Bachelor of Pharmacy

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy incorporates diverse practice such as community or hospital pharmacy, dispensing, medication management and health counselling to equip graduates with skills for immediate employment.

Pharmacists represent the major component of continuing healthcare for the community.

CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy is the first pharmacy degree in Australia to be offered outside a metropolitan area. Ample opportunities for employment exist for graduates as there is a recognised demand for skilled practitioners, particularly in rural and remote areas.

What will I learn?

Students develop knowledge and skills in health promotion, learn treatment of minor ailments, and become fluent in communication and health information management.

Primarily in the first and second year, students study core subjects in some basic sciences including chemistry, mathematics and statistics, computer use, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, nutrition and molecular genetics.

To complement these scientific disciplines, there are subjects in various pharmaceutical sciences presented in the first three years. These subjects are organic and medicinal agents, pharmaceutical microbiology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics. Together, the pharmaceutical science and the basic science subjects provide a solid foundation for studies in the professional aspects of pharmacy.

Specialist subjects include pharmacy practice, pharmacy residency, professional practice and therapeutics. There is an elective in the first session of the final year, which may be chosen from over 30 subjects in areas such as the arts and humanities, commerce, science, computing and health studies. The elective allows you to follow and develop particular interests which may enhance your capacity to work in a variety of exciting careers.

To transfer into the Honours stream at the beginning of the third year, you must have obtained a Credit average in all first- and second-year subjects. Successful students will be included in a special program of Honours workshops and tutorials in third year and choose a project and potential supervisor during that year.

Prospective students should note that this course does not lead to registration as a pharmacist in Australia. After graduation from Charles Sturt University, you (in common with all other Pharmacy graduates in Australia) are required to undertake a period of supervised training. Currently, in NSW, this period of pre-registration training is 2,000 hours and is concluded by an examination set by The Pharmacy Board of NSW. When that exam has been passed, you may register and practise pharmacy anywhere in NSW. Graduate pharmacists registered in NSW may also seek registration recognition anywhere within the Commonwealth of Australia.

Your course is recognised by industry

CSU's Bachelor of Pharmacy is well respected in the pharmacy profession and is accredited by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

Clinical requirements

• Criminal Record Clearance
• Immunisation
• Senior First Aid Certificate