2894 - Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

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 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.pharm.monash.edu.au.

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.

Students undertake a common first year and from second year select the medicinal chemistry or formulation science major. Note: There is a quota on each major and entry into the preferred major is not guaranteed. Selection will be based on performance in all first year units and will be dependent on demand for the major and student results. In second year students take four core units and four units specific to their major. In third year students take two core units, five units specific to their major and an elective unit.

First year

First semester

• PSC1021 Organic chemistry I
• PSC1041 Mathematics for pharmaceutical scientists
• PSC1071 Physical chemistry I
• PSC1081 Physiology I

Second semester

• PSC1022 Organic chemistry II
• PSC1042 Introduction to pharmaceutical sciences
• PSC1072 Physical chemistry II
• PSC1082 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

• VPS3101 Product development II
• VPS3071 Formulation chemistry III
• VPS3081 Biopharmaceutics
• VPS3091 Molecular basis of drug action

Second semester

• VPS3052 Industrial project
• VPS3072 Formulation chemistry IV
• VPS3012 Product development III

Elective - choose one of:

• VPS3032 Current aspects of pharmaceutical biology
• VPS3042 Disease states and pharmalogical intervention
• VPS3012 Drug discovery and development

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 the pharmaceutical sciences
• VPS3082 Research project
• VPS3102 Drug discovery and development

Elective. Choose one of:

• VPS3032 Current aspects of pharmaceutical biology
• VPS3042 Disease states and pharmalogical intervention
• VPS3102 Product development III
• VPS3092 Computational chemistry in drug design

An optional honours year is available to outstanding graduates.

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science