P3001 Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

The course develops through six themes, the first three being structure and function of the body; drug structure, disposition and action; and professional practice, which come together in the final three themes: comprehensive care; inquiry and innovation; and professional experience respectively. This course will develop the relevant practical and analytical skills you require for pharmacy practice, as well as the generic skills such as oral and written communication, critical thinking, inquiry, learning for life, numeracy and information literacy and leadership.

Structure and function of the body (how the body works)

These studies will provide you with the foundational understanding and knowledge of the human body, including how cells, molecules and organs ensure proper functioning of the body. This will include studies of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry relevant to pharmacists. You will be able to predict the outcome of cell and organ dysfunction, as well as effectively communicate aspects of how the body works.

Drug structure, disposition, and action (how medicines work)

You will learn the important aspects for a molecule to become a medicine, and how medicines produce their effects. This will include studies of medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics relevant to pharmacists. These studies will equip you with fundamental and applied knowledge required to understand and assess pre-formulation, formulation, manufacturing and packaging of pharmaceutical products. This includes the understanding and application of how medicines get absorbed, distributed and eliminated from the body and mechanisms and time-course of drug response in the body.

Professional practice (what pharmacists do)

These studies will equip you with the sociocultural context in which the pharmacist and the client operate, social and health practice issues, ethical, legal context of pharmacy, relevant professional and social values, attitudes and behaviours necessary for practice. You will develop the communication and practical skills to apply the knowledge and skills you have gained to promote and contribute to the quality use of medicines and to the health of the community.

Comprehensive care

Through these studies you will acquire knowledge about diseases and disorders and their management. You will develop an understanding and application of the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and clinical use of drugs in the management of various health conditions. You will gain and apply the knowledge and critical thinking skills in the enabling sciences, pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice to optimise pharmacotherapy in clinical practice.

Inquiry and innovation

These studies will build upon problem solving and innovative thinking skills developed in previous units. You will apply these skills to plan and conduct a project, think critically, and explore innovative solutions in a laboratory, clinical, social or business environment.

Professional experience

Embedded practice experiences during the course will prepare you to achieve the necessary competencies to enter the preregistration period if you intend to complete a fifth year. This will include practice experiences in a variety of clinical settings to develop and give context for your skill development.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 192 points of pharmacy core studies.

The course develops through theme studies in: Structure and function of the body (12 points); Drug structure, disposition, and action (30 points); Professional practice (36 points); Comprehensive care (72 points); Inquiry and innovation (24 points); and Professional experience (18 points).

Note that if you are in the scholars program you are required to maintain at least a distinction average (70%) each semester. If you do not meet this standard you will be required to exit the scholars program.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Core studies

Structure and function of the body (how the body works) (12 points)

You must complete:

PHR1031 How the body works (12 points)

Drug structure, disposition and action (how medicines work) (30 points)

You must complete:

PHR1021 How medicines work 1: Physical chemistry
PHR1022 How medicines work 2: Pharmacokinetics
PHR1122 How medicines Work 3: Pharmacology
PHR1222 How medicines Work 4: Medicinal chemistry
PHR2021 How medicines Work 5: Drug delivery

Professional practice (what pharmacists do) (36 points)

You must complete:

PHR1011 Professional practice 1
PHR1012 Professional practice 2
PHR2011 Professional practice 3
PHR2012 Professional practice 4 (12 points)
PHR4012 Professional practice 5

Comprehensive care (72 points)

You must complete:

PHR2041 Comprehensive care: Respiratory and gastrointestinal
PHR2141 Comprehensive care: Dermatology and pain
PHR2042 Comprehensive care: Endocrinology and renal
PHR2142 Comprehensive care: Cardiovascular
PHR3041 Comprehensive care: Blood, brain and cancers (12 points)
PHR3141 Comprehensive care: Pathogens, host defence and treatment (12 points)
PHR3042 Acute care: Inquiry cases (12 points)
PHR4042 Integrated care (12 points)

Inquiry and innovation (24 points)

You must complete:

PHR5052 Inquiry and innovation methods
PHR5151 Inquiry and innovation projects (12 points)
PHR5252 Inquiry and innovation communication

Professional experience (18 points)

You must complete:

PHR3062 Student experiential placements 1
PHR4061 Student experiential placements 2 (12 points)