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Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Location: Boston
Start Term: Fall

As a pharmacologist/toxicologist, you play an important role in healthcare by discovering new therapies and developing new medicinal products. This program provides students with a solid foundation in the pharmacological and toxicological sciences for a rewarding career in drug development and research.

During this full-time, four-year undergraduate program, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside professional experts in modern laboratories designed for the study of drugs and drug safety, and develop competitive analytical, technical, and presentation skills. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, the program aims to fulfill employers’ growing demands for prospective employees to have a solid understanding of pharmacology and toxicology coupled with strong analytical and technical abilities.

Freshman applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.  

Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer in to the first, second, or third year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.

While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the block registration nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.

For Admission To Year II of the Program, An Applicant Must Have:

  • General Biology I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • General Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Calculus I & II  (6 credits)
  • Expository Writing I & II (6 credits)
  • American Culture, Identity, and Public Life (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Introduction to Sociology or upper-level sociology course)

For Admission To Year III of the Program, An Applicant Must Have:

  • Organic Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Microbiology with lab (4 credits)
  • Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
  • Molecular Biology (3 credits)
  • Physics I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Introduction to Speech (3 credits)

Year I-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 150L Biology I Laboratory 1
BIO 151 Biology I: Cell and Molecular Biology 3
CHE 131 Chemical Principles I (w/ lab) 4
FYS 101 First Year Seminar 1
LIB 111 Expository Writing I 3
MAT 151 Calculus I 3
TOTAL
15

Year I-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 152 Biology II: Biology of Organisms (w/ lab) 4
CHE 132 Chemical Principles II (w/ lab) 4
LIB 112 Expository Writing II 3
LIB 120 Introduction to Psychology OR 3
LIB 133 American Culture, Identity, and Public Life
MAT 152 Calculus II 3
TOTAL
17

Year II-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
CHE 231 Organic Chemistry (w/ lab) 4
LIB 252 Introduction to Speech 3
PHY 270 Foundations of Physics I 3
LIB 120
Introduction to Psychology OR
3
LIB 133
American Culture, Identity, and Public Life
PHY 272L Foundations of Physics I Lab 1

Distributive Elective 3
TOTAL
17

Year II-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
BIO 255 Medical Microbiology (w/ lab) 4
BIO 260 Molecular Biology 3
CHE 232 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHE 234L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1
PHY 274 Foundations of Physics II (w/ lab) 4
TOTAL
15

Year III-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
MAT 261 Statistics 3
PSB 328 Physiology & Pathophysiology I 4
PSB 331 Biochemistry I 3
PSB 370 Analytical Methods in Pharmacology & Toxicology I 3
PSB 401 Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar I 1

Distributive elective 3
TOTAL
17

Year III-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
LIB 512 Healthcare Ethics 3
PSB 329 Physiology & Pathophysiology II 4
PSB 332 Biochemistry II 3
PSB 371 Analytical Methods in Pharmacology & Toxicology II 3
PSB 402 Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar II 1

Distributive elective 3
TOTAL
17

Year IV-Fall

There will be two tracks for the 4th year of the program; half the students will do their research project or internship in the fall semester and half will fulfill this requirement in the spring semester.

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
PSB 372 Analytical Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology III 3
PSB 403 Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar III 1
PSB 460 Principles of Toxicology I 3
PSB 462 Basic Pharmacology I 3

Program electives 6
TOTAL
16

* Students may substitute a biostatistics course.

Year IV-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS
PSB 404 Pharmacology & Toxicology Seminar IV 1
PSB 461 Principles of Toxicology II 3
PSB 464 Basic Pharmacology II 3
PSB 535 Senior Research Project or Industrial Internship 5
TOTAL
12

Total credits to complete degree requirements: 126 s.h.

Elective Requirements

Students in the BS in PharmTox 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 COF also may be acceptable upon approval of the students' academic advisor or the program director.

Recommended Electives

COURSE TITLE
BIO 430 Molecular Biology of Cancer
BIO 734 Immunology
PSB 210 Economics
PSB 261 Management
PSB 359 Marketing
PSB 375 Fundamentals of Drug Development
PSB 410 FDA & Regulatory Affairs
PSB 415 Accounting
PSB 420 Pharmaceutical Analysis/Laboratory
PSB 430 Pharmacokinetics I
PSB 432 Pharmacokinetics II
PSB 440 Molecular Biotechnology
PSB 444 Organizational Development
PSB 456 Entrepreneurship
PSB 530 Undergraduate Research Credit

Our students learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields and are committed to the success of each student. Discover our full list of Pharmacology and Toxicology faculty.