Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BS)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Southern California

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Southern California offers an interdisciplinary education that brings together pharmaceutical science, biology, drug development, healthcare, and the business side of the pharmaceutical industry. It is well suited to students interested in how medicines are discovered, developed, regulated, and brought to patients, while also preparing them for careers in industry and research or further study in fields such as pharmacy, medicine, business, regulatory science, finance, and law.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by developing the scientific foundation needed for biopharmaceutical study through subjects such as MATH 125g – Calculus I, CHEM 105aL/bL – General Chemistry, and BISC 120Lg – General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution. They also begin exploring pharmaceutical and regulatory science through the introductory RXRS coursework required for the major.
Year 2: Students move into more specialized biological and pharmaceutical subjects, building their understanding of how medicines interact with the body and how pharmaceutical products are developed. Courses such as RXRS 200 – Approaches to Pharmacology and Drug Development and BPSI 402 – Biopharmaceutics I introduce students to pharmacology, drug development, and biopharmaceutics.

Year 3: Students explore the development and commercial side of biopharmaceutical products through courses such as BPSI 407 – Pharmaceutical and Health Economics, BPSI 410 – Biopharmaceutical Product Development and Brand Planning, and BPSI 411 – Biopharmaceutical Marketing Analysis and Strategy. They can also deepen their scientific knowledge through courses such as BISC 320Lg – Molecular Biology and BISC 330L – Biochemistry.
Year 4: In the final stage of the degree, students can explore advanced topics including BPSI 403 – Biopharmaceutics II, BPSI 405 – Organ Systems Physiology, Drug Delivery and Drug Action, BPSI 406 – Drug Safety Pharmacology and Toxicology, BPSI 408 – Biologics and Vaccines, and BPSI 412 – Targeted and Precision Medicines. Students can also take courses in medical product regulation, the globalization of the biomedical industry, pharmaceutical ethics, and directed research, allowing them to connect scientific knowledge with real-world pharmaceutical applications.

Focus Areas

Biopharmaceutical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, drug discovery, drug development, biopharmaceutics, drug delivery, drug safety, toxicology, biologics and vaccines, targeted and precision medicines, pharmaceutical economics, biopharmaceutical marketing, medical product regulation, biomedical industry, biological sciences, research and commercialization.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop knowledge of the scientific principles behind pharmaceutical products, including their chemical and physical properties and biological effects, while learning how medicines move through discovery, development, regulation, commercialization, and healthcare applications. The program also develops an understanding of pharmaceutical business and marketing and provides opportunities to build research, communication, analytical, and professional skills.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences is conferred by the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and is designed to prepare students for positions in industrial, academic, and research environments related to drug discovery, development, and commercialization. The program also provides preparation for professional and graduate education in pharmaceutical, medical, healthcare, regulatory and quality science, business, finance, and law.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The program's interdisciplinary structure gives students exposure to both the scientific and commercial sides of the pharmaceutical industry, creating a broad foundation for careers in drug development, research, commercialization, and related fields. USC also positions the degree as a springboard to diverse industrial, academic, and research careers as well as further professional and graduate study.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences gives students the chance to move beyond classroom learning and gain practical experience in pharmaceutical research, drug development, regulation, and commercialization. Students can take part in hands-on research, complete a required practicum, and work with advanced research facilities at USC Mann. The program also encourages students to explore how pharmaceutical science connects with healthcare, biotechnology, business, and regulatory practice:

Required practicum: Every USC Mann undergraduate must complete an approved practicum before graduation through RXRS 197. This gives students practical exposure to professional pharmaceutical environments.
Directed research: Students can take BPSI 490x Directed Research, allowing them to participate in research projects related to biopharmaceutical sciences and gain experience working on real research questions.
Senior honors capstone: Students in the honors pathway complete a senior capstone that can involve developing a product or project, collecting research data, preparing a research paper or portfolio, and presenting their work.
Drug discovery and development: Courses such as Approaches to Pharmacology and Drug Development, Biopharmaceutics, Biologics and Vaccines, and Targeted and Precision Medicines allow students to explore the processes involved in developing modern pharmaceutical products.
Pharmaceutical product development: Students gain exposure to the commercial side of the industry through subjects such as Biopharmaceutical Product Development and Brand Planning and Biopharmaceutical Marketing Analysis and Strategy.
Drug safety and toxicology: BPSI 406 Drug Safety Pharmacology and Toxicology gives students an opportunity to understand how medicines are evaluated for safety and how pharmacology and toxicology contribute to pharmaceutical development.
Advanced research facilities: USC Mann provides students with access to a research-focused environment that includes specialized facilities and technologies supporting pharmaceutical and biomedical research.
Medicinal chemistry research: The school's research environment supports work involving compound design, synthesis, optimization, and other approaches used in drug discovery.
Mass spectrometry and multi-omics: The Multi-Omics Mass Spectrometry Core supports research involving proteins, metabolites, and lipids, giving students exposure to technologies used in pharmaceutical and biomedical research.
Translational research: Research facilities support areas such as cellular and molecular analysis, flow cytometry, imaging, nucleic-acid analysis, and organ-on-a-chip research, connecting laboratory research with potential healthcare applications.
Research centers: Students benefit from being part of USC Mann's wider research environment, including centers focused on drug discovery, delivery, development, pharmacology, toxicology, and regulatory science.
Interdisciplinary learning: The program brings together pharmaceutical sciences with areas such as biology, healthcare, business, marketing, regulation, and medical product development, helping students understand the full journey of a pharmaceutical product from discovery to commercialization.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences prepares graduates to work across the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry, research institutions, government, and other research-focused environments. Students develop knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences, drug development, product lifecycle, business, marketing, and medical product development, giving them flexibility to pursue both industry careers and further academic study.

Career directions can include:

Biopharmaceutical Industry: Graduates can pursue roles connected with pharmaceutical product development, commercialization, marketing, and the broader biopharmaceutical industry.
Drug Discovery and Development: The program provides a foundation for work related to drug discovery, development, pharmacology, biologics, precision medicines, and pharmaceutical research.
Research Careers: Graduates can move into research-focused positions at universities, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology organizations, government agencies, and other research environments.
Pharmaceutical Business and Marketing: Coursework in pharmaceutical economics, product development, brand planning, and marketing strategy supports career pathways involving the commercial side of the pharmaceutical industry.
Regulatory and Healthcare Fields: Training in regulation, pharmacoethics, medical products, and healthcare-related topics can support further progression into regulatory and healthcare-focused careers.
Real-world graduate example: USC Mann highlights graduate Rahinatou Sawadogo, who completed the B.S. in Biopharmaceutical Sciences and is joining Pfizer's U.S. Vaccines Strategy Team as a business analytics associate. Her undergraduate experience also included an internship and exposure to industry-grade modeling tools.
Further Academic Progression: The degree can lead into graduate or professional education in areas including pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, biomedical engineering, business, finance, and law.
USC Mann graduate pathways: Students can continue within USC Mann through postgraduate options such as the MS in Biopharmaceutical Marketing, MS in Management of Drug Development, MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, MS in Regulatory Science, MS in Healthcare Decision Analysis, and other specialized master's and doctoral programs.
Progressive degree opportunities: USC Mann offers progressive degree pathways connecting undergraduate study with selected graduate programs, including Biopharmaceutical Marketing, Healthcare Decision Analysis, and Regulatory and Quality Sciences.

Overall, the program is a strong choice for students who want to keep their options open between biopharmaceutical industry careers, research, healthcare-related fields, and advanced study. The combination of pharmaceutical science, business, product development, and research gives graduates a broad foundation for building a career in a rapidly evolving life-sciences sector.