117A Schmucker Science Center South
610-436-2939
e-mail: ppd@wcupa.edu
Stephen J. Zimniski, Director
FACULTY ADVISORY BOARD
Jack Gault, Marketing
Maureen Knabb, Biology
Gustave Mbuy, Biology
Michael Moran, Chemistry
Oné Pagán, Biology
James Pruitt, Chemistry
Joel Ressner, Chemistry
Randall Rieger, Mathematics
Judith Scheffler, English
Joan Woolfrey, Philosophy
Stephen J. Zimniski, Pharmaceutical Product Development
The bachelor of science in pharmaceutical product development prepares students for careers in the pharmaceutical industry. The curriculum was developed through extensive dialog with representatives of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and was designed to meet the unique needs of students seeking careers in this dynamic area. The curriculum for the degree is interdisciplinary in nature; students acquire a solid foundation in the physical and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as experience in technical writing, oral communication, statistics, economics, and biomedical ethics. All of the drug design courses for the PPD major are taught by individuals employed at pharmaceutical companies, so that students can gain up-to-date knowledge about the industry. This innovative curriculum is coupled with up to two summers of paid internships following the sophomore and junior years. These assignments are provided within the pharmaceutical industry and give students experience and a level of understanding that is a practical, invaluable complement to the classroom. Graduates of this program are poised to enter industry with a breadth of understanding that otherwise takes several years of industrial experience to acquire. Furthermore, this diverse curriculum prepares students for both graduate and professional schools including medicine, dentistry, optometry, and pharmacy.
Contact the Pharmaceutical Product Development Office for further information on admission standards for undergraduate and transfer students.
120 semester hours
481 Drug Design I (3) This first course in a three-semester sequence provides an overview of the pharmaceutical industry and the drug development process, followed by an in-depth study of the clinical trials portion of this process. Statistical design used in trials for demonstrating drug safety and efficacy are discussed. The role of IRBs, informed consent, and other medical-legal issues are explored. COREQ: STA 311 or permission of the instructor.
482 Drug Design II (3) A course emphasizing the final stages of drug development and the regulatory and medical affairs features of the process, including the marketing and sales, manufacturing, and distribution of a drug. PREREQ: BIO 367 or permission of instructor.
483 Drug Design III (3) This course emphasizes the discovery portion of drug development and illustrates the major concepts in medicinal chemistry. The scientific tools used, such as high throughput screening, genomics, and computational chemistry, are considered. Criteria for making a compound workable as a drug are discussed, and the selection of the administration route is reviewed. PREREQ: BIO 367 and 467; and PPD 482 or permission of the instructor.
484 Pharmaceutical Internship I (1) A summer, paid internship experience with a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company. These internships are designed to provide experiences in key aspects of the pharmaceutical industry. Students will be supervised jointly by an on-site professional scientist and a member of the Pharmaceutical Product Development Program Committee. One credit will be awarded. PREREQ: Completion of BIO 214, 220; BIL 333; and CHE 232. The sudents must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade of C- or better in all science courses. A minimum of 24 credit hours must be completed at West Chester University for successful evaluation and recommendation of the Pharmaceutical Product Development Program Committee.
485 Pharmaceutical Internship II (1) A second paid internship experience with a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company. These internships are designed to provide experiences in key aspects of the pharmaceutical industry. This experience will be designed to complement the experience gained from PPD 484. PREREQ: Completion of PPD 484. The students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a grade of C- or better in all science courses.
490 Special Topics in Drug Development (1) This course is designed to offer in-depth seminars about novel and exciting areas of research in the field of pharmaceutical product development and drug discovery. Invited speakers will be industry experts presenting the most up-to-date information about their areas of expertise. PREREQ: PPD 481; COREQ: PPD 483. The course may be repeated only with consent of the instructor.