P6001 Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) and Master of Pharmacy

The course develops through the 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 your generic skills such as oral and written communication, critical thinking, inquiry, learning for life, numeracy and information literacy and leadership.

Part A. 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.

Part B. 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.

Part C. 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.

Part D. 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.

Part E. 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.

Part F. Professional experience

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

Once you enter stage two, you will undertake the Pharmacy Board of Australia's required pre-registration year including the National Alliance for Pharmacy Education intern training program (ITP) accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council. You will develop your skills in the workplace, focusing on the competencies required to practice as a registered pharmacist. You will also complete the Monash University Pharmacy intern foundation program (IFP) that recognises additional professional knowledge and skills gained whilst working in a Monash credentialed training site.

In order to enrol in the intern training program and intern foundation program, you must have arranged to undertake your internship under the supervision of a preceptor approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

Course progression map

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

This course comprises 216 points. It requires the completion of two stages. To progress from stage 1 to stage 2  you must have completed all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), be in good standing with the faculty and meet all requirements of the applicant checks. High achieving students entering the Scholars Program are required to maintain a distinction average throughout the course or they will be transferred out of the Scholars Program and will not receive the program benefits or the Scholars award.

Stage 1: Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

Stage 1 of the course comprises 192 points.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

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

You must complete:

• PHR1031 How the body works (12 points)

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

You must complete:

• PHR1021 How medicines work I
• PHR1022 How medicines work II (18 points)
• PHR2021 How medicines work III

Part C. Professional practice (what pharmacists do) (36 points)

You must complete:

• PHR1011 Professional practice I
• PHR1012 Professional practice II
• PHR2011 Professional practice III
• PHR2012 Professional practice IV (12 points)
• PHR4012 Professional practice V

Part D. Comprehensive care (72 points)

You must complete:

• PHR2041 Respiratory and gastrointestinal
• PHR2141 Dermatology and pain
• PHR2042 Endocrinology and renal
• PHR2142 Cardiovascular
• PHR3041 Brain, blood, & cancers (12 points)
• PHR3141 Infection Pathogens, host defense, & treatment (12 points)
• PHR3042 Acute care: inquiry cases (12cp)
• PHR4042 Integrated care (12cp)

Part E. 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

Part F. Professional experience (18 points)

You must complete:

• PHR3062 Student experiential placements I
• PHR4061 Student experiential placements II  (12 points)

Stage 2: Master of Pharmacy

The Master of Pharmacy comprises 48 points of which 24 points are completed in stage 2, and 24 points are completed in stage 1 (PHR5052, PHR5151 and PHR5252). In addition, you must complete a full-year 0-credit-point pharmacy internship.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

F. Professional experience (24 points)

You must complete:

• PHR5061 Applied pharmacy practice 1
• PHR5161 Foundation practice 1
• PHR5062 Applied pharmacy practice 2
• PHR5162 Foundation practice 2
• PHR5000 Pharmacy internship (0 points)

Enrolment into these units requires you to have arranged your internship under the supervision of a preceptor approved by the Pharmacy Board of Australia.