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 are major contributors to continuing health care for the community. There is a recognised demand for skilled practitioners, particularly in rural and remote areas, created employment opportunities for graduates.

CSU has been offering a regionally based pharmacy degree for more than a decade and has a focus on producing pharmacy graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in a range of settings. CSU graduates are well equipped with the skills and knowledge relevant to working in rural and metropolitan health care settings.

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 biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics and statistics, microbiology, molecular genetics, nutrition and physiological science.

To complement these scientific disciplines, there are subjects in various pharmaceutical sciences presented in the first three years. These subjects cover organic and medicinal agents, pharmaceutical microbiology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics. Together, the pharmaceutical science and 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. The elective allows you to follow and develop particular interests that may enhance your capacity to work in a variety of exciting careers.

Students may participate in specialist areas of study such as rural health, vaccination training, mental health first aid, the Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management and international programs.

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 complete a special program of Honours workshops and tutorials in third year and choose a project and potential supervisor during that year.

After graduation, in order to practise as a pharmacist in Australia, all students are required to meet the registration standards set by the Pharmacy Board of Australia. These standards include undertaking 1,824 hours of supervised practice, completing an intern training program and passing examinations set by the Pharmacy Board 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.

Additional admission requirements

Refer to the workplace learning section for information on:

• Immunisation
• Criminal Record Clearance
• Senior First Aid Certificate

Graduation requirements

To graduate with the Bachelor of Pharmacy, students must successfully complete 256 points. High-achieving students may be eligible to transfer to the Honours stream from the third year of study and graduate with the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours).

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.