Undergraduate - CourseBachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (Honours)

NOTE: This course has had one or more changes made to it since publication on 1 October 2014. For details of changes, please consult the Handbook change registerHandbook change register (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/2015-change-register.html).

This honours-year course is designed to prepare students for entry to a higher degree by research. Available honours projects depend upon resources for supervision, laboratory space and materials.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

• in conjunction with their project supervisor, develop skills in research including research planning, experimental techniques, data analysis and scientific writing
• develop a foundation of professional and operational skills as preparation for entry into pharmaceutical science industries
• develop advanced knowledge in pharmaceutical science and research methodology
• acquire technically competence to use analytical instrumentation, conduct experimental procedures and methodologies
• undertake data manipulation and analysis and understand the interpretation of data
• communicate the outcomes of the research project orally and in writing.

The prerequisite for entry to the honours year is a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, science, pharmaceutical science, medicinal chemistry, formulation science or a related field with an average overall distinction grade (70 per cent) or higher in the final year of the course, or equivalent qualifications and experience deemed by the faculty research training committee to be suitable preparation for the candidate's proposed field of study.

Students must complete:

(a.) compulsory advanced coursework (25 per cent) including an induction program and topics applicable to the research interests of the student

(b.) supervised research (75 per cent) that falls within the general research themes of:

• medicinal chemistry and drug action
• drug discovery biology
• drug candidate optimisation
• medicine use and safety.

With permission of the research training committee, it may also be possible to undertake a portion of the research in an external institution (e.g. a hospital or industry laboratory). If a substantial portion of the research work is to be carried out in an external institution, a suitably qualified person within that institution should act as an associate supervisor. The internal (faculty) supervisor is responsible for the overall research program at an academic level.

Students enrol in one of the following pairs of units. Each unit contains activities based on one specific pharmaceutical science research area:

• PSC6111 Advanced medicinal chemistry and drug action (12 points) and PSC6112 Research in medicinal chemistry and drug action (36 points)
• PSC6211 Advanced drug delivery and lead optimisation (12 points) and PSC6212 Research in drug delivery and lead optimisation (36 points)
• PSC6311 Advanced medicine use and safety (12 points) and PSC6312 Research in medicine use and safety (36 points).

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (Honours)