What are pharmaceutical sciences?
Pharmaceutical Sciences are a broad range of scientific disciplines involved in the discovery, development and manufacturing of drug products.
Scientific disciplines include:
- Math: Calculus, Statistics
- Biology: Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, Molecular Biology
- Chemistry: Analytical, Biochemistry, Organic
- Physics
How are pharmaceutical scientists different from pharmacists?
Pharmaceutical scientists are involved in the development of new or existing drugs and spend most of their time in research laboratories. Pharmacists work with existing drugs and the patient care associated with dispensing medications.
The Pharmaceutical Sciences Major
Students who declare their major as Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science (BSPS) must satisfy all the College of Arts and Sciences requirements in Campbell University’s Undergraduate Academic Bulletin.
Prior to entering the major, students must complete a minimum of 64 semester hours from the core liberal arts curriculum in addition to the following courses or their equivalents:
- Basic Biology
- Calculus
- General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- General Physics (2 semesters)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Organic Chemistry (2 semesters)
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Internships
Students complete an extensive internship in the BSPS program during their final semester, providing them with hands-on experience and preparation for a career in the pharmaceutical industry. There are hundreds of pharmaceutical research and manufacturing sites located in North Carolina. A majority of these companies are in the Research Triangle Park, which is less than 45 miles away from Campbell University.
Additionally, there are several major research universities and government agencies nearby. Students may choose an internship site based upon their future career goals including academic, research, manufacturing, or regulatory sites. Many BSPS graduates gain employment as a direct result of their internships.
Internship Sites
Below is a representative list of internship placements, students are not limited to completing internships at these organizations:
- Alcami
- Barry-Wehmiller Design Group
- BiogenIdec
- BTEC Analytical Lab
- Burt’s Bees
- Catalent
- Patheon
- EI, Inc.
- Eisai
- Filltech
- Fujifilm Diosynth
- FDA
- GlaxoSmithKline (RTP and Zebulon)
- Grifols
- Liquidia
- Maine
- Medicago
- Novozymes
- PCI
- Pearl Therapeutics
- Purdue Pharma
- Sandoz
- State Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab
- Xytrus
How does the BSPS program prepare students for the highly competitive job market?
Students complete extensive internships in the BSPS program providing them with hands-on experience and preparation for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
What types of jobs are available for graduates of the BSPS program?
The majority of jobs available for BSPS graduates are in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. According to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, there are almost 1,200 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies located in the Research Triangle Park (RTP), which is less than 45 miles away from Campbell University. RTP is the third largest area for pharmaceutical and biotechnology development in the United States.
Upon graduation, more than 90% of Campbell BSPS graduates are employed and more than 95% find a job within the first six months. Many students gain employment as a direct result of their internships.
The average starting salary of a BSPS graduate is between $45,000 and $55,000. According to the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, the average base salary of an individual with a Bachelor of Science working in the pharmaceutical industry is $89,000.
Here are a few of the job titles BSPS alumni hold:
- Associate Scientist at Biogen IDEC
- Senior Scientist at GlaxoSmithKline
- Associate Biochemist at Grifols
- Project Manager at Patheon
- Research Associate at Novozymes
- Validation Manager at Metrics