Program Overview
A minor in Pharmaceutical Sciences bridges the gap between your science major and a career in healthcare. Through hands-on learning, you’ll explore how medications are developed, how they work in the body, and why safety matters.
Whether you plan to pursue an advanced degree in healthcare or enter the pharmaceutical or biotech workforce, this minor provides the knowledge and skills to take the next step.
Take science further. On completion of this minor, students will be able to:
- Understand how medications work in the body. Explore how drugs treat disease, why they vary in effectiveness, and what that means for patient care.
- Understand what the body does to medications. Become familiar with biopharmaceutics concepts and the journey medicines take in the body when administered through different routes of administration and why different dosage forms are needed.
- Understand the need for making safety-focused decisions about medications and supplements. Evaluate literature regarding over-the-counter products, herbals, and prescriptions with a focus on risk, safety, and effectiveness.
- Create and formulate products through hands-on learning. Gain experience developing simple pharmaceutical and cosmetic products while learning the science behind their design.
- Communicate complex health information clearly. Learn to explain medication and health concepts to patients, peers, and future employers.
- Think critically about real-world healthcare challenges. Analyze case studies, ethical questions, and emerging drug trends using evidence-based reasoning.
Course details can be found in the WVU Catalog.
Have additional questions? Contact:
Marie Pavlik, Operations Coordinator
West Virginia University School of Pharmacy
Phone: 304.293.5211
Email: marie.pavlik@hsc.wvu.edu