Bachelor of Pharmacy

A Bachelor of Pharmacy (abbreviated BPharm) is an undergraduate academic degree in the field of pharmacy. The degree is the basic prerequisite for registration to practice as a pharmacist in many countries. In some countries, it has been superseded by the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degrees. In the United States, this degree was granted as the baccalaureate pharmacy degree only at Washington State University, where it has now been superseded by the PharmD degree. The degree previously offered within the US—and still the required degree in Canada—is the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy.

Asia and Oceania

Australia

In Australia, the BPharm degree is awarded following a four-year undergraduate pharmacy program. Australian undergraduate pharmacy courses were previously three years, but were increased to four years during the 1990s with an increased emphasis on pharmacy practice education. During the early 2000s, two-year postgraduate Master of Pharmacy courses were established by many universities, but to date these have accounted for a relatively minor proportion of pharmacy graduates.

All BPharm programs in Australia are accredited by the New Zealand and Australian Pharmacy Schools Accreditation Committee (NAPSAC). Programs provide training in fields including: pharmacology, chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacy practice (including pharmacotherapeutics, disease state management, etc), pharmaceutics, ethics, pharmacy law, pharmacy management, physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, kinetics, and compounding medications.

Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)

As with most honours degrees at Australian universities, the awarding of a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) (abbreviated BPharm(Hons)) is based on the completion of original research and a high-level of academic performance. All other graduates are awarded a pass degree. Unlike most Honours degrees in Australia, an additional year of study is not required for a BPharm(Hons) as most universities integrate research and coursework in the fourth year of BPharm(Hons) programs.

Bachelor of Pharmacy (Rural)

In 2003, The University of Sydney began offering a four-year Bachelor of Pharmacy (Rural) (abbreviated BPharm (Rural)) program at its Orange campus. It was designed to address the continuing shortage of pharmacists in rural areas and placed greater emphasis on rural aspects of pharmacy practice. Since most of the units-of-study were common to both the BPharm and BPharm (Rural), many of the lectures were delivered by academics at the main campus in Sydney with a live video broadcast to students at Orange.

The program was not offered in 2005, following the transfer of Orange campus to Charles Sturt University. Following a review, a new BPharm (Rural) program was offered from 2006 onwards at the university's main campus (Camperdown/Darlington campus).

Universities

Australian universities offering Bachelor of Pharmacy programs (circa June 2006):
* Charles Sturt University – Wagga Wagga and Orange, New South Wales
* Curtin University of Technology – Perth, Western Australia
* James Cook University – Townsville, Queensland
* La Trobe University – Bendigo, Victoria
* Monash University – Parkville, Victoria (formerly the Victorian College of Pharmacy)
* University of Queensland – Brisbane, Queensland
* University of South Australia – Adelaide, South Australia
* University of Sydney – Sydney, New South Wales
* University of Tasmania – Hobart, Tasmania

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, Bachelor of Pharmacy is offered by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) under the Faculty of Medicine. The CUHK Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme started in 1992 and is the only pharmacy degree programme available in Hong Kong until 2008. It aims to train graduates to function independently as professional health care providers who, as part of the health care team, can provide first class pharmaceutical and health-related care for the health of Hong Kong citizens.

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) degree is awarded on satisfactory completion of at least three years of full-time study. To be considered for registration by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board Hong Kong as practising pharmacist in Hong Kong, the student must complete a further year of pre-registration training as required by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

However, starting from 2009, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will also implement the Bachelor of Pharmacy under the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine.

CUHK offers 35 places while HKU offers 20 places.

India

The Bachelor of Pharmacy degree is popularly known as B Pharm in India. It is a four year program. In order to be eligible, one must pass with at least 50% marks in Pre University Course with biology/mathematics as one of the subjects, or complete a DPharma (Diploma in Pharmacy). In some states it is also mandatory to give an additional pharmacy entrance examination in order to be eligible for the course. [CareerXChange.info [http://careerxchange.info/courses/fulltimecourse/courses/bpharmatmet.html] ]

Europe

Ireland

BPharm degrees in the Republic of Ireland are offered by:
*Trinity College, Dublin
*University College Cork
*Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin

However in Northern Ireland (which is part of the United Kingdom) MPharm degrees (as opposed to BPharm degrees) are offered at Queen's University Belfast as in the rest of the UK.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the BPharm degree was awarded following a three-year undergraduate pharmacy program. It was superseded in 1997 by the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree, awarded following a four year program, as a result of European Union harmonisation.

ee also

*Doctor of Pharmacy
*Master of Pharmacy
*Pharmacist
*Pharmaconomist
*List of pharmacy schools

External Websites

[http://careerxchange.info/courses/fulltimecourse/courses/bpharmatmet.html CareerXChange.info B. Pharm. Course Details]

[http://www.pci.nic.in Pharmacy council of India ]

References