Bachelor of Science

Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences

Priority Deadline: January 31, 2024
Final Deadline: July 1, 2024
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Are you ready for a life-changing journey of discovery, innovation, and helping others?

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences empowers aspiring pharmacists, physicians, dentists, other health care providers, and scientists with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience they need to make a difference in the world. With top-notch facilities, experienced faculty, and a supportive community, you’ll be equipped to tackle the toughest health care challenges facing us today. Whether you dream of curing diseases, developing new medicines, or providing personalized care to patients, our program will give you the tools to succeed.

The program also opens up opportunities for a future career as a…

  • Medical Laboratory Technician
  • Research Assistant
  • Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Clinical Trials Monitor
  • Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
  • Public Health Administrator
  • Hospital Administrator
  • Pharmacy Technician
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Biotechnology Quality Control

Who Should Apply?

If you have completed the necessary freshman and sophomore coursework at a community college or another 4-year institution and have an interest in health care professions, scientific research, and drug development, you are highly encouraged to apply. This is a unique transfer program in which you complete the first 2 years at the college of your choice. The second 2 years are offered on the WSU Spokane campus. Coursework that needs to be completed prior to the transfer includes:

  • English (one semester)
  • Calculus (one semester)
  • Statistics (one semester)
  • Chemistry (two semesters)
  • Biology (two semesters)
  • Organic chemistry with lab (two semesters)
  • Physics with lab (one semester)
  • Human anatomy with lab (one semester)
  • Human physiology (one semester)

In addition, you must fulfill certain WSU UCORE (general education) requirements before transferring.  Please meet with your college advisor to plan out your coursework for the first 2 years. Applications are open to start fall 2024.

How to Apply

Priority Deadline: January 31, 2024
Final Deadline: July 1, 2024

You will need to apply to both Washington State University and the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical and Medical Sciences in order to be considered for the program. Please be sure to fill out both applications. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the program, please email us at pharmacy.undergrad@wsu.edu.

WSU Application
Program Application

Application Requirements

  • All program required freshman and sophomore courses and certain WSU UCORE (general education) requirements completed by the end of the spring term in the same year as fall term program start.
  • Cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • No STEM courses with a grade lower than C- (1.7).

Learning Outcomes

Our curriculum is designed to provide an understanding of the human body, diseases, drug therapies, biomedical career paths, and biomedical research. Here are some of the key skills and knowledge that you can expect to gain from the program:

Mastery of Fundamental Biological & Chemical Concepts

A strong foundation in basic biological and chemical concepts will enable you to understand the workings of the human body at the molecular and cellular level. You will be able to integrate these concepts to address complex topics in the biomedical sciences.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills

Our program emphasizes critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills. You will learn how to analyze and solve problems in human biomedical sciences using scientific methods and approaches.

Effective Communication Skills

Communication is crucial not only in patient care, but also professional conferences and for public health. Our program will teach you how to effectively communicate biomedical problems, findings, and solutions to professional audiences as well as the public-at-large in writing and in oral discussion.

Utilization of Scientific Literature

You will learn how to effectively use scientific literature to identify knowledge gaps and analyze contemporary social and cultural issues relevant to human medicine.

Practical Application of Knowledge

Our program will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of a variety of approaches used in basic and clinical sciences. You will learn how to apply this knowledge to propose ways to address biomedical problems.

Ethics and Professionalism

We place a strong emphasis on ethics in research practices and in the application of health policy. You will develop the ability to make informed and ethical decisions in issues affecting human health.

Sample 2-Year Course List

  • Pharmacology: the science of drug action
  • Pathways: careers in biomedicine
  • Ethics: conduct and career development
  • Genomics: frontier of human genetics
  • Medical Microbiology: bugs and drugs
  • Toxicology: assessing drug side effects
  • Health Care Systems: tackling human health
  • Pharmaceutics: delivering treatment
  • Scientific Communication: writing and speaking

3+4 Accelerated PharmD Program

If you would like to earn both a BSPMS and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, this add-on program is for you. During the final year of the BSPMS, students within the 3+4 program will be able to begin first-year PharmD coursework. This allows students the ability to complete their BSPMS and begin their PharmD without a pause in-between. The 3+4 program takes an 8-year commitment and reduces it to 7 years, giving students the ability to fast-track into the pharmaceutical workforce. 

  • Interest in joining the 3+4 program must be indicated on initial application to the BSPMS and be confirmed by the start of fall semester in junior year. 
  • All students in the 3+4 program must apply to the PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) program by the end of junior year (spring semester).
  • Being in the 3+4 program does not guarantee admission to the PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) program.