Our undergraduate program in Pharmacology and Drug Development prepares you for graduate work in pharmacy, medicine, dentistry and other healthcare-related fields as well as careers within biotechnology research and development. Through innovative coursework and independent research opportunities, the program instills you with skills in pharmacology, toxicology, and medical product development and use. Graduates are positioned for employment at leading research universities and in industry, government or any research-centric arena.
Learning Outcomes
Sample Courses
- Breaking Brains: Pharmacology of the Addicted Brain
- Buzzed: Modern Substances of Abuse and Addiction
- Ethics, Drugs and Society
- Food Safety: The Good, the Bad and the Deadly
- Globalization of the Biomedical Industry
- Management and Operation of Clinical Trials
- Medical Products: From Idea to Market
- Mysterious Deaths: From Poisons in Literature and History to Forensic Toxicology
Undergraduate Honors
Students in the Pharmacology and Drug Development major are eligible to graduate with honors by participating in a capstone project.
What does being a Trojan mean to you?
“I have met the most beautiful people here at USC—people I laughed with, cried with, and who became lifelong friends. For me, the greatest marker for success is happiness, and I believe I have achieved that in my time at USC.”
Danijela Covo
BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ’23
Clinical Research Coordinator, Cedars-Sinai
What does being a Trojan mean to you?
“One of the best feelings in the world is walking into class, and not only being close with classmates but also with your professor. The USC Mann staff and faculty are some of the nicest human beings in the world. They will help you develop as a student and discover what you want to do in your career.”
Jack Saville
BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ‘23
Why did you decide to major in pharmacology and drug development?
“The pharmacology and drug development major is comprised of courses that are academically intriguing and professionally applicable within the current health care and pharmaceutical industry. We take general biology and physiology courses that are mandatory prerequisites to apply for pharmacy school, but having those extra courses on drug development, toxicology, pharmacology and the effects of drugs on the body gives us a leg up over other majors going into pharmacy school.”
Renita Moradian
PharmD ’23, BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ’18
Visiting Scientist Fellow, Eli Lilly and Company
Why did you decide to major in pharmacology and drug development?
“I want to help create new therapies for diseases that have affected my family and other families. I started leaning toward a career in pharmacy after watching my mother struggle with arthritis and lupus for years.”
Ronnelle Copes
BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ’20
What originally attracted you to your field?
“When I took Dr. Eunjoo Pacifici’s class on biomedical globalization during my sophomore year, I learned all about the field of regulatory science and drug development. The opportunity to work in international regulation and marketing especially piqued my interest, as learning about different cultures and regions and working with international partners is something I could envision myself doing in the future.”
Christian Reyes
MS Regulatory Science ’21, BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ’21
Clinical Quality Assurance Analyst, ImmunityBio, Inc.
How did you benefit from the Pharmacology and Drug Development program?
“I received an incredible amount of one-on-one mentoring and advising from the faculty at USC. They opened my eyes to a whole new set of career opportunities in healthcare.”
Daniel Liu
BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ’22
Associate, Amgen Career Discovery Program
Why did you choose to pursue a BS in Pharmacology and Drug Development?
“When I was choosing a major, I looked at the curriculum for the Pharmacology and Drug Development program and was captivated by the unique topics students could learn about in the field of pharmacology.”
Eric Abnoosian
MS Translational Biotechnology ’24, BS Pharmacology and Drug Development ’23
