P3002 · Monash University · UG specialist
Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours)
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Minimum ATAR
- 82
- Full time
- 4 years
- Part time
- 8 years
- Credit points
- 192
- Campus
- Parkville
- Mode
- On campus
Overview
This advanced version of the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science is designed for high-achieving students who expect to pursue honours studies and a career in pharmaceutical science, the science of medicines. A flexible course, it covers the multi-disciplinary chemical and biological science base used in researching and developing reliable, accessible and effective medicinal products.
A pharmaceutical scientist is trained to select new targets for drug therapy that arise from basic research. As a pharmaceutical science graduate you will have the scientific and technical knowledge to translate new targets into reliable, accessible and effective treatments for patients.
During the first two years you will develop an understanding of the foundations of pharmaceutical science and of the relationships between the different disciplines and their distinct roles in drug discovery and development. In your third year, you will have the opportunity to choose elective units that excite and inspire and represent the state-of-the-art in pharmaceutical science education. You will develop specialist knowledge and techniques and an understanding of the application of pharmaceutical methods and of professional practices in the workplace and the laboratory. The course encourages the development of strong research, communication, life-long learning and teamwork skills and provides practical and theoretical training in planning, undertaking and documenting scientific research projects.
You will study with one of the largest and most productive groups of pharmaceutical researchers in Australia, the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. You will graduate having worked in industry-standard facilities, such as our chromatography and mass spectrometry platforms, state-of-the-art confocal, super-resolution and biomedical imaging instruments, world-leading analytical pharmacology capabilities, structural biology platforms including NMR and Cryo-EM and a range of synthetic medicinal chemistry and drug delivery infrastructure. With therapeutic programs in central nervous system and cardio-metabolic diseases as well as global health, you will be well prepared for postgraduate study or for employment in the global pharmaceutical industry.
We acknowledge very high-achieving students by offering access to our scholars program. This provides exclusive learning opportunities, including:
• an annual networking event
• invitations to key Faculty events and seminars
• a dean's scholarship (domestic students only)
• a listing in the annual Faculty Prize Giving Program
First-year units
Level 1 units every student in this course takes or chooses from.
- BPS1011Human physiology 1: Cells to systemsThis unit lays a foundation of knowledge about mammalian systems and provides the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and use of drugs. You will be introduced to the physiological basis of disease, highlighting the…
- BPS1012Human physiology 2: Body systemsThis unit builds and extends on concepts learnt in BPS1011 Human Physiology I: Cells to systems. This unit extends on a foundation of knowledge about mammalian systems and the relationship between pathophysiology and the rational design and…
- BPS1021Medicinal chemistry 1: StructureThis unit introduces you to the principles of molecular structure that determine the chemical properties and mechanism of action of therapeutic agents. After examining how the rules of chemical bonding and molecular shape derive from the el…
- BPS1022Medicinal chemistry 2: Reactivity and biomoleculesThis unit will investigate the principles of molecular interactions and reactions that form the basis of biochemical processes and drug action. Building on the concepts of chemical structure and reactivity introduced in Medicinal Chemistry…
- BPS1031Physical chemistry 1: Equilibria and changeThis unit provides a basic understanding of physical chemistry and together with Physical Chemistry II (BPS1032) provides the conceptual and intellectual foundation for further studies in pharmaceutical science units in 2nd and 3rd year. Yo…
- BPS1032Physical chemistry 2: Solutions, surfaces and solidsSolutions, self-assembled systems, multiphase liquid systems and the properties of solids that yield pharmaceutical solutions are key to the performance and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. This unit aims to build on Physical Chemist…
- BPS1041Scientific inquiryYou will acquire basic skills in applying and interpreting the scientific method of inquiry, and interpreting scientific data. You will: i) evaluate scientific literature; and, ii) plan, conduct and interpret a simple scientific experiment.…
- BPS1042Pharmaceutical science in contextThis unit is designed to introduce you to the major fields of the applied sciences in which pharmaceutical scientists specialise. The relationships between the different disciplines and their distinct roles in drug discovery and medicine de…
Course structure
Open a major, minor or specialisation to see its units.
Rules for completing this course
In order to progress into the fourth year, you must complete 144 credit points (years 1-3) and achieve at least an overall distinction average (70%). If you do not meet this standard you will exit the course with the Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science. If you are a high achieving student admitted to the Scholars Program you are required to maintain a distinction average in each year of the course, or you will be transferred out of the Scholars Program and will not receive the program benefits or the Scholars award.
Part A. Core studies
96 cpYou must complete the following units
- BPS1011Human physiology 1: Cells to systems6 cp
- BPS1012Human physiology 2: Body systems6 cp
- BPS1021Medicinal chemistry 1: Structure6 cp
- BPS1022Medicinal chemistry 2: Reactivity and biomolecules6 cp
- BPS1031Physical chemistry 1: Equilibria and change6 cp
- BPS1032Physical chemistry 2: Solutions, surfaces and solids6 cp
- BPS1041Scientific inquiry6 cp
- BPS1042Pharmaceutical science in context6 cp
- BPS2011Pharmacology 1: Biochemical signalling6 cp
- BPS2012Pharmacology 2: Drug action6 cp
- BPS2021Synthetic chemistry 1: Structure and reactivity6 cp
- BPS2022Drug discovery and design6 cp
- BPS2031Analytical methods 1: Principles and applications6 cp
- BPS2032Analytical method development6 cp
- BPS2041Drug delivery and pharmacokinetics6 cp
- BPS2042Drug development6 cp
Part B. Discipline elective studies
30 cpYou must complete 30 credit points from the following units
- BPS3021Biotechnology6 cp
- BPS3011Disease-focused pharmacology6 cp
- BPS3022Microbiology and immunology6 cp
- BPS3031Computational drug design6 cp
- BPS3032Toxicology and advanced pharmacology 6 cp
- BPS3041Synthetic chemistry 2: Advanced methods6 cp
- BPS3042Advanced experimental spectroscopy6 cp
- BPS3061Industrial formulation6 cp
- BPS3071Nanotechnology and polymer science in drug delivery6 cp
- BPS3082Applied pharmacokinetics, dynamics and product development6 cp
Part C. Applied studies
18 cpYou must complete the following units
Part D. Research Project
48 cpYou must complete the following units