The BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences is not a major, but is a milestone degree granted to current Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students while working toward the PharmD degree. In order to qualify for the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, students must have attended UW–Madison prior to entering the School of Pharmacy, and must meet all degree requirements. More detailed information about this degree may be found on the school website.
Information about our Doctor of Pharmacy program (PharmD) can be found at https://pharmacy.wisc.edu/programs/pharmd/. The PharmD is required to be eligible to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and be registered and licensed as a pharmacist.
Students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree offered by the School of Pharmacy may want to investigate the BS Pharmacology and Toxicology program. This interdisciplinary major in the biomedical sciences can serve as a foundation for further education in graduate or professional degree programs, or for entry-level scientific employment.
How to Get in
The BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences is a non-admitting milestone degree. Students earn this credential once degree requirements have been met while working toward their Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. For more information on how to apply, see the Doctor of Pharmacy Program's Admissions.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. More information: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
School of Pharmacy BS Requirements
| Communication A | Complete either:
|
| Communication B | One course with the Communication B designation. |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | Complete either:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning B | One course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation. |
| Ethnic Studies | One course with the Ethnic Studies designation. |
| Natural Science | 6 credits with the Biological, Natural, or Physical Science designations. |
| Social Science | 3 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| Humanities | 6 credits with the Humanities, Literature, or Language designations. |
School of Pharmacy BS degrees require the following groups of coursework:
- Core General Education
- School of Pharmacy BS Requirements
- Major/prerequisite requirements
Courses can satisfy multiple requirement groups. For example, courses used to fulfill School of Pharmacy BS requirements can also fulfill major requirements and/or Core GenEd requirements. A course can fulfill multiple School of Pharmacy BS requirements if it carries those designations (e.g. Ethnic Studies and Social Science).
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHM SCI 420 | Physicochemical Principles of Drug Formulation and Delivery | 3 |
| PHM SCI 432 | Biochemical Principles of Drug Treatment | 3 |
| PHARMACY 423 | Pharmacy Integrated Learning Laboratory | 1 |
| PHM PRAC 438 | Nonprescription Medications and Self-Care | 2 |
| PHM PRAC 461 | Pathways in Pharmacy Practice | 1 |
| PHM PRAC 650 | Comprehensive Immunization Delivery | 1 |
| PHARMACY 411 | Pharmacy in the Health Care System | 3 |
| PHM SCI 531 | Medicinal Chemistry I | 3 |
| PHM SCI 541 | Pharmaceutical Calculations, Dispensing and Compounding | 3 |
| PHARMACY 434 | Pharmaceutical Genetics and Immunology | 2 |
| PHARMACY 621 | Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| S&A PHM 414 | Social and Behavioral Aspects of Pharmacy Practice | 3 |
| PHARMACY 426 | Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences I | 1 |
| PHARMACY 462 | Professional Development and Engagement 1: Developing Your Professional Identity | 1 |
| PHARMACY 435 | Pulmonary Science and Therapeutics | 2 |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Additional Notes
- AP, IB, retro-credits, and credit-granting transfer coursework from other institutions (including coursework completed while in high school) all count toward the elective credit requirement.
- Students must also complete coursework appropriate for admissions to the PharmD program.
- Students earning the BS Pharmaceutical Sciences degree will NOT be able to earn additional majors or undergraduate certificates.
Quality of Work
- Students must have a minimum 2.000 cumulative grade point average.
- School of Pharmacy academic policies (regarding matters such as academic and professional conduct, academic progress/probation, honor roll, pass/fail registration, and independent study coursework) are found in the PharmD student policy handbook.
Learning Outcomes
- Drug properties: Apply knowledge of the physical, chemical, and pharmacologic, and formulation properties of drugs and influence on drug parameters (such as pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, stability, drug/dose delivery design). Differentiate among the therapeutic classes based on mechanisms of action, clinical use, adverse effects, contraindications, interactions, and dosage forms and regimens.
- Patient-centered care: Use the pharmacist patient care process (PPCP) to employ personalized medicine and social, behavioral and other evidence-based principles to design and deliver individualized patient-care plans that optimize safety, efficacy, and medication used to improve therapeutic outcomes.
- Drug kinetics: Design or modify treatment regimens including dose, schedule, and duration using patient-specific or population pharmacokinetic data, plasma concentration-time profile of drugs, and factors that alter them.
- Pharmaceutical calculations and product processing: Ensure accurate and safe sterile and non-sterile compounding, calculation, labeling, and dispensing of medications.
- Health equity and inclusion: Identify root causes of health disparities and incorporate principles of cultural and structural humility to promote access, inclusion, and equitable health outcomes.