188099 v.4 Bachelor of Pharmacy
BPharm(Curtin) OR BPharm(Hons)(Curtin)
Course CRICOS Code: 003920B
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas:
4 Years
Course Overview
Bachelor honours degrees prepare students to develop broad and coherent knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work and further learning corresponding to AQF level 7 qualifications. The honours component prepares students to develop advanced knowledge and skills 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 leads to 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. Pharmacists are involved in the development, testing, manufacture and distribution of medicines and the monitoring of drug therapy. In the first semester of the third year, students are either selected for the honours program or continue with the standard third and fourth year course structure.
Professional Recognition
The Bachelor of Pharmacy is fully accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council. You are required to complete 1824 hours of pre-registration training before you can register to practice as a pharmacist in Australia. Pharmacists registered in Australia can apply to practice in New Zealand. The degree is recognised worldwide, although some countries require the fulfilment of additional educational or practical training programs.
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 clothing, glassware and dispensing aids. Broken apparatus may also be charged for.
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://coursesmgmt.curtin.edu.au/handbooksarchive.html
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au and include flexible entry pathways. Admission to the Honours stream is by invitation and follows high achievement within this bachelor degree.
Essential: Chemistry 3A/3B and Mathematics 3A/3B. 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..
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.
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.
Course Entry/Completion Note
Applicants for this course should refer to the Clinical Health Sciences and Police Clearances sections of the Faculty website
Course Organisation
Embedded bachelor honours degrees typically comprise an honours stream equivalent to one year of full-time study undertaken during the last year (or two) of study.
The main areas of specialisation are pharmaceutics: which forms an increasingly important component of each year; pharmaceutical biology - which includes biochemistry; microbiology; physiology; pharmacology - the effect of drugs on the body; and pharmaceutical chemistry - which includes analytical, physical, organic and biological chemistry; pharmacognosy - the study of natural drugs. These develop into pharmaceutical practice and pharmacotherapy, which consider professional pharmacy roles. Each year of the course must be passed before proceeding to the next year.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. apply extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of pharmacy and contribute to evidence based practice through scholarship
2. think creatively, critically and reflectively to generate innovative solutions for decision making in the provision of pharmaceutical services
3. access and critically analyse and synthesise information drawn from relevant sources
4. communicate effectively as a pharmacist with clients, colleagues, staff, other health care professionals and the general public in ways appropriate to the audience or situation
5. use current technologies applicable to pharmacy
6. demonstrate skills necessary for lifelong learning and contribute to the development of others
7. provide pharmaceutical services with sensitivity to political, social, cultural, geographical, technological and global influences
8. demonstrate understanding of cultural diversity, including Indigenous issues, and multiculturalism
9. work and collaborate effectively in a team and develop leadership skills in an ethical and professional manner
Duration and Availability
The course is four years' full-time. Part-time study is not available.
Location and delivery Mode
| Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Study Period 1 | Y | ||||
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 1 | Y | ||||
| 2014 | Bentley Campus | Semester 2 | Y |
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.
| Course Structure | Hrs/Wk | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Semester 1 | |||||
| 313391 | v.3 | Human Structure and Function 100 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 313394 | v.3 | Foundations for Professional Health Practice 100 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 313462 | v.1 | Pharmaceutics 123 | 7.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314450 | v.1 | Reactivity and Function in Chemistry 120 | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 1 Semester 2 | |||||
| 312649 | v.4 | Indigenous Cultures and Health 130 | 2.0 | 12.5 | |
| 313402 | v.3 | Introduction to Pathophysiology 100 | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 313463 | v.1 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry 124 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 314510 | v.1 | Health and Health Behaviour 130 | 3.0 | 12.5 | |
| 314512 | v.1 | Evidence Informed Health Practice 130 | 2.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 1 | |||||
| 310384 | v.2 | Pharmaceutics 201 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311030 | v.1 | Immunology and Infectious Diseases for Pharmacists 221 | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311032 | v.1 | Molecular Pharmacology 231 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311034 | v.1 | Pharmaceutical Analysis 200 | 7.0 | 12.5 | |
| 311036 | v.1 | Pharmacy Primary Care 221 | 4.0 | 12.5 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 2 | |||||
| 310386 | v.2 | Pharmaceutics 202 | 7.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311038 | v.1 | Antimicrobial Chemotherapies 220 | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311041 | v.2 | Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology 222 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 311044 | v.1 | Biochemical Pharmacology 224 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Semester 1 | |||||
| 303178 | v.2 | Pharmacotherapy 325 | 5.5 | 25.0 | |
| 303189 | v.3 | Pharmaceutical Practice 321 | 3.0 | 12.5 | |
| 310388 | v.1 | Pharmaceutics 321 | 4.5 | 25.0 | |
| 311046 | v.1 | Systems Pharmacology 335 | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 313333 | v.1 | Medicinal Chemistry 303 | 3.5 | 12.5 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Semester 2 | |||||
| 311051 | v.2 * | Pharmacy Third and Fourth Year Stream | 300.0 | ||
| OR | |||||
| 311050 | v.2 * | Honours Pharmacy Stream | 300.0 | ||
| 300.0 | |||||
* Streams commence in year three, semester two and continue in year four.
Further Information
For further information please contact Curtin Future Students on (08) 9266 1000 or email futurestudents@health.curtin.edu.au Scholarships are now available to provide financial support to encourage and enable Year 12 students living in a rural or remote area wishing to study Pharmacy at university. If you would like further information on the scholarship program or an application form, please contact the Rural Pharmacy Team at ruralpharmacy@guild.org.au or telephone (02) 6270 1888. Suitable applicants can go to http://www.guild.org.au and follow the prompts to Rural section for application information and deadlines.
Course Structure Disclaimer
Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.
Handbook Disclaimer
The online handbook is the repository of Curtin University of Technology (“Curtin”) course information. While Curtin makes all reasonable endeavors to keep its online courses handbook up-to-date, information within this website is subject to change from time to time. Curtin reserves the right to change the contents and/or the method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw/any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/or to vary arrangements for any program without notification via the website.
For course overviews and enrolment information please visit our future students website.
