1.
pharmacy; pharmacology; pharmaceutical science
The academic field studying drugs, medicines, and their effects on the body. Includes the development, preparation, and proper use of medications.
Common collocations: 薬学部 (pharmacy department/faculty), 薬学研究 (pharmaceutical research), 薬学の博士号 (doctorate in pharmacy). In Japan, 薬学部 programs were extended from four to six years in 2006. Graduates can take the 薬剤師 (pharmacist) licensing exam. Part of the 〜学 (study of ~) word family, like 医学 (medicine) and 歯学 (dentistry).