Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Duquesne University School of Pharmacy offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences independent of the Doctor of Pharmacy degree to students interested in pharmaceutical research. The B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences is open to first-year students or easily allows for transfer from the Pharm.D. program during the junior year. Students in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program choose a concentration from four different disciplines:

  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutics
  • Pharmacy Administration

The Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences does not meet the educational requirements for licensure as a pharmacist and eligibility for NAPLEX/MPJE.

Years 1 & 2

Course Number Course Title Credits
BIOL 111 Biology I: Cells, Genetics, Development with Laboratory 4
BIOL 203 Introductory Microbiology 3
BIOL 204 Introductory Microbiology Laboratory 1
BIOL 207 Anatomy & Physiology I 3
BIOL 209 Anatomy & Physiology II 3
CHEM 121 & 122 General Chemistry I & II 10
CHEM 211 & 212 Organic Chemistry I & II 8
MATH 115 Calculus I 4
MATH 116 Calculus II 4
BRDG 101 Writing and Analysis 3
BRDG 102 Writing and Literature 3
BRDG 103 Interprofessional Education Health Research Skills 1
BRDG 105 Introduction to Ethical Reasoning 3
ENGL 302W Scientific Writing 3

EQ 101, 103, 108, 110, 118, 120 or 121

Essential Questions Seminar - Choose One 3
MATH 225 Biostatistics 3
PHIL 252 Health Care Ethics: Philosophy 3
HIST 151 or 214 Global History - Choose One 3
THEO 141 or 142 Theology 3
  Years 1 & 2 Total 68

Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmaceutics Tracks

126 Credits

Year 3 Fall

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 330 Pathophysiology and Clinical Assessment 4
PHBM 350 Biochemistry I: Peptides and Carbohydrate Metabolism 3
PHCE 360 / 360R Pharmaceutics I with Recitation 3
MATH 525W Applied Statistics with Regression 3
  Elective (discipline approved) 3
  Years 3 Fall Total 16

Year 3 Spring

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 331 Immunology and Pathophysiology 3
PHBM 351 Biochemistry II: Metabolism, Protein Synthesis & Nucleic Acids 3
PHCE 361 / 361R Pharmaceutics II with Recitation 3
COMM 202W Business and Professional Communication 3
  Electives (discipline approved) 3
  Years 3 Spring Total 15
  Years 3 Total 31

Year 4 Fall

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHCE 430 Biopharmaceutics 3
CHEM 340 Instrumental Analysis 3
CHEM 301 Physical Chemistry for Life Science 4
GPSC 469  Independent Study/Senior Thesis (experiential) 2
  Electives (discipline approved) 3
  Years 4 Fall Total 15

Year 4 Spring

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 356 / 356R Foundations in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 3
GPSC 470 Independent Study/Senior Thesis (capstone) 2
  Electives (discipline approved) 3
  Electives (general) 6
  Years 4 Spring Total 14
  Years 4 Total 29

Pharmacology Track

125 Credits

Year 3 Fall

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 330 Pathophysiology and Clinical Assessment 4
PHBM 350 Biochemistry I: Peptides and Carbohydrate Metabolism 3
PHCE 360 / 360R Pharmaceutics I with Recitation 3
GPSC 540 Introduction to Scientific Writing 2
  Elective (discipline approved) 3
  Years 3 Fall Total 15

Year 3 Spring

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 331 Immunology and Pathophysiology 3
PHBM 351 Biochemistry II: Metabolism, Protein Synthesis & Nucleic Acids 3
PHCE 361 / 361R Pharmaceutics II with Recitation 3
COMM 202W Business and Professional Communication 3
  Electives (discipline approved) 3
  Years 3 Spring Total 15
  Years 3 Total 32

Year 4 Fall

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHCE 430 Biopharmaceutics 3
CHEM 340 Instrumental Analysis 3
GPSC 576 Neuronal Pharmacology & Toxicological Principles 3
GPSC 469  Independent Study/Senior Thesis (experiential) 2
  Electives (discipline approved) 3
  Years 4 Fall Total 14

Year 4 Spring

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHBM 356 / 356R Foundations in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 3
GPSC 470 Independent Study/Senior Thesis (capstone) 2
  Electives 9
  Years 4 Spring Total 14
  Years 4 Total 28

Pharmacy Administration Track

126 Credits

Year 3 Fall

Course Number Course Title Credits
HLTS 285 Foundations of Health Promotion and Disease Mitigation 3
PHBA 310 American Healthcare System 2
PBHL 301 or
HLTM 211
Introduction to Epidemiology 3
HADM 311W Healthcare Law and Policy 3
MATH 525W Applied Statistics with Regression 3
  Years 3 Fall Total 14

Year 3 Spring

Course Number Course Title Credits
COMM 399 Global and Cultural Issues in Health Communication 3
PHBL 201 Introduction to Public Health 3
MATH 435 Fundamentals of Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis 3
HADM 317 Health Informatics 3
PMHP 205 Medical Terminology for Pre-Health Students 1
  Electives (discipline approved) 3
  Years 3 Spring Total 16
  Years 3 Total 30

Year 4 Fall

Course Number Course Title Credits
PHPR 448 Pharmacy Practice IV: Drug Literature Evaluations 2
GPSC 469 Independent Study/Senior Thesis (experiential) 2
  Electives (discipline approved) 9
  Years 4 Fall Total 13

Year 4 Spring

Course Number Course Title Credits
GPSC 470 Independent Study/Senior thesis (capstone) 2
  Electives (discipline approved) 6
  Electives (general) 6
  Years 4 Spring Total 14
  Years 4 Total 27