UPCP History

The UP College of Pharmacy traces its origins as a pharmacy course established under the College of Liberal Arts on June 5, 1911. Initial offerings included a three-year Graduate in Pharmacy (Ph.G.) and, with the addition of one year study leading to the degree of Pharmaceutical Chemist (Ph.C.). The four-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BS Pharmacy) was introduced in 1913.

The School of Pharmacy was formally established on February 12, 1914, initially as a department under the College of Medicine and Surgery, with Andrew Grover Du Mez as its first Director. On August 14, 1935, the Board of Regents approved the School’s elevation to a College. Dr. Mariano V. del Rosario, the Director at the time, became the first Dean of the College of Pharmacy.

In its early years, the College dedicated its primary endeavors to the research of Philippine medicinal plants, the compounding of medicinal agents, and the rigorous standardization of pharmaceutical preparations. The College was also instrumental in management of beri-beri by taking on the manufacture of Tiki-tiki, the extract of rice polishings, for the Philippine government.

The College has continuously reviewed and updated its curriculum, leading the way in Philippine pharmacy education. In 1951, the five-year Bachelor of Science in Industrial Pharmacy (BSIP) was introduced to align with the needs of the growing pharmaceutical industry. This was followed by the revision of the BS Pharmacy program to a five-year course in 1953.

Graduate studies also expanded over time. The Master of Science with two majors (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry) was first offered in 1930, followed by majors in Industrial Pharmacy (1958) and Hospital Pharmacy (1979). The PhD in Pharmacy degree program was first implemented in 1963 to provide advanced training on medicinal natural products.

In response to the global paradigm shift from drug-centered to patient-centered pharmacy practice, international competency standards, and increasing evidence of drug therapy problems, the five-year competency-based BS Pharmacy program was adopted in August 2005. New competency-based programs for BS Industrial Pharmacy and Master of Science in Pharmacy (with specializations) were also implemented.

Following stakeholder consultations and a market survey, the College revised its five-year outcomes-based programs in 2018 into the patient-oriented BS Pharmacy, and the product and research-focused BS Pharmaceutical Sciences. Simultaneously, the College revised its graduate offerings. In 2023, the Master of Science in Social and Administrative Pharmacy and the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences were offered.

The geographic evolution of the College is marked by several pivotal transitions: originating in UP Manila, migrating to UP Diliman amidst the post-war era, and ultimately returning to its Manila roots in 1979. The Valenzuela Hall in Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila has been the home of the College since 1996. Named after Patrocinio Valenzuela, the first alumnus Dean and a prolific researcher and educator, the building houses the three departments: Clinical, Social and Administrative Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Chemistry; and Industrial Pharmacy, all collaborating to advance pharmacy research and education.