B.Sc. Pharmacology Program at the University of British Columbia

There is a worldwide shortage of pharmacologists capable of conducting functional studies in tissues and intact animals. We initiated a Majors/Honors Pharmacology program with emphasis on laboratory pharmacology 20 years ago. Students are accepted into the B.Sc. program after completing two years of science education. Since laboratory facilities are limited, only a total of 20 students are selected into the various options (Major, Honors or Co-op) from 150-200 applicants who have prerequisite courses. The academic standings of our students are very high. The students learn how to handle tissues, organs and whole animals for the study of drug responses. In 1996, we added a co-op element, with students placed in pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions for 12 to 16 months after completing year 3. Following this, they return to the university to complete the final year. For the past few years, more than half of the 3rd year class have entered the co-op program. There has been a great demand for our interns from major pharmaceutical companies in Canada , US, Japan and other countries. The students have performed well in their internship year, and they, as well as the companies, have benefited from the experience.

~ Catherine C.Y. Pang, Sultan Karim and Michael J.A. Walker

Undergraduate and graduate pharmacology students and their professors enjoying the sun during a pharmacology conference in Hawaii, 2004.