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.

Frequently asked questions

Workplace learning

Students will complete periods of training (i.e. professional placement or externships) primarily in a hospital or community pharmacy. The externships give you the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to real problems in the practice of pharmacy.

To make sure you are experienced using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, including a 'virtual pharmacy' facility.

Students will need to purchase a laboratory coat and safety glasses as part of the requirements for laboratory based classes. Students are responsible for the costs of accommodation and travel to clinical placements and are required to purchase and wear the CSU uniform while on clinical placement.

National Criminal Record Check

Students may be required to undergo a criminal record check and/or complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration under the Child Protection Act 1998 as part of professional experience requirements. These checks are intended to identify people who might, because of convictions for such things as violence or sexual offences, put students/clients' personal safety or health at risk. Traffic violations and other minor offences are not of interest.

As such, prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a criminal record clearance or complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration may limit practicum opportunities in some organisations and industries. Furthermore, criminal convictions involving violence or sexual offences may limit continued enrolment in a course and/or employment opportunities after completing the course.

If you have any queries regarding these matters, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Course Director.

Course structure

The course consists of 256 points for Pass stream and 256 points for Honours streams:

Core subjects for both Pass and Honours streams (23 subjects; 232 points)

BCM211 Foundations of Biochemistry
BMS129 Physiological Sciences 1
BMS130 Physiological Sciences 2
BMS208 Human Nutrition
BMS240 Human Molecular Genetics
BMS310 Disease Processes
BMS313 Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology
BMS340 Pharmacology (16 points)
CHM104 Chemistry 1A
CHM107 Chemistry 1B
CHM219 Organic & Physical Chemistry
MCR101 Introduction to Microbiology
PHM101 Introduction to Pharmacy
PHM131 Pharmaceutics 1
PHM215 Pharmacy Practice 1
PHM231 Pharmaceutics 2 (16 points)
PHM315 Pharmacy Practice 2 (16 points)
PHM320 Organic and Medicinal Agents (16 points)
PHM341 Pharmacokinetics
PHM401 Professional Practice 1
PHM430 Therapeutics (16 points)
PHM490 Rural Pharmacy Practice (16 points)
STA201 Scientific Statistics

Compulsory subject for Pass stream only (1 subject; 16 points)

PHM405 Professional Practice 2 (16 points)

Restricted elective subject for Pass stream only (1 subject; 8 points)

ACC100 Accounting 1 Info for Business
BMS342 Medicinal and Indigenous Foods
GER204 Aging and Professional Practice
GER401 Choices/Options in Later Life
HIP302 Understanding Healthy Communities
HRM210 Human Resource Management
IKC100 Indigenous Health
MGT220 eCommerce
NRS235 Pain Management
NRS325 Child Healthcare and Promotion
PSY111 Foundations of Psychology for Health and Human Services
RSC301 Asthma Management
SCI301 International Practical Experience
SOC226 Rurality in a Globalised World
HSM401 Perspectives on HlthCareSystem
SOC108 Sociology of Health and Health Care

Students may be permitted to take a subject not included in this list at the discretion of the Courses Director.

Compulsory subjects for Honours stream only (3 subjects; 24 points)

PHM300 Research Methods for Pharmacy Honours (0 point)
PHM402 Professional Practice 2 (8 points)
BMS408 Biomedical Sciences Honours Project/Dissertation (students must enrol in this subject for two successive sessions)

Key Subjects

The course includes the following key subjects:
BMS130 Physiological Sciences 2
CHM219 Organic & Physical Chemistry
PHM215 Pharmacy Practice
BMS340 Pharmacology
PHM315 Pharmacy Practice 2
PHM401 Professional Practice 1

Enrolment pattern

By full-time study

Common to Pass and Honours stream

Session 1

CHM104 Chemistry 1A
BMS129 Physiological Sciences 1
PHM101 Introduction to Pharmacy
STA201 Scientific Statistics

Session 2

CHM107 Chemistry 1B
BMS130 Physiological Sciences 2
MCR101 Introduction to Microbiology
PHM131 Pharmaceutics 1

Session 3

BMS240 Human Molecular Genetics
BCM211 Foundations of Biochemistry
CHM219 Organic & Physical Chemistry
PHM231 Pharmaceutics 2 (16 points) (commenced)

Session 4

BMS313 Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology
BMS310 Disease Processes
PHM215 Pharmacy Practice 1
PHM231 Pharmaceutics 2 (16 points) (completed)

Pass stream

Session 5

PHM315 Pharmacy Practice 2 (16 points) (commenced)
BMS340 Pharmacology (16 points) (commenced)
PHM320 Organic and Medicinal Agents (16 points) (commenced)
PHM341 Pharmacokinetics

Session 6

BMS340 Pharmacology (16 points) (completed)
BMS208 Human Nutrition
PHM315 Pharmacy Practice 2 (16 points) (completed)
PHM320 Organic and Medicinal Agents (16 points) (completed)

Session 7

PHM430 Therapeutics (16 points) (commenced)
PHM401 Professional Practice 1
PHM490 Rural Pharmacy Practice (16 points) (commenced)
[ ] Elective (Restricted)

Session 8

PHM430 Therapeutics (completed)
PHM405 Professional Practice 2 (16 points)
PHM490 Rural Pharmacy Practice (16 points) (completed)

Honours stream

Session 5

PHM315 Pharmacy Practice 2 (16 points) (commenced)
BMS340 Pharmacology (16 points) (commenced)
PHM320 Organic and Medicinal Agents (16 points) (commenced)
PHM341 Pharmacokinetics
PHM300 Research Methods for Pharmacy Honours (0 point) (commenced)

Session 6

PHM315 Pharmacy Practice 2 (16 points) (completed)
BMS340 Pharmacology (16 points) (completed)
PHM320 Organic and Medicinal Agents (16 points) (completed)
BMS208 Human Nutrition
PHM300 Research Methods for Pharmacy Honours (0 point) (completed)

Session 7

PHM430 Therapeutics (16 points) (commenced)
PHM401 Professional Practice 1
PHM490 Rural Pharmacy Practice (16 points) (commenced)
BMS408 Biomedical Sciences Honours Project/Dissertation

Session 8

PHM430 Therapeutics (16 points) (completed)
PHM402 Professional Practice 2 (8 points)
PHM490 Rural Pharmacy Practice (16 points) (completed)
BMS408 Biomedical Sciences Honours Project/Dissertation

Admission requirements

In addition to completing your application online through UAC, if you wish to strengthen your application, you are encouraged to demonstrate your commitment to a career in pharmacy by submitting the optional Supplementary Application Form.

The completed Supplementary Application Form should be submitted online with your UAC application.

On the basis of your Supplementary Application Form, you may be offered a telephone interview. Interviews will be conducted from December to January. Contact 1800 334 733 for further information about how the supplementary application process may enhance your opportunity for being admitted to the course.

These requirements are not applicable to international students applying direct to the University.

Currently, no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Pharmacy, however chemistry and mathematics are assumed knowledge for this course.

Principals' Report Entry Program (PREP)

Applicants applying for the Principals' Report Entry Program (PREP) are required to submit their PREP application form along with their supplementary application form. Applicants who receive a PREP offer will not be required to attend an interview.

More about PREP

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

1. have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 7.0, and with no score lower than 6.5, within the last 12 months;  or
2. undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or
3. undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Board of Graduate Studies;  or
4. completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English;

The Presiding Officer of the Board of Graduate Studies may, in special circumstances, on behalf of the Board waive the above proficiency requirements after consulting the relevant Dean, Sub-Dean and nominated Supervisor.

NOTE: A Faculty may require a higher standard of proficiency than that specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1