Description
Pharmacists make a difference to people's health in hospitals, aged-care facilities and local communities. In the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) you will learn about the formulation of medicines and their impact on the body. The course provides you the knowledge, experience and expertise you need to make a difference from the moment you graduate as a medicines expert and healthcare professional.
Very high achieving students can apply to be admitted to the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) scholars program offered at the Parkville campus. The scholars program gives you opportunities not available to all students, including extra academic and professional mentoring from pharmacy graduates, leadership training through the ambassador program and a dean's scholarship (if you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen or holder of an Australian permanent resident or permanent humanitarian visa).
As a pharmacy student at our Parkville campus, you will learn from experienced pharmacists and researchers in some of the country's best-equipped facilities. You'll have access to innovative teaching technologies, such as 'MyDispense', a web-based program that combines over 300 virtual patients and 1500 pharmacy products to provide authentic dispensing practice, and 'Pharmatopia', a virtual hi-tech teaching tool, developed by us and adopted by leading pharmacy schools around world.
During third and fourth year, you will undertake work placements in hospitals and community pharmacies through the professional experience placement program. The program provides an understanding of the processes involved in, for example, providing primary health care, drug information, and clinical pharmacy services in different practice environments.
Our Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) course is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council. To become a registered pharmacist, you must first complete the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) degree, then undertake a period of supervised practice in accordance with the requirements set out by the Pharmacy Board of Australia, while also completing an internship training program which is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council. Monash University offers an Australian Pharmacy Council accredited internship program, either as a stand-alone course or as part of course P4001 Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice (Internship). Monash University is not responsible for finding or organising internship positions for our graduates.
Outcomes
These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).
Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will be able to:
- relate knowledge and skills attained in all themes of the course (structure and function of the body, drug structure, disposition and action, professional practice, comprehensive care, inquiry and innovation, and professional experience) to the pharmacy practice context
- apply the relevant cognitive and technical skills for the practice of pharmacy as defined by the current competencies and expectations of future practice
- demonstrate, in the context of clinical situations, advanced cognitive and non-cognitive skills, including oral and written communication, critical thinking, learning for life, numeracy and information literacy, and leadership
- display the relevant professional and social values, attitudes and behaviour necessary for practice. Apply the knowledge and skills gained to promote, develop and contribute to the quality use of medicines and to the health of the community.
- develop and implement a personalised learning plan to achieve skills required for entry into pre-registration training (internship)
- demonstrate integrated problem-solving skills, innovative thinking and application of evidence in practice settings.
Credit for prior studies
Refer to the undergraduate credit transfer policyundergraduate credit transfer policy (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/pharm/students/undergrad/policy/credit.html).
Graduate entry is available for students with a completed undergraduate degree in a related science course, specifically a Bachelor of Biomedical Science. A credit precedence is set for students entering the course through this pathway; they must enter into the summer intensive unit PAC1001 (Introduction to Pharmacy) prior to entering the third year of the course. This pathway is only open to eligible graduate students with a relevant completed degree prior to entering the third year of the course. The relevant completed degree must have been completed no more than ten years prior to application.
Maximum credit allowed
Special requirements
Police and Working with Children checks are required for the professional experience placements in clinical and community settings in the Bachelor of Pharmacy Honours). All students will be required to obtain and pay for a police check and Working with Children check prior to undertaking the clinical and community placements in their course.
Before commencing their professional experience placements students are required to show records that they have been immunised in line with the Department of Human Services' list of immunisation for health workers.
During third and fourth year students undertake work placements in hospitals and community pharmacies through the professional experience placement programprofessional experience placement program (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/pharm/students/placements/index.html).
For further information or for clarification contact the placement program coordinator at pep@monash.edu.
Fieldwork
During third and fourth year students undertake work placements in hospitals and community pharmacies through the professional experience placement programprofessional experience placement program (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/pharm/students/placements/index.html).
Professional recognition
Pharmacy Board of Australia
To practice as a pharmacist in Victoria it is necessary to register with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. To qualify for registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia, a period of internship practical training must be undertaken after completing this undergraduate course. Refer to the faculty's Registration as a pharmacistRegistration as a pharmacist (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/pharm-02.html) page in this Handbook.
Royal Australian Chemical Institute
Bachelor of Pharmacy graduates from Monash University are eligible to become members of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) after a period of practical experience. RACI members are able to practise in many areas of industry as professional chemists and receive the salaries determined by the RACI.
Structure
The course develops through the six themes, the first three being structure and function of the body; drug structure, disposition and action; and professional practice, which come together in the final three themes: comprehensive care; inquiry and innovation; and professional pxperience respectively. This course will develop the relevant practical and analytical skills you require for pharmacy practice, as well as your generic skills such as oral and written communication, critical thinking, inquiry, learning for life, numeracy and information literacy and leadership.
Part A. Structure and function of the body (how the body works)
These studies will provide you with the foundational understanding and knowledge of the human body, including how cells, molecules and organs ensure proper functioning of the body. This will include studies of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry relevant to pharmacists. You will be able to predict the outcome of cell and organ dysfunction, as well as effectively communicate aspects of how the body works.
Part B. Drug structure, disposition, and action (how medicines work)
You will learn the important aspects for a molecule to become a medicine, and how medicines produce their effects. This will include studies of medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics relevant to pharmacists. These studies will equip you with fundamental and applied knowledge required to understand and assess pre-formulation, formulation, manufacturing and packaging of pharmaceutical products. This includes the understanding and application of how medicines get absorbed, distributed and eliminated from the body and mechanisms and time-course of drug response in the body.
Part C. Professional practice (what pharmacists do)
These studies will equip you with the sociocultural context in which the pharmacist and the client operate, social and health practice issues, ethical, legal context of pharmacy, relevant professional and social values, attitudes and behaviours necessary for practice. You will develop the communication and practical skills to apply the knowledge and skills you have gained to promote and contribute to the quality use of medicines and to the health of the community.
Part D. Comprehensive care
Through these studies you will acquire knowledge about diseases and disorders and their management. You will develop an understanding and application of the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and clinical use of drugs in the management of various health conditions. You will gain and apply the knowledge and critical thinking skills in the enabling sciences, pharmaceutics and pharmacy practice to optimise pharmacotherapy in clinical practice.
Part E. Inquiry and innovation
These studies will build upon problem solving and innovative thinking skills developed in previous units. You will apply these skills to plan and conduct a project, think critically, and explore innovative solutions in a laboratory, clinical, social or business environment.
Part F. Professional experience
Embedded practice experiences during the course will prepare you to achieve the necessary competencies to enter the preregistration period if you intend to complete a fifth year. This will include 12 weeks in a variety of clinical settings to develop and give context for your skill development.
Requirements
The course comprises 192 points of pharmacy study.
The course develops through theme studies in: Part A. Structure and function of the body (12 points); Part B. Drug structure, disposition, and action (30 points); Part C. Professional practice (36 points); Part D. Comprehensive care (84 points); Part E. Inquiry and innovation (24 points); and Part F. Professional experience (6 points).
Note that students in the scholars program are required to maintain at least a distinction average (70 per cent) each semester. If you do not meet this standard you will be required to exit the scholars program.
The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/maps/map-p3001.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.
Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.
Part A. Structure and function of the body (how the body works) (12 points)
Students complete:
- PHR1031 How the body works (12 points)
Part B. Drug structure, disposition and action (how medicines work) (30 points)
Students complete:
- PHR1021 How medicines work I
- PHR1022 How medicines work II (18 credit points)
- PHR2021 How medicines work III
Part C. Professional practice (what pharmacists do) (36 points)
Students complete:
- PHR1011 Professional practice I
- PHR1012 Professional practice II
- PHR2011 Professional practice III
- PHR2012 Professional practice IV (12 points)
- PHR3011 Professional practice V
Part D. Comprehensive care (84 points)
Students complete:
- PHR2041 Respiratory and gastrointestinal
- PHR2141 Endocrinology and renal
- PHR2042 Cardiovascular
- PHR2142 Dermatology and pain
- PHR3041 Mental health
- PHR3141 Microbiology and infection (12 points)
- PHR3042 Neurology and ophthalmology
- PHR3142 Critical care (12 credit points)
- PHR4042 Haematology and oncology
- PHR4142 Transplants
- PHR4242 Integrated care (12 points)
Part E. Inquiry and innovation (24 points)
Students complete:
- PHR5052 Inquiry and innovation I
- PHR5051 Inquiry and innovation II (18 points)
Part F. Professional experience (6 points)
Students complete:
- PHR4061 Professional experiential placements