courses

3454

Monash University

Postgraduate - Course

Students who commenced study in 2013 should refer to this course entry for direction on the requirements; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course.

print version

This course entry applies to students commencing this course in 2013 and should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Managing facultyPharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Abbreviated titleMClinPharm
Total credit points required48
Standard duration of study (years)2 years PT
Study mode and locationOff-campus (Parkville)
Admission, fee and application details http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3454
Contact details

http://www.pharm.monash.edu.au/students/contact-pharm-current-students.html

Course coordinator

Kirstie Galbraith

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the Handbook are not available for study in the current year.
  • International students residing outside Australia are not eligible to enrol in this course. International students located in Australia must be registered as a pharmacist in Australia, be employed in an Australian hospital clinical setting, and have the appropriate visa to allow part-time study.
  • Part-time study only. This course is normally completed in two years. Students have a maximum of four years to complete.
  • Students are required to undertake off-campus placements.

Description

The course is designed to enable students to establish skills in evidence-based practice, quality use of medicine, practice-based research, and the provision of clinical pharmacy services at a high level.

Outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

  • demonstrate a high level of critical analysis, problem solving, decision making and professional communication related to provision of clinical pharmacy services
  • apply principles of quality use of medicines to patient care
  • use evidence-based principles to guide clinical practice
  • critically evaluate literature to develop research proposals
  • undertake practice-based research projects
  • effectively and appropriately communicate clinical and research information with a range professional colleagues and clients

Credit for prior studies

Successful applicants who have commenced or completed other postgraduate programs in clinical pharmacy may apply for credit for relevant prior studies. Credit will be determined on an individual basis after a review of units completed and course documentation.

Maximum credit allowed

24 credit points

Fieldwork

This course requires four weeks of placement in a specialty area under the supervision of an experienced specialty clinical pharmacist preceptor approved by the course director. The placement may be undertaken in a four-week block, or as two blocks each of two weeks. It is expected that all four weeks will be carried out in the same specialty area of practice. Placements should not generally be undertaken in the student's normal workplace.

Students must be working as clinical pharmacists with access to patients in order to undertake the 'Patient data and pharmacotherapy' units as they are required to contribute cases for discussion and documentation in their learning portfolio.

Structure

This course consists of 48 credit points of core units. This includes a four-week speciality rotation with an experienced clinical preceptor and completion of a practice-based research project in one of the following areas of study:

  • biostatistics
  • epidemiology
  • pharmacotherapy and interpretation of clinical data
  • practice-based research
  • theory and practice of evidence-based medicine.

Great importance is placed on active student participation in seminar presentations and discussion groups, and student performance is closely monitored.

Students require access to patients for case studies on a regular basis and must be working in their clinical position for the duration of each semester.

Requirements

Students must complete the following units:

  • ECX9720 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics
  • PGC5001 Evidence-based practice
  • PGC5002 Patient data and pharmacotherapy I
  • PGC6003 Patient data and pharmacotherapy II
  • PGC6004 Patient data and pharmacotherapy III
  • PGC6005 Journal club
  • PGC6006 Specialty clinical placement
  • PGC6007 Introduction to clinical research
  • PGC6008 Clinical research II
  • PGC6009 Clinical research III

Minimum grade for course completion

In order to successfully complete this course, students must achieve a minimum pass grade as follows:

  • 65 per cent in units PGC5001 (Evidence-based practice) and ECX9720 (Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics).

Alternative exit(s)

Students who do not achieve the minimum pass grade for course completion will exit with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award:

  • 3468 Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice
  • 3460 Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice (Internship)
  • 3467 Master of Pharmacy Practice.

Award(s)

Master of Clinical Pharmacy