Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science - 2018

Combining chemical engineering with pharmaceutical science, this double degree course is unique in Australia and rare worldwide.

Chemical engineers can design, run and troubleshoot production facilities, but their training typically excludes the skills to develop pharmaceutical and related products. Similarly, formulation scientists can invent and test new products such as pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics, but they lack the know-how to manage the product process beyond the laboratory stage.

This course combines chemical engineering and pharmaceutical science to produce professionals capable of covering the full spectrum of the pharmaceutical product design and development process.

Pharmaceutical engineers work in all aspects of the design and development process, from experimenting with innovative formulations to manufacturing commercialised products. A pharmaceutical engineer might:

• design, develop and improve industrial processes and equipment for large scale chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing
• plan and test methods of manufacturing
• develop methods for the treatment of by-products
• devise production processes that are safe, efficient, profitable and environmentally sound
• research naturally occurring chemical reactions and copy these processes for society's benefit
• develop and implement cleaner production technologies
• design, develop and use new materials.

Students in the double degree course achieve the Course Learning Outcomes of the two partner courses.

The requirements below detail what you must study in order to complete this double-degree course and receive the awards.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise specified. You must complete 240 points:

1. 144 points must be completed in Parts A, B, C, D and E (Level 1 only) as described below in E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) component, of which:

• the specialisation completed must be chemical engineering

Refer to E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) single degree entry for the details of mandatory professional recognition requirements.

2. 96 points must be completed in Parts A, B and C as described below in P2001 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science component, of which:

• the specialisation completed must be formulation science

Engineering component (chemical engineering specialisation)

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) is a specialist course that develops through four themes that combine to underpin engineering practice: fundamentals and foundational skills, design, knowledge and applications, and professional practice.

Part A. Engineering fundamentals and foundational skills (12 points*)

These will develop your understanding of natural and physical sciences, mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences that underpin all engineering disciplines.

You must complete:

• ENG1060 Computing for engineers
• ENG1005 Engineering mathematics

If you have not completed the equivalent of VCE Physics and/or VCE Specialist mathematics then you must complete foundation units in physics and/or mathematics respectively:

• PHS1001 Foundation physics
• ENG1090 Foundation mathematics

* Note: Students who need to take one or both foundation units will complete 18 or 24 points in Part A and do not complete the engineering level 1 elective from E below. Students who need to take both foundation units will need to take an overload in year 1 or 2 and increase the total credit points needed for the double degree by 6 points.

Part B. Engineering design (18 points)

This will develop the engineering techniques, tools and resources for the conduct, design and management of engineering design processes and projects, both in the industrial setting and in the development of research experiments.

You must complete:

• ENG1001 Engineering design: Lighter, faster, stronger
• ENG1002 Engineering design: Cleaner, safer smarter
• ENG1003 Engineering mobile apps

Part E. Level 1 elective study (6 points)

You must complete one unit from the following:

• CHE2161 Mechanics of fluids
• ECE2041Not offered in 2018 Telecommunications
• ECE2072 Digital systems
• ENE1621 Environmental engineering
• ENG1021 Spatial communication in engineering
• ENG1051 Materials for energy and sustainability
• PHS1002 Physics for engineering
• FIT2085 Introduction to computer science for engineers
• MAE2405 Aircraft performance
• MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science
• MEC2404 Mechanics of fluids
• RSE1010 Natural resources engineering
• TRC2001 Introduction to systems engineering

Levels 2, 3 and 4

Parts C, D. Chemical engineering knowledge, application and practice (108 points)

Part C studies will provide in-depth knowledge of the specific engineering methods of chemical engineering, and will integrate the specific engineering methods and discipline knowledge into practice. You will develop skills to identify and apply knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. Additionally, your studies will focus on your understanding and application of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in your discipline.

Part D studies will develop your skills in readiness for the engineering workplace. You will develop skills in effective team membership and team leadership, the use and management of commercially relevant data, and the legal responsibilities of engineers. This study will integrate the theme 'Engineering knowledge and application' with your specialist field of engineering.

You must complete:

• ENG2005 Advanced engineering mathematics
• CHE2161 Mechanics of fluids (if not already completed at level one)
• CHE2162 Material and energy balances
• CHE2163 Heat and mass transfer
• CHE2164 Thermodynamics I
• CHE2166 Introduction to process simulation
• CHE3161 Chemistry and chemical thermodynamics
• CHE3162 Process control
• CHE3164 Reaction engineering
• CHE3165 Separation processes
• CHE3166 Process design
• CHE3167 Transport phenomena and numerical methods
• CHE4161 Engineer in society
• CHE4162 Particle technology
• CHE4164 Integrated industrial project (24 points)*
• CHE4170 Design project (12 points)
• CHE4180 Chemical engineering project (12 points)

* This is for selected students taking a period of integrated industrial training in the first semester of their final year. It will replace the three units (CHE4180, CHE4161 and one of the steam elective units) which form the normal first semester of the final year.

Pharmaceutical science component (formulation science specialisation)

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science is a specialist course that develops through three themes. The first two, foundation science studies and pharmaceutical science studies culminate in an applied project.

Part A. Foundation sciences (48 points)

Foundation studies in bio-organic and medicinal chemistry, physical chemistry and physiology will underpin further studies in your formulation science specialisation. It will also provide an introduction to the key areas of scientific communication and practice and scientific research methodology.

Students complete:

• BPS1011 Human physiology I: Cells to systems
• BPS1021 Medicinal chemistry I: Structure
• BPS1031 Physical chemistry I: Equilibria and change
• BPS1012 Human physiology II: Body systems
• BPS1022 Medicinal chemistry II: Reactivity and biomolecules
• BPS1032 Physical chemistry II: Solutions, surfaces and solids
• BPS2031 Analytical methods I: Principles and applications
• BPS2041 Drug delivery: Absorption pathways

Part B. Pharmaceutical science (specialist formulation science study) and Part C. Applied project (48 points)

Part B will provide you with practical and theoretical skills and knowledge of your specialisation. You will learn to develop, apply and communicate the concepts and theoretical frameworks that constitute the knowledge base of formulation science.

The studies in parts A. and B. culminate in a major research project or industry placement in Part C.

Students complete:

• BPS1041 Scientific inquiry
• BPS1042 Pharmaceutical science in context
• BPS2022 Drug discovery and design
• BPS2042 Drug development
• BPS3321 Biotechnology products
• BPS3331 Pharmaceutical product development and manufacture
• BPS3322 Drug delivery nanotechnology
• BPS3332 Industrial formulation

You may be eligible to exit this double degree course early and graduate with one of the single awards once you have successfully completed all of the requirements described above for the single degree component and have completed a total of:

• 192 points to exit with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours)
• 144 points to exit with a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science.

Honours

You may be eligible to apply for a one-year honours course once you have successfully completed this double degree, or have completed all of the requirements for one of the single degrees including a total of 144 points. The following honours course applies:

• P3701 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (Honours)

You are usually eligible to apply for honours if you achieve a distinction grade average (70 percent) or above in 24 points of studies in relevant discipline units at level 3. This sometimes also means you need to have completed specific units.