Undergraduate - Course2894 - Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science

The Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science is centred around the chemical and biological sciences. It provides students with the knowledge and skills base in the pharmaceutical sciences to develop exciting careers in research and industry. Students in the course have the opportunity to interact with world class research groups and be trained in the laboratories of the Monash Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, which are equipped with cutting-edge instrumentation and infrastructure.

The Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science has three major areas of study:

• 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
• Drug discovery biology focuses on the discovery and understanding of biological drug targets, and their modulation by chemicals and other substances.

On completion of the course, students will:

• have acquired broad theoretical knowledge of pharmaceutical sciences and advanced knowledge of one of the course majors: medicinal chemistry, drug discovery biology or formulation science
• solve problems by applying appropriate experimental design, scientific thinking, evidence-based approaches and data analysis
• have mastered the range of practical and analytical skills and techniques relevant to modern research and industrial laboratory environments
• be aware of technologies and developments shaping the pharmaceutical sciences
• possess vocational skills for professional practice within the pharmaceutical and related industries
• be equipped to participate in lifelong learning
• demonstrate critical analysis, numeracy, information literacy, leadership skills and communication of, and about, science
• appreciate and respect the ethical, legal and social responsibilities of a scientist in an international context

The formulation science major achieves these in the context of therapeutic product development. Students will:

• be capable of designing delivery systems for drugs and other active molecules and to be able to contribute to all aspects of the product life cycle
• possess analytical skills to assess the physical, and chemical properties of drugs, active molecules and delivery systems
• evaluate the suitability of these formulations within the context of industrial and regulatory environments

The medicinal chemistry major is set in the context of drug design and discovery, and chemical sciences as applied to medicines. Students will:

• understand and apply the principles of drug action
• design and implement approaches to synthesising bioactive molecules
• analyse chemical structures and interactions using computational, spectroscopic and analytical techniques

The drug discovery biology major focuses on drug discovery and pharmacology. Students will:

• explain the mechanisms of drug action based on interactions at molecular, cellular and organ level
• identify the appropriate research methods required for the evaluation of new drug targets
• evaluate candidate novel therapeutic agents based on affinity / efficacy profiles

Refer to details at http://www.pharm.monash.edu.au/students/undergrad/policy/credit.html

96 credit points

Students undertake common units in first year and semester one of second year. In semester two of second year students select their 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 the student's results.

Students who commenced in 2012

The course details provided in this Handbook are for those students who commence their studies in 2012. Students who began their studies prior to this should consult the archived Handbook edition for the year in which they started their course. Archived handbooks are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks.

First year

First semester

• PSC1011 Physiology I
• PSC1021 Organic chemistry I
• PSC1031 Physical chemistry I
• PSC1041 Mathematics for pharmaceutical scientists

Second semester

• PSC1012 Physiology II
• PSC1022 Organic chemistry II
• PSC1032 Physical chemistry II
• PSC1042 Introduction to pharmaceutical sciences

Second year (from 2013)

First semester

• PSC2011 Biochemical pharmacology
• PSC2021 Analytical methods
• PSC2031 Structural organic chemistry
• PSC2041 Biopharmaceutics

Students select a major commencing semester 2 second year

Formulation science major

Second semester

• PSC2012 Molecular pharmacology
• PSC2202 Formulation chemistry
• PSC2212 Colloid chemistry

Choice of elective:

• PSC2112 Computational chemistry; or
• PSC2122 Synthetic organic chemistry; or
• PSC2132 Introduction to spectroscopy

Third year (from 2014)

First semester

• PSC3201 Product manufacture
• PSC3211 Industrial formulation
• PSC3221 Advanced formulations and nanotechnologies
• PSC3011 Applied analytical methods

Second semester

• PSC3202 Biomolecule formulation & modified release technologies
• PSC3212 Regulatory Affairs
• PSC3222 Industry placement

Choice of elective:

• PSC3012 Disease states and pharmacological intervention; or
• PSC3022 Computational chemistry in drug design; or
• PSC3112 Drug discovery and development

Medicinal chemistry major

Second year (from 2013)

Second semester

• PSC2012 Molecular pharmacology
• PSC2112 Computational chemistry I
• PSC2122 Synthetic organic chemistry
• PSC2132 Introduction to spectroscopy

Third year (from 2014)

First semester

• PSC3101 Advanced synthetic chemistry
• PSC3111 Molecular basis of drug action
• PSC3121 Spectroscopy
• PSC3011 Applied analytical methods

Second semester

• PSC3102 Synthetic medicinal chemistry
• PSC3112 Drug discovery and development
• PSC3122 Research project

Choice of elective:

• PSC3012 Disease states and pharmacological intervention; or
• PSC3022 Computational chemistry in drug design; or
• PSC3212 Regulatory affairs

Drug discovery biology major

Second year (from 2013)

Second semester

• PSC2012 Molecular pharmacology
• PSC2301 Disease-focused pharmacology I
• PSC2312 Molecular cell biology

Choice of elective:

• PSC2112 Computational chemistry ; or
• PSC2122 Synthetic organic chemistry; or
• PSC2132 Introduction to spectroscopy; or
• PSC2202 Formulation chemistry

Third year (from 2014)

First semester

• PAC3191 Microbiology and immunology
• PSC3301 Disease-focused pharmacology II
• PSC3221 Advanced formulations and nanotechnologies
• PSC3011 Applied analytical methods

Second semester

• PSC3302 Chemical Biology
• PSC3032 Current aspects of pharmaceutical biology
• PAC3512 Current aspects of pharmaceutical research
• PSC3122 Research project

An optional honours year is available to outstanding graduates.

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science