Pharmaceutical Product Development, B.S.

Developed through extensive dialog with industry leaders, this program prepares students for careers in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The PPD program is interdisciplinary and includes paid internships which, along with coursework, can be tailored to student interests and goals.The Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Product Development is a cutting-edge program that prepares students for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. One of the first PPD programs on the east coast, WCU has an outstanding curriculum that was developed with key industry leaders to meet the specific needs of students seeking careers in this dynamic industry. The PPD program at WCU is interdisciplinary with a solid foundation in the basic and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as experience in technical writing, oral communication, statistics (including SAS programming), economics, and biomedical ethics. While the primary focus of the curriculum is on drug development and discovery, the versatility of the program enables students to become proficient in numerous areas of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. This innovative curriculum is paired with up to two summers of employment in the industry. These paid internship assignments provide graduates with a level of understanding and experience that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. A majority of PPD graduates start careers in the pharmaceutical industry immediately upon graduation while a large percentage goes on to pursue advanced graduate degrees in related science and health areas.