Pharmacy Science

Every level of pharmacy degree can help you find fulfilling career options, including jobs in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond. While many pursuing a pharmacy degree seek a career as a pharmacist, there are several options for what to do once you complete your pharmaceutical science education.

With an Associate of Science in Pharmacy Science from MWCC, you can become a pharmacy technician or assistant or venture outside of the field and find work as a health information technician. Our program is the ideal place to start working toward a career in the medical industry.

A bachelor’s degree gives students further training in the field, which opens even more doors for job opportunities. Students with bachelor’s degrees often find work in pharmaceutical marketing and advertising, government observation and regulation of the commercial drug industry, entry-level research and development, pharmaceutical sales or drug manufacturing and analysis.

As in most fields, advanced degrees like a master’s or doctoral degree help students specialize and find careers in more advanced positions, including medicinal chemistry, drug research and development, pharmacology and academia. The skills learned in your pharmacy science program may also apply across fields, qualifying you for positions in the biochemistry, biophysics or life science fields.

Finally, a pharmacy student can become a pharmacist by earning a Pharm.D. degree and passing a licensure exam. Pharmacists can find employment at retail locations, hospitals and medical facilities.

The salary you earn with your pharmacy degree will vary widely depending on where you live and what career you plan to pursue in the pharmaceutical industry. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean annual salary for pharmacy technicians is $39,800, while pharmacists make a mean annual salary of $128,320.

Careers in the pharmaceutical industry often require advanced degrees. Different pharmacy degree programs give you the skills and qualifications you need to succeed.

Our two-year Pharmacy Science associate degree is an excellent entry point to establish a foundation for the rest of your education. Your classes will cover the basics of pharmaceutical science, such as biology, chemistry, calculus and lab skills, alongside humanities and social sciences. Once you receive your Associate of Science in Pharmacy Science, you can choose to transfer to a four-year college to continue your education.

With your associate degree, the next step is often a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Science. Those with this degree can often find entry-level roles in the field. Additionally, a bachelor’s degree is typically required for many post-graduate degrees, including Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) programs, master’s programs and even medical school.

A Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science is often the best option for students hoping to enter the fields of pharmaceutical research, development or production. A master’s degree will qualify you for many careers within the pharmaceutical field. It’s also the next step in entering a doctorate degree program. In many cases, you can work toward these advanced pharmacy degrees online.

Pharm.D. programs are ideal for students who want to work as pharmacists. Most Pharm.D. programs require at least two years of undergraduate study, though some require a bachelor’s degree. In addition to training for retail pharmacy, doctoral pharmacy degree concentrations can qualify you for a career in public health, education, health systems and care management, pharmacy business administration or research.