Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

Course code: 2894 ~ Course abbreviation: BPharmSc ~ Total credit points required: 144 ~ 3 years full-time ~ Managing faculty: Pharmacy

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Parkville - F/T only)

Course description

Pharmaceutical Science plays a vital role in improving human health through translating advances in medical research into medicines. A pharmaceutical scientist is trained to select new targets for drug therapy which arise from basic research, and has the scientific and technical knowledge to translate new targets into reliable, accessible and effective treatments for patients.

The Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science has two major areas of study; Formulation Science and Medicinal Chemistry:

• Formulation science explores inventing, making and testing new products in fields such as pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics.
• Medicinal Chemistry aims to produce graduates with an in-depth understanding of the principles and techniques behind drug discovery and development.

Course objectives

On completion of the course, students will have a thorough grounding in pharmaceutical science with majors in either formulation science or medicinal chemistry. Graduates will have had practical experience either in an industrial setting or in research related to drug development.

Course structure

Course requirements

First year

First semester

• VPS1021 Organic chemistry I
• VPS1041 Mathematics for pharmaceutical scientists
• VPS1071 Physical chemistry I
• VPS1081 Physiology I

Second semester

• VPS1022 Organic chemistry II
• VPS1042 Introduction to pharmaceutical sciences
• VPS1072 Physical chemistry II
• VPS1082 Physiology II

Formulation Science major

Second year

First semester

• VPS2011 Pharmaceutical biochemistry
• VPS2021 Analytical methods
• VPS2041 Colloid chemistry
• VPS2071 Formulation chemistry I

Second semester

• VPS2062 Pharmacology
• VPS2072 Formulation chemistry II
• VPS2092 Molecular cell biology
• VPS2102 Product development I

Third year

First semester

• VPS3041 Product development II
• VPS3071 Formulation chemistry III
• VPS3081 Biopharmaceutics
• VPS3091 Molecular basis of drug action

Second semester

• VPS3052 Industrial project
• VPS3072 Formulation chemistry IV
• VPS3102 Product development III
• Elective

Medicinal Chemistry major

Second year

First semester

• VPS2011 Pharmaceutical biochemistry
• VPS2021 Analytical methods
• VPS2121 Synthetic chemistry I
• VPS2141 Computational chemistry I

Second semester

• VPS2062 Pharmacology
• VPS2082 Introduction to spectroscopy
• VPS2092 Molecular cell biology
• VPS2122 Synthetic chemistry II

Third year

First semester

• VPS3011 Synthetic medicinal chemistry
• VPS3031 Spectroscopy
• VPS3081 Biopharmaceutics
• VPS3091 Molecular basis of drug action

Second semester

• VPS3022 Chemical technologies for pharmaceutical development
• VPS3082 Research project
• VPS3102 Drug discovery and development
• Elective

Course progression requirements

The full provisions governing the course structure and progress of students through the course are set out in the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science regulations, which can be found on the faculty's website at http://www.vcp.monash.edu.au.

Contact details

Telephone +61 3 9903 9635, email info@vcp.monash.edu.au or visit http://www.vcp.monash.edu.au.

Course coordinator

Professor Barrie Finnin