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College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology/Toxicology Major

Pharmacology is the science that deals with the origin, nature, chemistry, effects, and uses of drugs; it includes pharmacognosy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacotherapeutics, and toxicology. Pharmacology deals with the study of drugs in all aspects: the properties and reactions of drugs, especially with relation to therapeutic value, as well as the discovery, chemistry, composition, identification, biological/physiological effects, uses and manufacture of drugs. Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemical, physical or biological agents and toxic compounds on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of such adverse effects. Pharmacologists and toxicologists study how to develop safe, effective drugs and prevent the harmful effects of chemicals.

What can I do with a major in Pharmacology/Toxicology?

This major prepares students for medical school (Pre-Med). Graduates are also prepared to work as pharmacologists and toxicologists in the biomedical industry, pharmaceutical industry, nutritional industries, environmental conservation and pollution control, scientific civil service, governmental agencies, forensic sciences, and research institutes. Graduates can move on to graduate studies in most biomedical fields.

Career Opportunities

  • Research Associate/Scientist
  • Lab Director
  • Study Director
  • Lab Technician
  • Animal Care Provider
  • Risk Assessment
  • Product Developer
  • Clinical Development and Testing
  • Cancer Researcher
  • Quality Control/Quality Assurance Personnel
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Consultant
  • Product Safety Evaluator
  • Patent Attorney

Types Of Employers

Private and Non-profit Organizations

  • Pharmaceutical Industry Companies
  • Biotechnology Companies
  • Colleges/Universities
  • Managed Care Systems
  • Hospitals/Medical Centers
  • Nuclear Pharmacies
  • Clinical Research Organizations
  • Research Foundations

Government Agencies

  • U.S. Public Health Service
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Food and Drug Administration
  • Department of Defense
  • National Institutes of Health
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

CURRICULUM

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply principles of physical, biological, and administrative sciences to successfully solve problems in the pharmaceutical sciences. (a) Interpret the results of studies as presented in reviews and in the primary literature. (b) Apply the concepts of controlled experimentation and evidence-based practice. (c) Be able to use primary literature and reference materials to acquire and evaluate relevant information and frame questions requiring further research. (d) Be able to begin a process of a critical evaluation of technical issues related to the pharmaceutical sciences.
  2. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with other professionals and the public; write an interpretable technical report and/or business plans.
  3. Work cooperatively as part of both disciplinary and interdisciplinary teams.
  4. Apply the basic principles of chemistry, life science, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and biochemistry as they apply to the activity of drugs, biological, and toxins.
  5. Be able to apply appropriate computer technology to create effective written, graphic, and oral presentations.
  6. Apply computer technology to the collection, processing, and analysis of data appropriate to a student’s specialty.
  7. Discuss the organization of the scientific community and the roles of academia, government, and private industry as well as how this organization affects research, drug development, health care, and technical decision making.
  8. Develop skills to carry out duties in accordance with accepted legal, ethical, social, economic, and professional practices and interact in a professional manner with managers, colleagues, and subordinates.
  9. Develop the skills necessary to maintain professional competence and incorporate new developments and technologies into practice.
  10. Recognize key contemporary problems in a discipline, and understand how these are being addressed through research.
  11. Utilize a variety of pharmacologic/toxicological laboratory techniques necessary for research.

Resources

Last Updated: 8/15/22