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Programs

Pharmaceutical Sciences Minor

Deepen your scientific foundation. Expand your career possibilities.

“Research opened the door to a community that challenged me to think beyond the box and explore more.” 

Launching in the summer of 2026, the Pharmaceutical Sciences Minor gives students a multidisciplinary understanding of how medications are discovered, developed, delivered, and used to improve health. Students gain foundations across medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and health economics/outcomes research, preparing them for research roles, graduate study, and health‑related professions including pharmacy.

Who is it for?
The minor is the best fit for students in STEM majors such as biology, chemistry, neuroscience, chemical engineering, biochemistry, public health, or pre‑health pathways who want deeper scientific training relevant to drug development, therapeutics, and health policy.

Why Study Pharmaceutical Sciences?

The pharmaceutical sciences are rapidly evolving with advances like personalized medicine, biologics, and AI‑accelerated drug design. The minor responds to regional and national demand for graduates with technical and analytical skills in these fields.

This minor helps you:

  • Build strong preparation for graduate programs in pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, or health economics
  • Strengthen your applications to professional health programs (medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, etc.)
  • Gain exposure to real‑world scientific research and biotech/biomedical career pathways

At A Glance

  • Credits required: 35
  • Core credits: 25–28
  • Electives: Minimum 7 credits
  • Minimum GPA: 2.0 cumulative
  • Residency requirement: 16 credits at UW Seattle
Core Requirements 25-28 Credits
  • PHRMSC 311 Drugs, Diseases, and the Quest for Better Health Outcomes (3)
  • PHRMSC 312 The Science of Drugs (3)
  • PHRMSC 313 Drug Disposition and Delivery (3)
  • One Year General Chemistry (CHEM 142, 152, 162 or equivalent)
  • One Quarter Organic Chemistry (CHEM 223 or CHEM 237 or equivalent)
Elective Requirements 7+ Credits
  • PCEUT 201 Drug Discovery, Development and Beyond: Careers and Controversies (3)
  • PHRMSC 330 Introduction to Health Economics (3)
  • PHRMSC 401/PHARM 401 Principles of Pharmacology (2)
  • PHRMSC 431 Global Health Pharmacy: Medicines, Practice, and Policy (2)
  • PHRMSC 432 Intro to Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (2)
  • PHRMSC 441 Intro Mass Spectrometry (2)
  • PHRMSC 451/PCEUT 451 Intro to Drug Discovery and Development (2)
  • PHRMSC 452 Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics (2)
  • PHRMSC 480 Current Trends in Pharmacy Science and Practice (1)
  • PHRMSC 481 Current Trends in Medicinal Chemistry (1)
  • PHRMSC 482 Current Trends in Pharmaceutics Research (1)
  • PHRMSC 483 Current Topics in Aging Research (1)
  • MEDCH 499, PCEUT 499, or PHARM 499 Undergraduate Research (max 3 credits)
Declare the Minor

You can declare the minor once you are in a major. Work with your major adviser to declare and our minor adviser to discuss your plans, requirements, and exceptions.