ECON 203	Introduction to Economics	3
	Term Hours:	14
Summer semester
PSCI 395	Experiential Rotation	2
	Term Hours:	2
Senior year
Fall semester
PSCI 430	Principles of Drug Action	2
PSCI 481	Capstone Experience in Pharmaceutical Sciences I	2
PSCI 493	Seminar in Pharmaceutical Sciences I	1
PSCZ 425	Molecules to Medicine Laboratory	2
Open electives		7
	Term Hours:	14
Spring semester
PSCI 370	Drug Dosage Form Development	2
PSCZ 375	Drug Dosage Form Development Laboratory	1
PSCI 450	Molecular and Cellular Therapy	2
PSCI 482	Capstone Experience in Pharmaceutical Sciences II	2
PSCI 494	Seminar in Pharmaceutical Sciences II	1
Open electives		5
	Term Hours:	13
	Total Hours:	120

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Accelerated B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Doctor of Pharmacy

This accelerated B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharm.D. 3+4 program strikes an innovative and highly beneficial balance between students taking eight years to enter the pharmacy profession (earning a full four-year baccalaureate degree then a four-year professional degree) and students completing the bare minimum prerequisite courses, which allows them to enter the pharmacy profession in as little as six years (two years at community colleges then a four-year professional degree). The accelerated opportunity allows students to save one year of time and tuition costs while receiving both a high quality baccalaureate degree in a STEM field and a first professional degree allowing them to enter a diversity of fields including clinical practice, health care administration and pharmaceutical industry. 

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should submit an Accelerated Program Declaration form to the Bachelor's of pharmaceutical sciences program director and the School of Pharmacy associate dean for academic and faculty affairs, who serves as the Pharm.D. program director, prior to junior year. 

Minimum qualifications for entrance to the accelerated program include completion of 93 undergraduate credit hours including 45 credit hours earned at VCU (if applicable), with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and professional degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the professional program. During the fall of junior year the student applies to the Pharm.D. program. Notification of acceptance into the Pharm.D. program is received during the spring semester of junior year.

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

A maximum of 27 Doctor of Pharmacy credits may count for credit in the baccalaureate degree. 15 professional credits will substitute for major core requirements in the pharmaceutical sciences baccalaureate degree program. 12 professional credits will substitute for open electives in the pharmaceutical sciences baccalaureate degree program. These courses are shared credits, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and professional degree requirements.

The Pharm.D. courses taken as a professional student, once a student is admitted to the program, that count toward the baccalaureate degree program are:

Recommended course sequence/plan of study 

Freshman year
Fall semester		Hours
BIOL 151 & BIOZ 151	Introduction to Biological Sciences I and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I	4
CHEM 101 & CHEZ 101	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I	4
MATH 151	Precalculus Mathematics	4
PSCI 101	Career Exploration in Pharmaceutical Sciences I	1
UNIV 111 Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication	Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication	3
	Term Hours:	16
Spring semester
BIOL 152 & BIOZ 152	Introduction to Biological Sciences II and Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II	4
CHEM 102 & CHEZ 102	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II	4
MATH 200	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I	4
PSCI 102	Career Exploration in Pharmaceutical Sciences II	1
UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II	Focused Inquiry II	3
	Term Hours:	16
Sophomore year
Fall semester
BIOL 205	Basic Human Anatomy	4
CHEM 301 & CHEZ 301	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	5
STAT 210	Basic Practice of Statistics	3
PSCI 201	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Product Development I	1
UNIV 200	Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication	3
	Term Hours:	16
Spring semester
CHEM 302 & CHEZ 302	Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	5
PHIS 206 & PHIZ 206	Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory	4
PSCI 202	Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Product Development II	1
PSCI 320	Molecules to Medicine I	2
	Term Hours:	12
Junior year
Fall semester
BIOL 300	Cellular and Molecular Biology	3
BIOL 303	Microbiology	3
CHEM 403	Biochemistry I	3
PSCI 330	Molecules to Medicine II	2
General education courses		6
	Term Hours:	17
Spring semester
BIOL 455	Immunology	3
ECON 203	Introduction to Economics	3
PHYS 201	General Physics I	4
PSCI 370 & PSCZ 375	Drug Dosage Form Development and Drug Dosage Form Development Laboratory	3
PSCI 420	Molecules to Medicine III	2
PSCZ 355	Analytical Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences	2
	Term Hours:	14
Summer semester
PSCI 395	Experiential Rotation	2
	Term Hours:	2
P1 year
Fall semester
IPEC 501	Foundations of Interprofessional Practice	1
MEDC 527	Basic Pharmaceutical Principles for the Practicing Pharmacist	3
MEDC 533	Pharmacognosy	1
PCEU 507	Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics I	2.5
PHAR 501	Pharmaceutical Calculations	1
PHAR 505	Pathophysiology and Patient Assessment Skills	3
PHAR 515	Continuous Professional Development I (Satisfies PSCI 493; continues)	-
PHAR 523	Foundations I (Satisfies PSCZ 425)	2
PHAR 545	The U.S. Health Care System	1.5
PHAR 652	Health Promotion and Communication in Pharmacy Practice (Satisfies PSCI 494)	2
	Term Hours:	17
Spring semester
MEDC 553	Concepts in the Medicinal Chemistry of Therapeutics Agents (Satisfies PSCI 430) 1	1
PCEU 508	Pharmacokinetics	3
PCEU 509	Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics II (Satisfies PSCI 370)	3
PHAR 506	Nonprescription Medications and Self-care	2
PHAR 515	Continuous Professional Development I (Satisfies PSCI 493)	1
PHAR 524	Foundations II (Satisfies PSCZ 375)	1.5
PHAR 530	Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Practice (Satisfies PSCI 481 & PSCI 482)	4
PHAR 544	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Cardiovascular (Satisfies PSCI 450) 1	4.5
PHTX 606	Introduction to Pharmacology of Therapeutic Agents (Satisfies PSCI 430) 1	1
	Term Hours:	21
P2 year
Fall semester
MEDC 542	Biotechnology-derived Therapeutic Agents 1	1
PCEU 601	Applied Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacogenomics	2.5
PHAR 508	Evidence-based Pharmacy I	2
PHAR 534	Foundations III	1.5
PHAR 546	Pharmacy-based Immunization Delivery 1	1.5
PHAR 555	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Endocrinology 1	2.5
PHAR 603	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Respiratory/Immunology 1	2.5
PHAR 615	Continuous Professional Development II (continues)	-
PHAR 618	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition 1	2.5
Elective 2		2
	Term Hours:	18
Spring semester
IPEC 502	Interprofessional Quality Improvement and Patient Safety	1
PHAR 502	Introduction to Pharmacoeconomics	1
PHAR 503	Ethics and Equity	1.5
PHAR 511	Evidence-based Pharmacy II	2
PHAR 532	Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital Practice	3
PHAR 535	Foundations IV	1.5
PHAR 604	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Infectious Diseases 1	4
PHAR 606	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Nephrology/Urology 1	2
PHAR 615	Continuous Professional Development II	1
Elective 2		2
	Term Hours:	19
P3 year
Fall semester
PHAR 507	Introduction to Health Informatics	1
PHAR 551	Pharmacy-based Point of Care Testing 1	1.5
PHAR 556	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Neurology 1	3.5-4
PHAR 602	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Psychiatry 1	3
PHAR 605	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Hematology/Oncology 1	2.5
PHAR 640	Foundations V	1.5
PHAR 715	Continuous Professional Development III (continues)	-
Elective 2		2
	Term Hours:	15
Spring semester
IPEC 560	Interprofessional Collaborative Care for Older Adults	1
PHAR 533	Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Patient Care	.5
PHAR 609	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Reproductive Health, Dermatology, EENT, Bone and Joint 1	3.5
PHAR 645	Foundations VI	1.5
PHAR 702	Pharmacy Practice Management	2.5
PHAR 703	Clinical Therapeutics Module: Complex Patient Cases and Critical Care 1	3.5
PHAR 715	Continuous Professional Development III	1
PHAR 724	Pharmacy Law	2.5
Elective 2		2
	Term Hours:	18
P4 year (over 45 weeks)
Fall semester
PHAR 730	Continuous Professional Development IV	.5
PHAR 760	Acute Care Pharmacy Practice I	5
PHAR 761	Advanced Hospital Pharmacy Practice	5
PHAR 763	Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice	5
PHAR 765	Elective I	5
PHAR 766	Elective II	5
PHAR 767	Clinical Selective I	5
PHAR 768	Advanced Community Pharmacy Practice	5
PHAR 773	Acute Care Pharmacy Practice II	5
	Term Hours:	40.5
	Total Hours:	241.5