Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Boston, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 36,060 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; applicants are encouraged to apply early, as space is limited
** this program offers merit-based scholarships up to a maximum of $18,000 per year
Introduction
The study of pharmacology and toxicology prepares students for a career in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry or the research and development sector. It also provides a competitive edge on all pre-professional tracks, whether you want to pursue medical, veterinary, or pharmacy school. As an undergraduate student, you will attain a high-level understanding of advanced sciences that will set you apart from other post-baccalaureate or pre-professional students. The curriculum prepares you with courses, such as Basic Pharmacology, Principles of Toxicology, and Analytical Methods in Pharmacology & Toxicology, that you would otherwise only be introduced to in a professional program.
A unique quality of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology is that it provides students the option to become a board-certified toxicologist without needing to obtain a graduate-level degree. With this bachelor’s degree, you would be eligible to become a board-certified toxicologist after just 10 years of relevant toxicological work experience—and with a master’s degree, just five years of experience.
During this full-time, four-year undergraduate program, you will have the opportunity to work alongside professional experts in modern laboratories designed for the study of drugs and environmental chemicals, as well as drug and chemical safety. This program will provide students with the tools needed to develop strong analytical, technical, and presentation skills.
What is pharmacology? “Pharmacology is the science of how drugs act on biological systems and how the body responds to the drug. The study of pharmacology encompasses the sources, chemical properties, biological effects, and therapeutic uses of drugs. . . . Pharmacology integrates the knowledge of many disciplines, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and veterinary medicine. This integrative nature allows pharmacology to make unique and significant contributions to human health.” – American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
What is toxicology? “Toxicology is the study of adverse effects of chemical, physical, or biological agents on living organisms and the ecosystem, including the prevention and amelioration of the effects.” – Society of Toxicology
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
This program offers merit-based scholarships up to a maximum of $18,000 per year.
Curriculum
Year I-Fall
- Biology I Laboratory
- Biology I: Cell and Molecular Biology
- Chemical Principles I
- Chemical Principles I Laboratory
- Introduction to the Major
- Expository Writing I
- Calculus I
Year I-Spring
- Biology II: Biology of Organisms
- Biology II: Biology of Organisms Laboratory
- Chemical Principles II
- Chemical Principles II Laboratory
- Expository Writing II
- Introduction to Psychology or
- American Culture, Identity, and Public Life
- Calculus II
Year II-Fall
- Organic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory
- Introduction to Psychology OR
- American Culture, Identity, and Public Life
- Introduction to Speech
- Foundations of Physics I
- Foundations of Physics I Laboratory
- Distributive Elective
Year II-Spring
- Medical Microbiology
- Medical Microbiology Laboratory
- Molecular Biology
- Organic Chemistry II
- Foundations of Physics II
- Foundations of Physics II Laboratory
Year III-Fall
- Statistics
- Principles of Anatomy and Physiology I
- Biochemistry I
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar I
- Distributive elective
Year III-Spring
- Healthcare Ethics
- Principles of Anatomy & Physiology II
- Biochemistry II
- Analytical Methods in Pharmacology & Toxicology I
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar II
- Distributive elective
Year IV-Fall
- Analytical Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology II
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar III
- Principles of Toxicology I
- Basic Pharmacology I
Program electives
Research or Curricular Track
Fourth-year students will be required to designate their selected track (research vs. curricular) by end of add/drop period of the fall semester of senior year to facilitate appropriate course registration. The research track provides students the ability to participate in a senior research project in parallel with a seminar course during the spring semester.
Year IV-Spring (Research Track)
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar IV
- Principles of Toxicology II
- Basic Pharmacology II
- Senior Research Project or Industrial Internship
Year IV-Spring (Curricular Track)
- Course #1
- Principles of Toxicology II
- Basic Pharmacology II
- Course #2
*Course #1 and Course #2 would come from the following select list:
- Molecular Biotechnology – 3 credits – offered in Spring semester
- Physicochemical Properties of Drug Molecules – 3 credits – offered in Fall semester
- Pharmacokinetics – 3 credits – offered in Spring semester
- Immunology – 3 credits – offered in Fall semester
- Pharmacognosy – 3 credits – offered in Fall semester
- Molecular Biology of Cancer – 3 credits – offered in Spring semester
- Pharmaceutical Analysis/Lab – 3 credits – offered in Fall semester
Students selecting the curricular track cannot utilize courses from the above list as additionally fulfilling program elective requirements.
Elective Requirements
Students in the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology program are required to select a minimum of two program elective courses (or at least 6 credits) in areas of pharmacology, biotechnology, or toxicology. The following is a list of acceptable courses. Other courses offered by the Colleges of the Fenway also may be acceptable upon approval of the student’s academic advisor or the program director.
- Recommended Electives
- Molecular Biology of Cancer
- Immunology
- Medical Parasitology
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing
- Fundamentals of Drug Development
- FDA and Regulatory Affairs
- Accounting
- Pharmaceutical Analysis/Laboratory
- Pharmacokinetics I
- Molecular Biotechnology
- Organizational Development
- Entrepreneurship
- Undergraduate Research Credit
English Language Requirements
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