Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BA)

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The Bachelor of Arts in Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) provides a well-deﬁned pathway for science and non-science majors to gain signiﬁcant knowledge in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, toxicology and medical product development, regulation, marketing and use.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPS) is a cooperative degree program involving the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the USC School of Pharmacy. Students complete 128 units, including at least 70 units of course work in USC Dornsife and at least 36 units of course work in USC School of Pharmacy.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biopharmaceutical Sciences offers a unique interdisciplinary approach designed to provide in-depth training in the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and their role in health care industries. Courses focus on sub disciplines of pharmaceutical sciences including the study of the chemical and physical properties of drugs and their biological effects, and will link these systems to the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals for the advancement of human health. Courses will also focus on the business and marketing aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biopharmaceutical Sciences will be a springboard to diverse careers in industrial, academic or other research environments within the areas of drug discovery, development and commercialization. It will prepare students for professional or graduate studies in graduate education in pharmaceutical, medical and basic sciences and post-baccalaureate professional education in biomedical engineering, business, finance and law.

The Bachelor of Arts in Biopharmaceutical Sciences requires the completion of a minimum of 128 units that include:

General Education, Foreign Language and Writing Requirements
Foundational courses designed to prepare students for the major
An introductory 4-unit lower-division (200 level) course in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
A minimum number of 32 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI) and Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
A minimum of 8 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Biological Sciences (BISC) unique to the major

The Bachelor of Arts in Biopharmaceutical Sciences is conferred by USC Dornsife.

Calculus

Select one course.

MATH 108g Contemporary Precalculus Units: 4
MATH 118gx Calculus for Business and Economics Units: 4
MATH 125g Calculus I Units: 4

Statistics

Select one course.

BME 423 Statistical Methods in Biomedical Engineering Units: 4
ECON 317 Introduction to Statistics for Economists Units: 4
HP 340Lg Health Behavior Statistical Methods Units: 4
MATH 208x Elementary Probability and Statistics Units: 4
PSYC 274Lg Statistics Units: 4
QBIO 305g Statistics for Biological Sciences Units: 4
SOCI 314Lg Analyzing Social Statistics Units: 4

Chemistry

Select two courses from either the general chemistry or the advanced general chemistry series.

CHEM 105aLg General Chemistry Units: 4
CHEM 105bL General Chemistry Units: 4
CHEM 115aLg Advanced General Chemistry Units: 4
CHEM 115bL Advanced General Chemistry Units: 4

Biology

Select two courses from either the general biology or the advanced general biology series.

Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI) and Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS) Unit Requirement

Students must complete a minimum of 36 units of BPSI or RXRS course work, including one 4-unit lower-division RXRS course and a minimum of 32 units of upper-division (300 level and above) BPSI or RXRS course work. A maximum of 4 units can be met by taking Directed Research (BPSI 490x ).

Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS) Requirement (Part 1)

One course.

RXRS 200 Approaches to Pharmacology and Drug Development Units: 4

Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI) Requirement (Part 2)

One course.

BPSI 402 Biopharmaceutics I Units: 4

Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI) Requirement (Part 3)

Select a minimum of 4 units from:

BPSI 407 Pharmaceutical and Health Economics Units: 4
BPSI 414 Pharmacoethics Units: 2
BPSI 415 Science Talk Units: 2

Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI) and Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS) Requirement (Part 4)

Select a minimum of 16 units from:

BPSI 403 Biopharmaceutics II Units: 4
BPSI 410 Biopharmaceutical Product Development and Brand Planning Units: 4
BPSI 411 Biopharmaceutical Marketing Analysis and Strategy Units: 4
BPSI 412 Targeted and Precision Medicines Units: 4
BPSI 413 Rigor, Resources and Reproducibility Units: 2
RXRS 422 Regulation, Guidance and Control of Medical Products Units: 2

Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI) and Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS) Requirement (Part 5)

Select a minimum of two courses totaling a minimum of 8 units. Can be a combination of BPSI and RXRS coursework.

BPSI 405 Organ Systems Physiology, Drug Delivery and Drug Action Units: 4
BPSI 406 Drug Safety Pharmacology and Toxicology Units: 4
BPSI 408 Biologics and Vaccines Units: 4
BPSI 490x Directed Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
RXRS 407 The Discovery, Development and Marketing of Medicines Units: 4
RXRS 412 Ethics, Drugs and Society Units: 4
RXRS 413w Globalization of the Biomedical Industry Units: 4

Biological Sciences (BISC) Requirement

Select two courses.

BISC 300L Introduction to Microbiology Units: 4
BISC 307L General Physiology Units: 4
BISC 320Lg Molecular Biology Units: 4
BISC 330L Biochemistry Units: 4

Undergraduate Honors Program (optional)

The undergraduate honors in Biopharmaceutical Sciences is awarded through successful completion of the senior capstone project. The project is a demonstration of knowledge in the student’s chosen area of interest which results in a product/project, research data, research paper, or portfolio of work, and a presentation. This experience encourages students to use a variety of skills in the areas of writing, speaking, research and documentation, which distinguishes them as scholars and future leaders in pharmacy.

BPSI 493 Senior Honors Seminar I Units: 2
BPSI 494 Senior Honors Seminar II Units: 2