Pharmacology & Toxicology Major
Many breakthroughs in medicine and science and technology have occurred as a result of research in pharmacology and toxicology, including advancements in drug therapy. Saint Joseph’s Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Toxicology program is one of the few undergraduate programs of its kind in the country that prepares you to enter this cutting-edge field. Pharmacology is the study of the mechanisms by which drugs alter living organisms, while toxicology focuses on understanding the adverse effects of chemical and physical agents on human health. Through a combination of molecular and cell biology, as well as chemistry and genetics, pharmacologists and toxicologists are keenly aware of biological systems and physiology and how they can be manipulated to cure and prevent disease with medications. Much of pharmacology and toxicology also focuses on drug discovery, leading to new designs of molecules that can best and more effectively treat a disease state, thus also focused on intellectual property, inventions and patents. Students conduct independent research in our state-of-the-art labs under the guidance of expert faculty. Students with a BS in pharmacology and toxicology join careers in medicine, health-related fields, pharmaceutical companies (scientists or pharmaceutical representative), forensic sciences and regulatory affairs (drug approvals) to name a few.
Goal 1: Students demonstrate ability to plan and conduct experiments according to a designated protocol or to modify a procedure if necessary.
Goal 2: Students demonstrate ability to analyze and interpret data, formulate and execute Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), apply appropriate Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), and demonstrate strong familiarity with computer programs or software for data analysis.
Goal 3: Student apply scientific theory and methodology, demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills to solve scientific questions and demonstrate the ability to perform online literature searches.
Goal 4: Students demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills in order to present scientific findings and knowledge to individuals and groups, demonstrate proficiency in electronic communications, and competency in the use of office software used in research.
Goal 5: Students Identify strengths and weaknesses, demonstrate professional behavior by exhibiting initiative, accountability and timeliness for action, demonstrate ethical behavior, set goals and develop plans including steps to achieve these goals and demonstrate ability to work independently and as a team.
The traditional undergraduate programs includes a minimum of 120 credits distributed across three components: A General Education component divided into Signature Courses, Variable Courses, and an Integrative Learning requirement; a Major and Divisional component; and Free Electives. In addition to course requirements as specified in each area, students must complete one certified course in each of the following overlay areas1:
- Diversity, Globalization or Non-western Area Studies,
- Ethics Intensive
- Writing Intensive, and
- Diversity
- 1
Overlay requirements are part of the 120 credit requirements
General Education Signature Courses
See this page about Signature courses.
General Education Variable Courses
See this page about Variable courses. Six to Nine courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MAT 155 | Fundamentals of Calculus | 3-4 |
| or MAT 161 | Calculus I | |
| BIO 101 & 101L | Bio I: Cells and Bio I: Cells Lab | 4 |
General Education Overlays
General Education Integrative Learning Component
See this page about Integrative Learning Component. Three courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 102 & 102L | Bio II: Genetics and Bio II: Genetics Lab | 4 |
| CHM 120 & 120L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| PHY 101 & 101L | General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I | 4 |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHM 125 & 125L | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II | 4 |
| CHM 210 & 210L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHM 215 & 215L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | 4 |
| PHY 102 & 102L | General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II | 4 |
| PHS 200 | Biopharmaceutical Foundation I | 3 |
| PHS 300 | Biopharmaceutical Foundatn II | 2 |
| PHS 301 | Biopharmaceutical Foundatn III | 3 |
| PHS 302 | Intro Lab Tech in Biomedicine | 3 |
| PHS 304 | Intro Drug Discovery & Dev | 3 |
| PHT 305 | Fundamentals of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHS 306 | Advanced Biomedical Methods | 3 |
| PHT 307 | Introduction to Toxicology | 2 |
| PHT 402 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHT 403 | Advanced Toxicology | 3 |
| PHT 404 | Pharmacology&Toxicology Sem II | 1 |
| PHT 405 | Pharmacology in Drug Discovery | 3 |
| PHT 407 | Tox Subst Use Disorder (Appld) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 51 | |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CHM 120 & 120L |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I |
4 |
| MAT 120 or MAT 155 |
Precalculus or Fundamentals of Calculus |
3 |
| BIO 101 & 101L |
Bio I: Cells and Bio I: Cells Lab |
4 |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| PHS 150 | First Year Seminar | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 125 & 125L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II |
4 |
| MAT 155 or PHL 154 |
Fundamentals of Calculus or Moral Foundations |
3 |
| BIO 102 & 102L |
Bio II: Genetics and Bio II: Genetics Lab |
4 |
| ENG 102 | Texts & Contexts | 3 |
| HIS 154 | Forging the Modern World | 3 |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHM 210 & 210L |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I |
4 |
| PHY 101 & 101L |
General Physics I and General Physics Laboratory I |
4 |
| Non-Native Language based on placement | 3-4 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Theology Signature | 3 | |
| Hours | 17-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 215 & 215L |
Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II |
4 |
| PHY 102 & 102L |
General Physics II and General Physics Laboratory II |
4 |
| Non-Native Language II based on placement | 3-4 | |
| PHL 154 | Moral Foundations | 3 |
| PHS 151 | Science Talk Seminar | 0 |
| PHS 200 | Biopharmaceutical Foundation I | 3 |
| Hours | 17-18 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHS 300 | Biopharmaceutical Foundatn II | 2 |
| PHS 301 | Biopharmaceutical Foundatn III | 3 |
| PHS 302 | Intro Lab Tech in Biomedicine | 3 |
| PHS 302L | Intro Lab Tech in Biomed Lab | 0 |
| Philosophical Anthropology | 3 | |
| Elective (overlay, if needed) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHS 304 | Intro Drug Discovery & Dev | 3 |
| PHT 305 | Fundamentals of Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHS 306 | Advanced Biomedical Methods | 3 |
| PHT 307 | Introduction to Toxicology | 2 |
| Faith and Reason Course | 3 | |
| Elective (overlay, if needed) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHT 402 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| PHT 403 | Advanced Toxicology | 3 |
| PHT 404 | Pharmacology&Toxicology Sem II | 1 |
| Religious Difference | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHT 405 | Pharmacology in Drug Discovery | 3 |
| PHT 407 | Tox Subst Use Disorder (Appld) | 3 |
| Art/Lit | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective (if needed) | 0-3 | |
| Hours | 12-15 | |
| Total Hours | 128-133 | |