Undergraduate Program - Pharmacy Curriculum

The degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honors is awarded after the student has successfully fulfilled all the requirements of a four year pharmacy program.

The Pharmacy course consists of basic, core, elective, option or minor and languages courses. The main course can be divided into basic and core courses, in addition elective courses that provide additional knowledge on certain areas of pharmacy which the School considers are important and useful towards the progress of the profession. Students may choose any elective course that is offered. Minor or option courses, on the other hand, are courses in Humanities, Social Sciences and Management such as sociology, economics, public relations, marketing, accounting, management and advertising. These courses are intended to equip the students to interact constructively with society, cultivate an understanding attitude towards people and develop a strong sense of responsibility towards the community.

Main courses offered at level 100, 200, 300 and 400 can be divided into various disciplines, namely:

Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Technology
Physiology
Pharmacology, and
Clinical Pharmacy

These courses are integrated in the curriculum.

Besides these, mathematics, statistics and forensic pharmacy courses are offered as main professional courses.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry emphasizes the application of the principles of basic chemistry to the study of drugs, their physico-chemical properties, structures and their relationship to biological activities. Analytical techniques for identification and quality control of drugs and some aspects of natural product chemistry are also covered.

Pharmaceutical Technology provides the knowledge in pharmaceutical formulation and preparation, industrial processes, quality control, microbiological control besides biopharmacy and pharmacokinetic aspects.

Physiology provides knowledge of the function of the human body. It forms the basis for the understanding of the action, uses of drugs and pathophysiology of diseases that are taught in clinical pharmacy.

Pharmacology provides Knowledge concerning various types of drugs that are used in the treatment of diseases. Discussion related to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects are the main content of this discipline.

Clinical Pharmacy introduces the students to disease states and disorders and the rationale of drug choice in the treatment and/or prevention of these illness, Clinical Pharmacy emphasizes on the integration of all disciplines in pharmacy. To enable students to understand and acquire detailed knowledge pertaining to the role of a pharmacist in the clinical situation, students are required to participate in ward rounds at the Penang General Hospital.

Ethics and Pharmacy Legislation Course is also provided to enable students to gain the necessary knowledge pertaining to ethics and legal responsibilities of a pharmacist.