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Dr. Gabriella Baki, center, an associate professor of pharmaceutics, works in her lab with undergraduate cosmetic science and formulation design students Lin Khant Maung, left, and Lois Lancaster.<\/p><\/div>\n
The UToledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences was the first school in the country to develop a cosmetic science and formulation degree at the baccalaureate level.<\/p>\n
Since the program\u2019s introduction in 2013, its graduates have gone on to earn internships and full-time positions at some of the most well-recognized cosmetic companies in the world, including the Est\u00e9e Lauder Companies and L\u2019Or\u00e9al.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have certainly come a long way, starting 10 years ago with an undergraduate degree that was not offered anywhere else in the nation,\u201d said Dr. Gabriella Baki, an associate professor of pharmaceutics and director of the undergraduate program at UToledo. \u201cBased on what we\u2019ve learned through the success of that program and the connections we\u2019ve made within the industry, we\u2019re ready to take the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baki described the bachelor\u2019s program as a blend of art, science and business that prepares students to design, produce, test and market cosmetics and personal care products.<\/p>\n
The master\u2019s degree takes that a step further. Students will dive much deeper into the science of those products. They\u2019ll also focus on emerging topics within the industry, such as sustainability and the skin microbiome \u2014 the trillions of microorganisms that live on our skin.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinding ways to develop products that won\u2019t disrupt healthy skin\u2019s natural microbiome is a scientific area that\u2019s still evolving but it\u2019s important for students to be introduced to it and understand where science is today,\u201d Baki said. \u201cThere are topics we only scratch the surface of in the bachelor\u2019s program that we\u2019ll be able to devote full courses to in the master\u2019s program.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 30-credit program, which has been in development for a year, received final approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education in late October.<\/p>\n
The college also received approval for a fully online 12-credit-hour graduate certificate for those with a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n
Additionally, UToledo will offer a four-plus-one pipeline program for undergraduate face-to-face students to continue their education and graduate with both a bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree in five years. UToledo will be the only program in the country with this unique offering.<\/p>\n
Baki and assistant lecturer Alison Wery will be the primary full-time faculty members teaching courses. Wery, who has significant industry experience as a project manager, research and development chemist, formulation scientist, merchandise and service coordinator and operations lead, will lead the new graduate program.<\/p>\n
The University also will bring in a number of industry experts to teach courses at the graduate level.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a significant need for graduates in this field, and we anticipate that\u2019s only going to grow,\u201d said Dr. Pam Heaton, dean of the UToledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. \u201cWe are so excited to create this unique program to address this growing industry need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baki and Wery expect many students who enroll to already be working in the cosmetic science industry and looking to climb the corporate ladder, or are employed in a related scientific field and seeking a career change.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany people working in the cosmetics industry have degrees in chemistry, biochemistry or chemical engineering,\u201d Baki said. \u201cThey were not necessarily formally trained in formulation and the science behind how you craft and test a new cosmetic or personal care product. A specialized education in cosmetic science will make them more competitive as they look to advance in their career.\u201d<\/p>\n
In anticipation that many students will be working full time while they attend UToledo, the program will hold two seven-week courses per semester so students can take one course at a time while still completing two courses per semester.<\/p>\n
Because UToledo is unique in producing graduates who have completed a bachelor\u2019s curriculum specifically tailored to the cosmetics industry, Baki said there\u2019s a considerable value in the further education UToledo will be providing.<\/p>\n
UToledo\u2019s review of industry and government data found more than half of all employees working in the cosmetics industry are at least 40 years old, and half of those are close to retiring.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the cosmetic industry\u2019s growth rate and the current workforce demographics, there is a large need for well-educated scientists who are trained on personal care and cosmetic science,\u201d Baki said. \u201cWe have everything in place to provide that. We have the infrastructure, we have the faculty and we have those strong connections to industry. It\u2019s a great fit for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The online nature of the program also represents opportunities for UToledo to reach students who might not otherwise consider the school.<\/p>\n
\u201cUniversities across the country are seeing a decline in direct-from-high school students, but there is an enormous need for upskilling,\u201d Heaton said. \u201cThe online space is a great way to do that. You can live in one of the major pharmaceutical and cosmetic science hubs but do the online program here. I think this attracts a different student, and that different student will help raise our visibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
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