Program Overview

The University of Toledo in Ohio is the only university in the country to offer an undergraduate program in cosmetic science and formulation design. UToledo’s cosmetic science graduates are in high demand. Nearly all recent graduates have landed jobs in the field.

The University of Toledo’s bachelor’s program in cosmetic science and formulation design is offered through UToledo’s College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Cosmetic science majors study the art, science and business of cosmetics. They learn to develop, formulate and produce cosmetics and personal care products. They study regulations and how to assess products’ safety, performance and quality.

UToledo students study key sciences, but also take business and economics courses and complete an internship. This gives graduates the flexibility to find careers in formulation development and manufacturing or the business side of the industry.

Highlights

• Faculty who literally wrote the book on the subject. Dr. Gabriella Baki is the director of UToledo’s cosmetic science and formulation design program. She wrote the first cosmetic science textbook for undergraduates.
• Acquire the skills employers want. Most entry-level jobs in the field require knowledge of how to formulate products. UToledo cosmetic science students spend four semesters in the lab, learning how ingredients work, how to select them and how to formulate and test products.
• State-of-the-art facilities. Develop your skills with high-tech instruments used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
• Internships. Get experience in a required, 400-hour internship. Cosmetic science interns from UToledo have worked at raw ingredient suppliers, finished goods manufacturers, contract manufacturers and research universities in Hungary and Japan. Some even get job offers from their employers before they graduate.
• Student involvement. The UToledo Cosmetic Chemist Society:
  • Recruits guest speakers
  • Educates the campus community about important issues, such as sunscreen use
  • Makes lotions and lip balms
  • Networks with other chapters in Chicago, Cincinnati and Grand Rapids, Mich.