BH-PHARM v.1 Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

Bachelor honours degrees prepare students to develop broad, coherent and advanced knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work, research and further learning corresponding to AQF level 8 qualifications.

This course offers practical experience as well as a theoretical grounding in the discipline of pharmacy and is the only undergraduate program in Western Australia that is recognised for registration as a pharmacist. It is taught with a hands-on approach, with a range of laboratories and facilities available to enhance teaching and provide essential practical skills. Most practising pharmacists are engaged in the preparation and dispensing of medicines, as well as patient-focussed care, including advice to patients, their carers and other health-care providers. Pharmacists also may be involved in specialised dispensing or compounding, monitoring of drug therapy and the development, testing or manufacture of medicines. All students in this course are enrolled in a four-year honours program and will be able to demonstrate an advanced level of pharmacy skills and knowledge on completion of the degree.

Professional Recognition

You are required to complete an additional 1824 hours of pre-registration training post-graduation, before you can register to practise as a pharmacist in Australia. Pharmacists registered in Australia can apply to practise in New Zealand. The degree is recognised worldwide, although some countries require the fulfilment of additional educational or practical training programs.

Course Accreditation Status

This course is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have a wide range of career opportunities, with most graduates seeking employment in community pharmacies. In addition to providing community-based healthcare, this degree allows you to exercise business management skills in a professional setting. You may enter hospital pharmacy to help contribute to patient care in a secondary or tertiary healthcare environment and to extend your clinical expertise in a wide range of areas. The pharmaceutical industry, which manufactures most medicines today, offers many employment opportunities. These include research roles in the development of medicines, production of pharmaceuticals, quality assurance, regulatory services, marketing and drug information. You may also play a large role in regulatory control and policy development. Graduates interested in industrial or academic careers may be required to undertake further studies before embarking on these careers. Curtin graduates are highly employable and sought after, with one of the best graduate employment rates across the University.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials. Students will be required to purchase a laboratory coat or protective equipment, glassware and dispensing aids and buy a uniform to wear whilst participating in course-related fieldwork or placement activities. Prior to fieldwork, students will be required to undergo screening for and vaccination against a range of infectious diseases, undertake criminal record screening and in certain practice environments, obtain a working with children clearance. Additionally students will be required to attain qualifications and certifications relevant to their year level and placement setting. The costs for these course expenses are the student’s responsibility. For further information please refer: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/schools-and-departments/pharmacy/fieldwork/

Course Overview Note

Students admitted to the course prior to 2009 can refer to the archived version of the online handbook for their course structure http://archive.handbook.curtin.edu.au/

Bachelor Degrees typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors, streams and/or minors for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study. This course is designed as an honours level degree and all students who graduate this program will, at a minimum, complete a pass level in honours, with advanced students gaining a grade that may assist in advancement to higher level course enrolment.

The main areas of specialisation are pharmaceutics which includes formulations, sterility testing and drug development; pharmaceutical chemistry - which includes analytical, physical, organic, natural product and biological chemistry; pharmaceutical biology - which includes biochemistry; microbiology and physiology; an integration of pharmacology with pharmacotherapy which helps focus students understanding of the effect of drugs on the body within patient driven models. These develop into pharmaceutical practice which considers professional pharmacy roles.

Course Learning Outcomes

A graduate of this course can:

1. apply extensive knowledge and cognitive skills with initiative and judgement in professional pharmacy practice, and contribute to evidence-based practice through scholarship and research

2. apply critical thinking, creativity and reflection to plan and execute project work and/or provide solutions to complex pharmaceutical problems with intellectual independence

3. access, review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise information to resolve clinical, professional and scientific problems in pharmacy

4. communicate effectively as a pharmacist with a variety of audiences to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas for professional and research purposes

5. utilise pharmacy software and technology for pharmacy practice, scholarship and research purposes

6. demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning as a pharmacist

7. provide pharmaceutical services, and undertake pharmacy practice research, with sensitivity to political, social, cultural, geographical, technological and global influences

8. engage in high-quality, ethical and culturally-competent pharmaceutical service delivery and research as appropriate to individuals, as well as broader sociocultural contexts

9. work collaboratively and ethically within complex and dynamic practice and research parameters; demonstrating sophisticated skills for numeracy, literacy, technical writing and interpersonal communication

Duration and Availability

The course is four years full-time. Part-time study plans may be approved on application. The Study Period One units available are for transferring students only.

Location and delivery Mode

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.

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Applicants for a Bachelor Honours Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://study.curtin.edu.au/ and include flexible entry pathways. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.

Essential: Chemistry ATAR and Mathematical Applications ATAR. Biology or Human Biology provides valuable preparation for the course. Applicants using the IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System) require a minimum IELTS overall band score of 7.0 (min. bands of 7.0) or equivalent. STAT is not accepted for entry to this course, but may be used to demonstrate English competence requirements. Applicants should refer to the Curtin website or Curtin Handbook for more information on specific admission requirements, including Inherent Requirements, for the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons): https://study.curtin.edu.au/offering/course-ug-bachelor-of-pharmacy-honours--bh-pharm/ Applicants for this course should refer to the admission criteria on the Curtin website or Curtin Handbook for information regarding Inherent Requirements: https://study.curtin.edu.au/offering/course-ug-bachelor-of-pharmacy-honours--bh-pharm/ Applicants for this course should refer to the Faculty of Health website for information regarding the mandatory health and legal checks. http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/schools-and-departments/pharmacy/fieldwork/

Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/non-school-leavers/rpl.cfm

Intermediate Awards

B-HLTHST Bachelor of Science (Health Studies)

Pathway to Further Study

Graduates with a Bachelor Degree may qualify for entry to some Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Master by Coursework degrees. Graduates with a Bachelor Degree with Honours may also qualify for entry to a Master or Doctorate by Research. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.

Award Pathway

Graduates with a Bachelor Degree may qualify for entry to some Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Master by Coursework degrees. Graduates with a Bachelor Degree with Honours may also qualify for entry to a Master or Doctorate by Research. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.