The Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours is based on a full-time course of 3 years' duration, each year being approximately 30 weeks. There are 2 terms in each academic year.
The main first year subjects are Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Practice of Pharmacy and a Foundation Course in Bioscience which includes Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics are continued in the second year. Practice of Pharmacy expands to cover the Law Relating to Pharmacy and includes realistic dispensing sessions. Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy are introduced.
In the first term of the third year, Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy are continued and a Therapeutics course covering elementary pathology and the drug treatment of common diseases is introduced. The Practice of Pharmacy deals with the problems of running a dispensary.
In the second term of the third year, each student takes one elective course from the following:
Chemistry of Drug Development
Advanced Formulation Studies
Pharmacy Management
Drug Mechanisms
Pharmacognosy/Pharmaceutical Analysis
Clinical Pharmacy
The elective will involve individual study on a particular topic.
The graduates of Pharmacy have to take one year of pre-registration training under the supervision of a registered Pharmacist before they can be accepted for registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Year 1
(Pharmaceutical Chemistry)
Code : PHA1110
Course Title : Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
Unit : 2
Course Description (2U; 1 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 1.5 Prac.)
Provides an understanding of the processes involved in organic chemical reactions, including the thermodynamics of chemical reactions, molecular structure and reactivity, acidity and basicity, reaction rates and equilibrium positions, and the importance of stereo-chemistry in drug action and drug development.
Code : PHA1120
Course Title : Functional Group Chemistry
Unit : 2
Course Description (2U; 1 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 1.5 Prac.)
Examines the physico-chemical properties of chemicals and pharmaceutical agents based on consideration of their functional groups: solubility, acidity constants, partition coefficients; chemical stability including pydrolysis, free radical oxidation and polymerisation; in vivo and in vitro stability of pharmaceutical agents.
Code : PHA1130
Course Title : Pharmaceutical Analysis I
Unit : 2
Course Description (2U; 1.25 Lect. 0.25 Tut. 1.5 Prac.)
Examines the theory and pharmaceutical applications of volumetric, gravimetric, atomic emission, ultraviolet and infra-red spectroscopy and partition, absorption and ion-exchange, thin layer and paper chromatography systems.
(Pharmaceutics)
Code : PHA1211/1212
Course Title : Physical Pharmacy I/II
Unit : 2/2
Course Description (2/2 U; 1/1 Lect. 0.5/0.5 Tut. 1.5/1.5 Prac.)
Examines the physico-chemical properties of pharmaceutical systems; the nature of crystalline substances, solutions, colloids and polymers; the chemistry of surgaces and interfaces with particular reference to emulsions; rheology; reaction kinetics in relation to drug decomposition and accelerated stability tests.
Code : PHA1220
Course Title : Data Analysis
Unit : 1
Course Description (1 U; 1 Lect. 0.5 Prac.; 2 nd term)
Provides an introduction to mathematical techniques relevant to Pharmacy; sources and magnitudes of errors in scientific measurements; statistical distributions and tests; graphical analysis; use of desk-top computers.
(Practice of Pharmacy)
Code : PHA1311/1312
Course Title : Basic Dispensing Techniques I/II
Unit : 3/2
Course Description (3U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 1 st term, 2U; 1 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 2 nd term)
Provides an introduction to dispensing techniques; the role of the pharmacist and professional ethics; the prescription and drug dosages; preparation of simple solutions, powders, suspensions, ointments, creams, pastes and suppositories; labelling and packaging; product information sources.
(Foundation Course in Bioscience)
Code : PHA1410
Course Title : Anatomy
Unit : 2
Course Description (2U; 2 Lect. 2 Prac.; 1st term)
Examines the structure and organisation of cells and tissues with particular emphasis on those structures relevant to drug administration, metabolism and elimination. The course also reviews areas of human topographical anatomy such as the alimentary, respiratory, cardiovascular and urinary systems which are related to these functions.
Code : PHA1421/1422(1420)
Course Title : Biochemistry I & II
Unit : 1/3
Course Description (1U; 1 Lect.; 1 st term, 3U; 2 Lect. 2 Prac.; 2 nd term)
Introduces students to the structures and functions of chemical constituents of living systems; physico-chemical properties of buffer systems, amino acids, proteins, carbonhydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, hormones and vitamins; membrances; enzymes and reaction kinetics; the major metabolic pathways; molecular biology and the regulation of gene expression.
Code : PHA1431/1432 (1430)
Course Title : Physiology I & II
Unit : 2/2
Course Description (2/2 U; 1/1 Lect. 1/1 Prac.; 1 st and 2 nd terms)
Provides a review of mammalian physiology important to the understanding of drug actions; functional significance of cells, organs, systems; homeostasis and control mechanisms; excitable tissues; cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine systems. Physiological control of digestion, metabolic rate and body temperature.
Year 2
(Pharmaceutical Chemistry)
Code : PHA2111/2112
Course Title : Medicinal Chemistry I/II
Unit : 2/2
Course Description (2/2 U; 1/1 Lect. 0.5/0.5 Tut. 1.5/1.5 Prac.; 1 st and 2 nd terms)
Examines the discovery and development of therapeutic agents; plants and micro-organism as sources of alkaloids, glycosides, antibiotics, etc.; semi-synthetic drugs; principles of drug design and development of improved drugs from prototype compounds.
Code : PHA2120
Course Title : Pharmaceutical Analysis II
Unit : 2
Course Description (2 U; 1 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 1.5 Prac.; 1 st term)
Introduces nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometric methods for structure elucidation. Examines the theory and pharmaceutical applications of gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), atomic absorption and spectrofluorimetry.
(Pharmaceutics)
Code : PHA2210
Course Title : Formulation Science
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 1 st term)
Examines the formulation of medicines and how this influences bioavailability. Particular topics include powder technologies, tablet and capsule manufacture; sustained and controlled release preparations; target drug delivery and other advanced drug delivery systems.
Code : PHA2222
Course Title : Pharmaceutical Processes
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; Lect. 1.5 Tut. 1.5 Prac.; 2nd term)
Introduces the two main pharmaceutical processes of sterilisation and the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals. A module of basic microbiology is also introduced. The unit, as whole, focusses on sterilisation techniques.
(Practice of Pharmacy)
Code : PHA2310
Course Title : Dispensing Practice
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 2 nd term)
Introduces students to an authentic dispensing environment; interpretation and evaluation of different prescription types; observation of legal requirements in dispensing, record keeping and storage of drugs; provide special patient instructions and drug information to health professionals.
Code : PHA2320
Course Title : Law Relating to Pharmacy
Unit : 2
Course Description (2 U; 2 Lect. 1 Tut.; 1 st term)
Equips students with a thorough working knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to the practice of pharmacy in Hong Kong.
(Pharmacology)
Code : PHA2411/2412
Course Title : Mechanisms of Drug Action I/II
Unit : 3/3
Course Description (3/3 U; 2/2 Lect. 1/1 Tut. 1.5/1.5 Prac.; 1 st & 2 nd terms)
Provides students with an understanding of the pharmacological principles underlying the clinical use of drugs; basic mechanisms of drug action; pharmacokinetics and factors affecting the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs; drug actions on specific body systems; drug interactions.
(Pharmacognosy)
Code : PHA2510
Course Title : Basic Pharmacognosy
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 2 st term)
Introduction to the use of plants in pharmacy and medicine; botanical and chemical techniques for quality assurance of plant drugs; sources, chemistry and uses of selected chemicals from plants including alkaloids, phenolics, terpenoids, carbonhydrates, fixed and volatile oils.
Year 3
(Practice of Pharmacy)
Code : PHA3310
Course Title : Community Pharmacy Practice
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 1 st term)
Examines the professional and social interactions between pharmacists, doctors, patients and the general public; further consideration of ethical issues; prescribing of over-the-counter (OTC) products for common minor ailments; health promotion and patient education; the role of the pharmacist in combatting drug abuse.
(Pharmacology)
Code : PHA3410
Course Title : Chemotherapy & Drug Toxicity
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2.5 Lect. 0.5 Tut.; 1 st term)
Examines the principles of chemotherapy; selective toxicity; mechanisms of action of chemotherapeutic agents; specific anti-protozoal, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral drugs; drug resistance; cancer chemotherapy, immunology, immunological defence mechanisms, hypersensitivity. In addition major types and mechanisms of drug toxicity and the detection of unwanted effects in developmental and established drugs will be considered.
(Pharmacognosy)
Code : PHA3510
Course Title : Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicines
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 1 st term)
Use of herbs, of extracts and of isolated natural products for the treatment of diseases of digestive tract, genito-urinary tracts, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, central nervous system, metabolism, skin, immune systems and chemotherapy; traditional Chinese medicine, philosophy and use of herbs and herbal products for the treatment of disease.
(Therapeutics)
Code : 3610
Course Title : Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy I
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 1 st term)
The clinical features and drug therapy of common diseases; particularly gastrointestinal, renal, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. The interpretation of clinical laboratory data; the detection and reporting of adverse drug reactions and drug interactions. The clinical applications of pharmacokinetics. More clinical aspects of the management of acute and chronic poisoning with drugs, chemicals and Chinese herbal medicines. The roles of hospital and community pharmacists and their interaction with other health care professionals and patients are discussed, especially in the context of the roles of the pharmacist and physician in optimising pharmaceutical care. Broadly based topics in therapeutics such as pain control are reviewed in interactive tutorial sessions.
Code : PHA3620(3320)
Course Title : Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy II
Unit : 3
Course Description (3 U; 2 Lect. 0.5 Tut. 2 Prac.; 2 nd term)
A continuation of the seminars and tutorials of PHA3610. Further examination of the general pathology of various body systems and the clinical features and differential diagnosis of common disease states. The drug therapy of neurological and psychiatric disorders, endocrine diseases and haematological disorders, is discussed. The clinical applications of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic processes including oral and intravenous formulation science and therapeutic drug monitoring are emphasised. An underlying mission of PHA 3610 and 3620 is to integrate the fundamental pharmaceutical knowledge acquired in early courses such as in pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and dispensing into practical hospital and community pharmacy and therapeutic practice.
Code : PHA3720
Course Title : Graduation Project
Unit : 9
Course Description (9 U; 12 Prac.; 2 nd term)
Graduation Project (in one of the following areas)
Chemistry of Drug Development:
Involves a graduation project based on recent advances in the chemistry of medicinal agents. Seminars based on particular drug groups will cover the synthesis of a novel compound, optimisation of particular reaction steps and identification and removal of impurities in intermediates of final products.
Advanced Formulation Studies:
Involves a graduation project based on the improved formulation of a medicinal agent. A student might investigate the factors influencing the high quality manufacture of tablets, emulsions or injections for a particular drug. In addition the accumulation of stability data, the preparation of clinical trials supplies and submissions to safety of medicines bodies will be considered in seminars.
Drug Mechanisms:
Involves a graduation project based on an investigation of the pharmacological properties of an established or novel drug and study of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. In addition advanced seminars on receptors/second messengers, neurohumoural transmission, local hormones and anti-asthma drugs are held.
Pharmacognosy/Pharmaceutical Analysis:
Involves a graduation project based on the isolation, identification and/or pharmacology of plant constituents. In addition advanced seminars on information retrieval, biosynthesis of plant compounds and analysis by separation techniques and spectroscopic methods will be held.
Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice:
Involves a graduation project based on the rational use of drugs in hospitals and the community. Seminars will cover methods of obtaining reliable data on drug usage and adverse drug reactions; the acquisition, organisation and dissemination of therapeutic data on drugs; cost considerations.
First Year of Attendance
PHA1110, 1120, 1130, 1211/1212, 1220*, 1311/1312, 1410*, 1421/1422*, 1431*/1432*
Second Year of Attendance
PHA2111/2112, 2120, 2210, 2222*, 2310, 2320, 2411/2412, 2510
Third Year of Attendance
PHA3310, 3410, 3510, 3610, 3620, 3720
Note: *Major Elective/Prerequisite courses.