1999 Pharmacy Handbook - Honours degree of Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

Honours degree of Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

General information
General objectives
Syllabus
Assessment

General information

One academic year
The prerequisite for entry to the honours year is a Bachelor of Pharmacy pass or honours degree with (a) a credit grade or higher in the final year subject chosen for honours studies or (b) an average overall credit grade or higher in the final year of the course; or (c) another degree which, in the opinion of the college board, is suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study with a similar standard of entry as stated above; or (d) qualifications and experience which, in the opinion of the college board, are a suitable preparation for the candidate's field of study.

General objectives

The objectives of the honours program are:

to develop students' skills in undertaking research, including research planning, experimental techniques, data analysis and scientific writing;
to provide students with a research-oriented degree suitable for entry into the pharmaceutical industry;
to provide future higher degree candidates with advanced knowledge in pharmaceutical science and research methodology;
to encourage students to pursue higher degree studies in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Syllabus

The honours degree of Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (BPharmSc(Hons)) course consists of compulsory coursework and supervised research undertaken in any of the departments at the college.
The compulsory coursework, including an induction program, consists of a core course taken by all candidates (statistics, computer science) and topics applicable to the research interests of the student. The supervised research can be based in any area that falls within the interests of the college departments (Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmacology, Pharmacy Practice). With permission of the college graduate studies committee it may also be possible to undertake a portion of the research at an external location (eg hospital, industrial laboratory, etc.). If a substantial portion of the research work is to be carried out in an external institution, the graduate studies committee might require a person within that institution to act as an associate supervisor. The college supervisor is responsible for the overall research program at an academic level.
As outlined above, the major element of the course is a supervised research project which will be assessed on the basis of oral presentations (background to the project and the results obtained), and a written thesis incorporating a literature review.

Assessment

Coursework: 25% - Research and thesis: 75%