The Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences is a program for undergraduates that enables students to begin taking M.S. coursework in their senior year and receive a Master of Science degree within one year of finishing their undergraduate degree. The B.S. degree is offered by the Schmid College of Science and Technology and the M.S. degree is offered by the School of Pharmacy at the Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. The program is open to all undergraduate Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences majors who meet the admissions requirements. Graduates of the program can pursue a variety of career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Chapman students can apply to the M.S. program in their junior or senior year. Admission to the program is conditional pending the completion of the bachelor's degree. If accepted into a graduate program, undergraduate students may take up to 12 graduate credits once they have completed a minimum of 90 undergraduate credits have been completed or will be completed prior to the start of the course in order to enroll in a graduate course. These 12 credits can be used to satisfy the undergraduate graduation requirements and count toward the M.S. program. Students would complete the remaining credit hours of graduate coursework beginning in the summer after receiving the undergraduate degree.
School of Pharmacy
» Accelerated 4+1 Undergraduate/Master of Science
Toggle Section
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements
Information about admissions for the Accelerated B.S. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences can be found at www.chapman.edu/admission/undergraduate/.
Graduate admissions requirements:
- Graduate application is available at www.chapman.edu/admission/graduate/applynow.aspx.
- Students with a cumulative 3.000 GPA or higher must apply the semester before the senior year of their bachelor's degree (i.e. in the second semester of their junior year) in biochemistry and molecular biology.
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with students' academic abilities.
- A personal statement of approximately 500-1,000 words, which includes: a) student's interest in the accelerated program at Chapman; b) research goals; c) career goals; and d) academic and research achievements.
- Official transcript from baccalaureate program at Chapman.
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
Students will be admitted to the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences on a conditional basis until they meet the following criteria:
- Completion of PHS 601, PHS 602, PHS 623, and PHS 641 with a grade of C+ or higher.
- All B.S. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences degree requirements are met and the degree is bestowed by the university.
- The cumulative GPA at graduation is 3.000 or higher.
Requirements for Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences degree
Requirements for the master's program are listed under the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Application Deadlines
Courses During Senior Year of Undergraduate Degree
Senior Year (Courses marked with an R are taken at the Rinker Campus in Irvine)*
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BCHM 420 Lecture and Lab | 4 | BCHM 436 Lecture and Lab | 4 |
| Upper Division Elective | 3-4 | PHS 623 Pharmaceutical Analysis (R) | 3 |
| Capstone | PHS 641 Seminar I (R) | 1 | |
| PHS 601 Ethics (R) | 2 | ||
| PHS 602 Drug Discovery (R) | 3 | ||
*All graduate courses taken in the senior year must have been passed with a grade of C+ or above.
End of Spring: Graduation with B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Contact Dr. Elaine Benaksas Schwartz or Dr. Marco Bisoffi from the Schmid College of Science and Technology for any questions regarding B.S. degree requirements.
Benefits of the 4 + 1 Program
- Get a head start on your master’s degree by taking graduate classes in your senior year
- Receive a master’s degree within one year of finishing your bachelor’s degree
- Prepare yourself for career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
- Gain valuable skills and experience in our summer internship program
- Conduct innovative research with world-class School of Pharmacy faculty
Required Courses in the Master's Program
The Master of Science degree requires completion of at least 36 credits. These include 17 credits of required courses, at least 7 credits of elective courses, minimum 6 credits of research, and 6 credits of thesis. A program of study is developed individually in consultation with the student's mentor and is designed to ensure expertise in the student’s principal field. This will present students with the opportunity, under the supervision of the program advisor, to tailor their academic program to prepare them for the career path of their choice.
| Core Courses (13 credits) | ||
| PHS 601 | Ethics, Regulation and the Pharmaceutical Pipeline | 2 |
| PHS 602 | Drug Discovery and Development | 3 |
| PHS 623 | Pharmaceutical Analysis | 3 |
| PHS 641 | Seminar in Pharmaceutical Sciences I (1 credit course must be repeated for a minimum of 2 credits) | 2 |
| PHS 702 | Research Rotation (1 credit course must be repeated for a minimum of 3 credits) | 3 |
| Elective Courses (minimum 11 credits) | ||
| PHS 611 | Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| PHS 612 | Advanced Principles of Drug Action | 4 |
| PHS 614 | Biologics | 2 |
| PHS 615 | Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacogenetics | 2 |
| CS 621 | Bioinformatics and Computational Biology I | 3 |
| PHS 621 | Introduction to Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Process | 3 |
| PHS 622 | Formulation and Manufacturing Laboratory | 2 |
| CS 624 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| PHS 624 | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Process II | 2 |
| PHS 624L | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Process Lab II | 1 |
| PHS 631 | Medical Diagnostics | 3 |
| PHS 632 | Medical Devices | 3 |
| PHS 651 | Quality System for Development and Manufacturing Drugs | 3 |
| PHS 660 | Biopharmaceutical Regulation, Economics and Policy | 3 |
| PHS 661 | Biomedical Market Access, Pricing and Reimbursement | 3 |
| PHS 662 | Economic Evaluation of Health Care Services and Products | 3 |
| PHS 690 | Internship in Pharmaceutical Sciences | 3-6 |
| PHS 736 | Pharmacology of Anti-Cancer Agents | 2 |
| PHS 741 | Structural Biology | 3 |
| PHS 750 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| Research (minimum 6 credits) | ||
| PHS 701 | Research in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 6 |
| Thesis or Non-Thesis Option (6 credits) | ||
| PHS 696 | Capstone | 3-6 |
| PHS 698 | Thesis | 3-6 |
M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrates general knowledge of the elements of the pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences and detailed knowledge in his or her area of research, including current research literature, policies and procedures, and methodology pertaining to the field
- Advances biomedical or pharmaceutical sciences by synthesizing new ideas, designing, and conducting original research
- Effectively communicates scientific principles, ideas, and research results with different audiences at an appropriate level
- Fosters advancement of the profession and biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences by actively participating in professional activities and societies
Financial Aid
While enrolled in the bachelor's degree, undergraduate financial aid will support students until degree conferral.
Qualified graduate students are eligible to receive assistance from the School of Pharmacy in the form of paid research assistant positions. The University’s graduate financial aid office can provide comprehensive information on other forms of federal, state, or private funding at (714) 628-2730 or gradfinaid@chapman.edu.