Saving & Improving Lives Through Medication: Pharmaceutical Science Degree
Do you aspire to help finding new cures for ailments or discover new ways to make life easier for those who suffer from medical conditions? Perhaps you dream of becoming a pharmaceutical researcher. Whatever the case may be, the biggest step you can take towards turning these goals into a reality is obtaining a pharmaceutical science degree. This type of degree is not only versatile and relevant, but also covers a variety of topics that make up the pharmaceutical science industry. It can help you to gain access to the exciting career paths that become available to students who are educated in the testing and administration of medicines. Both undergraduate and graduate degrees are available, so you can choose whether you want to work in the industry or use your knowledge for research instead.
Pharmaceutical Science Degree Information
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree is aimed at providing students with the training required for careers that deal with the discovery, development as well as commercialization of drugs. Completing this degree takes about four years as it covers everything foundational coursework in basic sciences and mathematics to more advanced topics in pharmaceutical sciences. Course topics include, biochemistry for pharmaceutical scientists, immunology, drug discovery and development, dosage forms, physical chemistry and more. This type of course also includes special interest selectives, such as physical chemical principles, advanced biopharmaceutics, applied regression analysis and design of experiments.
Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Students who are interested in a career related to the discovery and development of cutting edge drugs and therapies can continue on to complete a two year Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree. This type of degree can open a lot of doors in the pharmaceutical industry and is useful for those who want to become researchers at national laboratories, universities or government and non-profit agencies. The curriculum for this degree may consist of drug discovery and development, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmaceutical sciences research methods, advanced principles of drug action and medical diagnostics. A thesis typically forms part of this type of degree as well.
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences
This type of degree is also available as a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences. This degree is aimed at those with an interest in researching areas such as structural biology or microbiology, pharmacokinetics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology or other diverse topics in the field. Completing this degree may enable you to pursue a variety of career options in either the pharmaceutical industry or academia. The curriculum includes topics that range from research rotations, biostatistics and principles of drug action to pharmaceutical analysis, ethics, regulations and the pharmaceutical pipeline. Elective courses may include biologics, medical diagnostics, proteomics and advanced pharmacokinetics. This degree usually requires you to complete a dissertation and can typically only be done if you have a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences or related fields such as chemistry, biotechnology or biology.
Pharmaceutical Science FAQs
Can I Obtain This Type of Degree Online?
If you require the flexibility to keep your job while also studying you’ll benefit from making use of an online program. Options are available to study pharmaceutical science online and it is just as interactive as campus based counterparts thanks to collaborative courses and online modules. Typically, students can start with a graduate certificate or begin working towards their master’s degree. This makes online studying ideal for people who are already working in research facilities, pharmaceutical companies or laboratory.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate To Study For This Degree?
In addition to being eager to work in the pharmaceutical industry, you should also have decent grades in chemistry, biology, physics, maths and other subjects that are related to the field. Your research and analytical skills will come in very handy and since you will also be working with other people it is important to have good communication skills. Because you might end up working with a lot of data it is useful to have an eye for detail and, of course, patience.
What Are My Potential Career Options After Studying Pharmaceutical Science?
After obtaining a degree in pharmaceutical science you should be well prepared for jobs that involves the creation as well as administration and testing of drugs and medicines. Jobs might also be available in areas such as marketing, sales and quality assurance. Potential employers include pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, pharmacies, universities, research facilities and even biotechnology firms. You could be employed as a drug analyst, scientific engineer, safety officer, research associate, pharmacist or any of the other related jobs in this field.
How Much Can I Potentially Earn When Working In This Field?
The knowledge and skills gained from completing a pharmaceutical science degree can be useful for a variety of careers, ranging from research to sales. Your salary potential will depend on which one of these occupations you choose and how much experience you have. For example, chemists and materials scientists earned about $72,610 per hour during 2015 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while medical scientists earned about $82,240 per year. On the other hand, sales representatives for technical and scientific products earned a median salary of $76,190 per year, with those
What Are The Other Benefits To Studying Pharmaceutical Science?
Without the groundbreaking work done by people working in the field of pharmaceutical science, there would have been a lot less treatment options available to combat the diseases faced by mankind. In the past, thousands have died of diseases such as tuberculosis until the drugs needed to save people were discovered. However, out of the thousands of new drugs that are tested each year, only a few yield the desired results, so when working in this field you can make a big difference in the lives of others. If helping to save lives is not rewarding enough already, this industry also offers the opportunity to earn a high salary if you have the right qualifications and experience.
