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Prepare for a career in Canada’s strong pharmaceutical sector – a rewarding field that is seeing continuous job growth and demand in response to our growing and aging population. You will help to ensure access to better, safer drugs and consumer products, medical cannabis, and health products, by using your training to contribute to effective formulations, dosages, and manufacturing processes and the assurance of quality for a wide variety of products.
As a graduate, your knowledge and skills will encompass the validation and standardization of formulations, methods, and processes and the ability to conduct experiments following scientific methodology that includes data analysis, proper documentation of observations and analyses, and clear summaries and recommendations. A strong focus is placed on Good Documentation, Laboratory and Manufacturing Practices and Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocols to ensure you are prepared to enter this regulated industry.
Featuring a 280-hour field placement, this program will set you on the path for a life-changing career that allows you to make a positive impact on the millions of Canadians who rely on the products you will help produce to improve and maintain their health.
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Pharmaceutical Science involves all aspects of the design, development, manufacturing, administration[KW1] , and use of finished drug products. In this program, you will develop an understanding of the Canadian pharmaceutical, cannabis and natural health product landscape including manufacturers, distributors and regulatory bodies and the impact of international markets and regulators on Canadian operations. A strong focus is placed upon understanding Good Lab, Documentation, and Manufacturing Practices and Quality Control and Quality Assurance practices. The expanding fields and opportunities of Biotherapeutics, Cannabis and Natural Health Products will also be discussed.
You will gain hands-on experience working in our labs following in-house and pharmacopeia methods to assess the safety, identity, strength, purity and quality of raw materials and finished products to prepare you to work in wet chemistry, analytical instrumentation and microbiology labs. Experiments are modelled after real-world applications to mimic industry protocols.
In your final semester, you will apply your knowledge and skills through a 280-hour placement at a pharmaceutical or related organization to launch your career in this exciting industry.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
More than 75% of this program is delivered in-person.
The rest of the coursework will be delivered using hybrid, flexible or online formats. Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.