DEPARTMENT OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

147 BSA; (949) 824-1239
http://www.pharmsci.uci.edu
A. Richard Chamberlin, Department Chair

Faculty / Undergraduate Program / Graduate Program / Courses

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences offers a curriculum focusing on the preparation of students for professional positions in the pharmaceutical production, control, and development sectors of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry or for graduate studies in pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, analytical chemistry, medicine, and pharmacy. Collaborative interdisciplinary research will be supported by joint faculty appointments shared with other UCI departments.

DEGREES

In addition, the Gateway Program in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology (MCP), established through the joint efforts of the Departments of Chemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offers a graduate program of study.

Undergraduate Program

The B.S. degree program in Pharmaceutical Sciences trains students in a multidisciplinary approach so that they can contribute to the advancement of new pharmaceutical technologies such as accelerated chemical synthesis, molecular-based assays using cloned enzymes and cloned metabolizing enzymes, combinatorial chemistry, in vitro biopharmaceutical techniques, and gene therapies. Pharmaceutical scientists are rapidly changing the field of drug discovery and development. The graduates of this program may seek employment in public and private sectors or choose to pursue graduate degrees such as a Ph.D., M.D., or Pharm.D.

Undergraduate Honors. Honors at graduation, e.g., cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, are awarded to approximately the top 12 percent of the graduating seniors. To be eligible for honors, a general criterion is that students must have completed at least 72 units in residence at a University of California campus. Other important factors are considered (see "Honors Recognition" in the Honors Opportunities information in the Division of Undergraduate Education section).

Admission to the Major

Students may be admitted to the Pharmaceutical Sciences major upon entering the University as freshmen, via change of major, and as transfer students from other colleges and universities.

Information about change-of-major policies is available in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences office and at http://www.changeofmajor.uci.edu.

Transfer Students: All applicants must have completed the following required courses with a grade of B- or better in all courses: one year of general chemistry courses with laboratory and/or one year of biology courses with laboratory equivalent to UCI's Biological Sciences 93 and 94. In addition, all applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Additional courses that are recommended, but not required: one year of calculus, or a combination of calculus and statistics; one year of calculus-based physics with laboratory; and one year of organic chemistry with laboratory.

Effective Fall 2013: All applicants must have completed the following required courses with a grade of B- or better in all courses: one year of general chemistry courses with laboratory courses equivalent to UCI's Chemistry 1A-B-C and 1LC and one year of biology courses equivalent to UCI's Biological Sciences 93 and 94. In addition, all applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Additional courses that are recommended, but not required: one year of calculus, or a combination of calculus and statistics; one year of calculus-based physics with laboratory; and one year of organic chemistry with laboratory.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE B.S. DEGREE IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

University Requirements: See pages 54-61.

Major Requirements

A.   Lower-Division Requirements:

1.   Chemistry 1A-B-C or H2A-B-C, and 1LC-LD or H2LB-LC or M2LB-LC; Chemistry 51A-B-C, 51LA-LB or H52A-B-C, H52LA-LB.

2.   Mathematics 2A-B and one course selected from Statistics 7, 8, Mathematics 2D, 3A, or 3D.

3.   Physics 3A-B-C, 3LB-LC.

4.   Biological Sciences 93, 94, 97, 98, 99.

B.   Upper-Division Requirements: Biological Sciences 100, 194S, Pharmaceutical Sciences 120 and 120L, 170A, 170B, 171, 172, 173, 174, 174L, 176, 177, 177L.

C.   Upper-Division Electives (8 units):

1.   One course, for students who choose electives that have these courses as prerequisites, selected from Biological Sciences D103, D104, N110.

2.   The upper-division elective units may be selected from the following courses: Biological Sciences D111L, D126, D129, D136, D137, D145, D148, D151, D153, E136, E137, E141, E142, E189, M114, M114L, M116L, M118L, M120, M121, M122, M122L, M123, M124A, M124B, M124L, M125, M128, M137, M143, M144, N113L, N153, N154, N171, Chemistry 107, 107L, 125, 128, 128L, 138, 151, 151L, 156, 160, 170, and Public Health 121. (Course may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement.)

Upper-Division Writing Requirement: Pharmaceutical Sciences majors satisfy the upper-division writing requirement by completing Biological Sciences 100 with a grade of C or better, followed by the completion of Pharmaceutical Sciences 174L and 177L. Students must earn a grade of C or better in each of these laboratory courses.

NOTE: Double majors with Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health Sciences, Nursing Science, Biomedical Engineering: Premedical, or with any of the School of Biological Sciences majors are not permitted.

Sample Program- Pharmaceutical Sciences

Graduate Program

Graduate students in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are admitted through the Gateway Program in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology (MCP). This interdepartmental program was established through the joint efforts of the Departments of Chemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The MCP program provides first-year students with state-of-the-art practical and theoretical training in their specific field of interest, while also providing a broader exposure to fundamentals of each of the other core disciplines. This dual goal is accomplished through a one-year initial interdisciplinary program of course work and lab rotations, followed by the transition into one of the participating department's Ph.D. programs for in-depth specialization and research work. The integrated curriculum offered in this program gives students a breadth of expertise that is not easily achievable in any single, individual department.

For the Ph.D. degree, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences joins forces with the Department of Pharmacology to offer an interdisciplinary program leading to a Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology. The Ph.D. degree prepares students for careers in academia, research institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry by providing a research-intensive approach to the study of pharmaceutical sciences. Faculty research programs in Pharmaceutical Sciences that are available through this program currently include organic, medicinal, and bioorganic chemistry; structural biology; structure-based drug design; high-throughput screening; molecular neuropharmacology; the pharmacology of aging; natural product biosynthesis and synthase engineering; cancer prevention and therapy; gene regulation and intercellular signaling; computational biology and bioinformatics; and nanomedicine for targeted drug and gene delivery. For complete program information, see page 381.

Courses in Pharmaceutical Sciences

(Schedule of Classes designation: PhrmSci)

LOWER-DIVISION

1 Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences (1) S. Lecture, one hour. Introduction to the scientific disciplines that comprise the multidisciplinary field of pharmaceutical sciences. Students gain an appreciation of basic concepts in the relevant physical, biological, and clinical sciences and how they fit together in the search for new medicines. Pass/Not Pass only.

90 Speaking About Science (4) S, Summer. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Introductory courses in research, composition, organization, and delivery of informative and persuasive speeches for various purposes, including scientific talks. Includes strategies for reducing speaker apprehension.

UPPER-DIVISION

120 Human Physiology (4) F. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Focuses on anatomy and physiology—organism structure and function, respectively—as they relate to human diseases and their treatment. Prepares students for more advanced studies in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, biopharmaceutics, and other disciplines encompassing pharmaceutical sciences. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 99. Pharmaceutical Sciences 120 and Biological Sciences E109 may not both be taken for credit.

120L Human Physiology Lab (3). Laboratory, four hours. Through an active learning environment, provides practical knowledge of topics covered in human physiology as they relate to health care professions. Participation in group projects that strengthen basic laboratory skills and teach students to work more efficiently in a team. Corequisite: Pharmaceutical Sciences 120. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 194S or E109. Pharmaceutical Sciences 120L and Biological Sciences E112L may not both be taken for credit.

170A Molecular Pharmacology I (4) W. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Molecular basis of drug-receptor action at the molecular and cellular levels. Structure-function of drug targets emphasizing enzymes, ion channels, and membrane transport proteins. Understanding how the drugs' mechanisms of action contribute to the development of more efficacious and safer drugs. Corequisite or prerequisite: Chemistry 51C or H52C. Prerequisite: Pharmaceutical Sciences 120 or Biological Sciences E109. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M170A.

170B Molecular Pharmacology II (4) S. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Mechanism-based overview of pharmacology and therapeutic drugs in the fields of autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, and antimicrobials. Prerequisite: Pharmaceutical Sciences 170A. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M170B.

171 Physical Biochemistry (4) F. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Thermodynamics and kinetic fundamentals as applied to problems relevant to pharmaceutical sciences such as receptor/enzyme-ligand interactions. Fundamentals of biophysical methods used in the pharmaceutical sciences including structure determination and biomolecular spectroscopy. Prerequisites: Mathematics 2B, Physics 3C, Chemistry 1C or H2C, and Biological Sciences 99. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M171.

172 Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2) F. Lecture, two hours. Presents information about various fields of research, study, careers, and graduate school opportunities in pharmaceutical sciences. Taught by guest lecturers from various disciplines including 199 research course faculty. Helps Pharmaceutical Sciences students select electives appropriate to their future goals. Corequisite or prerequisite: Chemistry 51C or H52C. Prerequisite: Biological Sciences 99. Pass/Not Pass only. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M172.

173 Pharmacotherapy (4) S. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. An exploration of the clinical application of medications to selected disease states. Focus is on an understanding of underlying principles of pharmacology and how this knowledge can be applied to treatment of diseases. Corequisite or prerequisite: Pharmaceutical Sciences 170B. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M173.

174 Biopharmaceutics and Nanomedicine (4). Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Introduces theories and tools of new drug formulations. Particularly new novel therapeutics based on biological materials, pathological characteristics utilized to achieve the maximum efficacy and speciality, and drug delivery systems based on emerging nanotechnology are extensively discussed. Prerequisite: Pharmaceutical Sciences 170B or consent of instructor. Same as CBEMS108.

174L Biopharmaceutics and Nanomedicine Lab (3) F. Laboratory, five hours; discussion, one hour; research, one hour. Introduction to cancer drug screening using cellular models and confirmation of comprehensive therapeutic efficacy using a live animal model. Includes basic cell culture, cytotoxicity assays, cell analysis, drug circulation test, and tumor eradiction and imaging experiments. Prerequisites: Pharmaceutical Sciences 170B or consent of instructor; Biological Sciences 100. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M174L.

176 Ethical Conduct of Research (2) S. Lecture, two hours. Covers the ethical responsibilities of biomedical scientists. Topics include, as discussions and case studies, the high standards of science, the responsible conduct of research, animal experimentation, and clinical trials as they relate to the pharmaceutical sciences. Formerly Pharmaceutical Sciences M176.

177 Medicinal Chemistry (4) W. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. An introduction of the basics of drug activity and mechanisms. Strategies used to identify lead compounds such as natural product chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, molecular modeling, and high-throughput screening. Relationship of molecular structure to pharmacological activity. Prerequisites: Chemistry 51A-B-C or equivalent, and Biological Sciences 98 or Chemistry 128. Same as Chemistry 177.

177L Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory (2) W. Laboratory, four hours. Laboratory accompanying Pharmaceutical Sciences 177. Corequisite: Pharmaceutical Sciences 177. Prerequisites: Chemistry 51A-B-C or equivalent, and Biological Science 98 or Chemistry 128; Biological Sciences 100. Same as Chemistry 177L.

197 Professional Internship (4). F, W, S, Summer. Seminar, three hours; field work, 10 hours. Provides students with an opportunity to develop the leadership and professional skills necessary for competitive placement in their chosen industry. Students gain new and field-specific skills outside the classroom environment while participating in a supervised internship for a total of 100 hours. Pass/Not Pass only. Prerequisite: senior standing and consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

199 Undergraduate Research (1 to 4) F, W, S, Summer. Research, 4 to 12 hours. Original research in the laboratory of Pharmaceutical Sciences faculty. Attendance at regular research group meetings is also generally expected, and a quarterly written report is required. Strongly recommended for students considering research careers and/or graduate degree programs. Prerequisite: consent of faculty sponsor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.

GRADUATE

Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate students generally also take courses in Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. See the departmental course listings for examples.

223 Biological Macromolecules (4). Introduction to nucleic acid and protein structure, dynamics, and function. Topics include analytical methods, molecular evolution, folding, and catalysis. Same as Chemistry 223.

250A-B-C Current Topics in Pharmaceutical Sciences (1-1-1) F, W, S. Intended to expose students to the primary literature and current research in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Students analyze and present information for discussion. Guest speakers from academia and industry may participate throughout the quarter. Prerequisite: enrollment in the MCP Gateway Program or consent of instructor. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

277 Medicinal Chemistry (4). Fundamentals of medicinal chemistry covering diverse aspects of drug design, discovery, synthesis, and development. Molecular basis of drug action with an emphasis on the structure-to-function continuum.

280 Graduate Research (1 to 12) F, W. S. Supervised original research or investigation under the direction of an individual faculty member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

399 University Teaching (1 to 4) F, W, S. Limited to Teaching Assistants. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. May be repeated for credit.