Pharmaceutical Sciences BS/MS

Admission Criteria

• Acceptance into the Pharmaceutical Sciences BS program, and successful completion of the third (junior) year
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.000 required
• Minimum GPA of 3.000 in the required third year pharmaceutical sciences courses

Current UB students wishing to change their major to Pharmaceutical Sciences BS/MS must satisfy the overall GPA requirement of at least 3.000 to be accepted into the program and submit the UB SPPS Application to Major form. See the complete School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Admissions Policies for details.

Undergraduate Course Requirements

Graduate Course Requirements

Notes:

Additional graduate level PHC and other graduate departmental courses, selected in consultation with the Graduate Advisor.

Total Credits Required for Undergraduate Major: 97

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

• Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
• Elective courses as needed to complete the 149 credit hour total

Total Undergraduate Credits Required: 117

Total Graduate Credits Required for Degree: 32

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 149

Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements

Students will be reviewed each semester after grades are posted and are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in major classes (science and math) and at UB overall to be in good standing and graduate with a BS degree.

Students not meeting benchmarks will be placed in provisional status:

• Students in provisional status will receive mandatory advisement. Students must complete a self-assessment of the previous semester and develop an action plan.
• Students in provisional status at the end of their prerequisite courses will be removed from the combined degree. Students who satisfy 2.5 overall and major GPA requirements will be changed to Pharmaceutical Sciences BS. Students who do not will be changed to Exploratory Transitions.
• Students with 2 semesters of provisional status in the upper division courses will be removed from the combined degree. Students who satisfy 2.5 overall and major GPA requirements will be changed to Pharmaceutical Sciences BS. Students who do not will be changed to Exploratory Transitions.
• Students removed from the combined degree but who improve their overall UB GPA to 3.0 by the fall of their final year of undergraduate courses will be eligible to reapply for the combined BS/MS.

Students in this program will be awarded two degrees, the BS degree, and the MS degree, upon completion of all requirements.

Program Honors and Program Distinction

Eligible students must maintain a GPA of 3.200 or higher in the required third and fourth-year pharmaceutical sciences courses. Students complete a minimum of six credits of undergraduate research (PHC 498 ), performed under the supervision of one faculty member on one project. This research can be performed over two semesters or full-time during the summer. These credits may be used as electives to fulfill the requirements for the BS degree program. Students must have the support and nomination of the supervising faculty research advisor and complete PHC 497  with a minimum grade of B. Students must also meet the remaining Program Honors criteria outlined in the Academic Honors policy. 

Majors who do not pursue a thesis but have exceptional grades are eligible for Program Distinction upon degree conferral if the criteria are met.  These criteria are also found in the Academic Honors policy.

Students who successfully complete Program Honors and meet the criteria will have the appropriate notation on their official transcript. Program Distinction is also noted on the official transcript.

Curricular Plan

A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student will have knowledge and skills to:

• Demonstrate a strong knowledge of fundamental scientific principles in the pharmaceutical sciences
• Define and apply the scientific method to an undergraduate pharmaceutical research project
• Demonstrate a mastery of basic research skills through a proficiency of:
  • literature search skills and literature evaluation skills
  • standard, basic laboratory techniques
  • scientific calculations
  • laboratory data record keeping and documentation
• Apply basic research skills to a contemporary, hands-on pharmaceutical research problem
• Demonstrate a basic proficiency at effective scientific oral and written communication skills through:
  • Present an original oral podium presentation based on his/her undergraduate research project.
  • Compose a scientific research paper based on his/her undergraduate and research project.
  • Synthesize and present an original poster scientific presentation based on his/her undergraduate research project
• At the graduate level, satisfactory completion of a research project, including submission of a written project report, presentation of an open seminar, and oral defense.

(HEGIS: 12.11 PHARMACY, CIP: 51.2010 Pharmaceutical Sciences.)