Qualification Profile

Bachelor of Science ETH in Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB) of the ETH Zürich provides an environment, where both teaching and research are conducted at the highest level. Teaching is in the responsibility of an international faculty, which is engaged in leading research on a broad range of important topics. The faculty members are, therefore, highly qualified to disseminate advanced knowledge in their fields. The curriculum comprises courses on an integral spectrum of subjects covering basics in the natural sciences as well as the pharmaceutical sciences. In addition, students obtain a sound practical training in laboratory courses. The undergraduate education leading to the Bachelor’s Certificate is an intermediate step, which serves to establish a solid scientific foundation in mathematics, statistics, physics, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology. The major goal of the Bachelor’s program is to provide a basic education in the pharmaceutical sciences, which will enable students to enter a Master’s program at the ETH or another university of similar rank. It does not qualify Bachelor’s graduates to work as health care professionals.

Specifically, the aim of the D-CHAB Bachelor’s program is to provide the skills, knowledge and competence listed below.

Professional knowledge and competence

Students with a Bachelor degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences will have reached a level where they will:

· command knowledge of and have insight in the methods of mathematics, statistics, physics, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and be able to apply this knowledge and insight in practice;

· command knowledge of the basics of the pharmaceutical sciences and related fields including pharmaceutical chemistry and analytics, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical technology, pharmaceutical biology with emphasis on natural products and herbal medicines, pharmacology, biopharmacy, pharmacogenomics, and therapeutic proteins;

· be able to analyze problems and delineate solutions to questions related to all aspects of the pharmaceutical sciences, such as drug discovery (including drug finding by means of screening, molecular modeling and natural products approaches, chemical and biotechnological synthesis of drugs) formulation development and its application to new drugs, analytics of drugs, pharmacokinetic assessment, dosage form design and quality control, as well as in vitro and in vivo activity testing of drugs;

· be able to search and use the relevant literature in the fields concerned.

General skills and attributes

Students with a Bachelor degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences will have reached a level where they will:

· be able to learn independently with open-mindedness, critical enquiry, and reason logically;

· have relevant numerical skills to collate and analyze data using statistical methods;

· be able to use electronic, as well as traditional, information technology;

· be able to integrate and evaluate information from a variety of sources in a way that is well-organized and recognizes the limits of current hypotheses, in order to contribute effectively to discussions of complex issues;

· be able to communicate effectively through oral presentations and written reports about professional subjects;

· be able to manage resources and time, and be able to work with others in a team;

· have well-developed strategies for the purpose of continuing professional and academic development;

· have a multidisciplinary attitude. 

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Prof. H. Wunderli-Allenspach

Vorsteherin D-CHAB

Zürich, den 13. Juli 2005