Study plan Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme description Programme contents The Bachelor in Pharmacy is a professional degree which enables the candidate to apply for authorization as a pharmacist in some of the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden and Finland). The basis of pharmacy practice involves knowledge about the structure, characteristics, effects, use and production of pharmaceuticals. The terms drug information, drug distribution and pharmaceutical production are important parts of the pharmacist’s professional knowledge. Medical, chemical, pharmaceutical and social scientific topics are integrated in the practice of pharmacy. Work including the dispensing of drugs and guidance in the use of drugs requires basic theoretic knowledge from these various fields of study. Practical application of this specialist knowledge contributes to appropriate problem solving in collaboration with patients, colleagues and other partners. Most pharmacists get a job working in a pharmacy. Pharmacies are contributors to the health service in Norway. They are local professional environments with knowledge about pharmaceuticals and are there to promote rational drug use. The pharmacist's duties require contact and cooperation with patients, physicians, dentists, veterinarians, home-based services and hospitals/nursing homes, amongst others. Good communication skills are a necessary part of the total professional competence associated with being a pharmacist. These skills are applied when in contact with patients and other health care groups. The programme demands a good level of both written and oral Norwegian. A bachelor candidate in pharmacy needs to have the knowledge, skills and attitudes involved in pharmaceutical subjects which qualify for government authorization as a pharmacist cf. The Health Personnel Act of 2nd July 1999, including the right to dispense drugs in Norwegian pharmacies. Nord University wishes to educate responsible and reflected pharmacists suited to the various areas of the pharmaceutical industry and health system, while providing lifelong learning. Formation is central and should help students exercise their ability to raise awareness, critical assessment, responsible action and make reflected choices. Pharmacy education has adopted and focuses on digital teaching methods that support traditional education. The programme’s main educational language is Norwegian. International students involved in exchange programmes can now participate in certain courses during the fifth semester. The teaching of these courses will be provided in English if international students from our partner institutions are present. Students will be expected to participate using English, both orally and in some cases in writing. Structure and composition Topics from several subject areas are included in the programme. The programme can be divided into four key academic areas in order to facilitate the overview of contents: chemistry, pharmaceutical bioscience, biopharmacy/pharmaceutics and social pharmacy courses. The study has a holistic pharmacy-oriented focus and the areas of study overlap. During the final year of study, students can choose between taking a Bachelor (15 credits) or taking the course Drug information and evidence-based practices (15 credits). The knowledge gained from chemistry courses is important regarding a basic understanding of most parts of the pharmacy field. Knowledge of chemistry is especially important both for the development of new active substances, understanding the characteristics of various pharmaceutical forms and for predicting different pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic parameters. Moreover, chemistry is important for the understanding of how the body's different building blocks are put together and work. Chemical principles are also used as a basis for determining the quality of pharmaceutical ingredients and for analysing "foreign" substances in the body e.g. narcotics, doping agents and pharmaceuticals. Knowledge gained from pharmaceutical bioscience is needed to understand the body's normal composition and functions, as well as abnormal conditions and processes. The basic courses form a foundation for the courses of pharmacology. These courses deals with how drugs effect the organism, the clinical use of drugs, variation in the effects of drugs and drug interactions. Knowledge in microbiology provides the basis for understanding the manufacturing of sterile preparations, as well as the use and misuse of antibacterial drugs. Knowledge of biopharmacy/pharmaceutics provides understanding and knowledge of the composition and manufacture of pharmaceutical forms as well as their characteristics, quality and use. The subject area also provides knowledge about the significance of pharmaceutical forms regarding the clinical effect and durability of drugs. Knowledge regarding the use of quality assurance systems is also a necessary part of the pharmacist’s practice. Knowledge of Social Pharmacy topics provides an understanding of the pharmacist’s responsibility regarding the handling and dispensing of drugs, as well as the handling of prescriptions and information and guidance on the correct use of drugs, particularly in pharmacies and primary health services. The role of health professionals requires that pharmacists can apply their knowledge of drugs and communicate with colleagues, customers/patients and other health professionals about this. Understanding of people's individual perception and knowledge of health, disease, drugs and to individually adapt information and guidance is important for professional practice. Furthermore, the topics will contribute to the development of the basic values which health professionals think and act on. Amongst other things, it entails being able to see your own professional subject in a larger context. This requires knowledge about the society in which we live, public health, the health service and the statutory and ethical framework the professional practice works within. The courses include training on basing information and decisions on documentation/evidence. Here, critical assessment of both scientific literature and other sources is important. The courses will also promote lifelong learning. Practice placement Page 1 of 45 Organization of external practice placement studies The programme involves compulsory practice placement. Practice placement studies account for 20 credits, are included in the course of Pharmacy Practice (27.5 credits) and are carried out in the 6th semester. In the practice placement period, the student will be given opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge, incorporate skills and develop ethical work attitudes. In the practice placement period, the student will receive an introduction and training in pharmacy’s occupational duties. The student will gradually be given the opportunity to partake in these duties and the responsibilities that the role requires. This also means that the student develops a foundation for pharmaceutical evaluation by planning, performing and critically evaluating their own work. The practice placement is chosen through a national practice placement pool. Students are assigned a random number and can choose a placement pharmacy accordingly. Many students choose practice placement in their hometown. In some places there may be a lack of practice placements and students may have to carry out their placement somewhere other than their hometown. There are relatively few practice placements in Namsos. The student will be assigned a practice placement supervisor in the pharmacy and a contact person at Nord University. For supplementary information refer to the practice booklet for practice placement in the pharmacy programme and to the Handbook for study in pharmacies. In the event of a student possibly failing their practice placement, the student must receive a written warning at least 3 weeks before the end of their placement. Passing the practice placement involves the student having no greater absence than 10% and that the student has fulfilled the criteria set out in the practice placement programme for the placement period. In addition to practice placement during the 6th semester, a pharmacy visit is held during the programme’s first semester. Types of work, learning and assessment The programme includes both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and external practice placement at a pharmacy. External practice studies take place at pharmacies around the country and follow national guidelines. Different working methods will promote students' personal development so that independence, sense of responsibility and ability to cooperate are increased. Emphasis is placed on utilizing varied working methods that alternate between theoretical and practical knowledge processing. The working methods will contribute to develop the students’ critical and considered relationship with the knowledge they meet during the programme, and form the basis for lifelong learning. The working methods and learning activities used are self-determined studies and self-determined activity, group work, problem-based work, problem-based learning, lectures (in classrooms and/or online), online lessons, study groups, task-seminars, laboratory courses, laboratory reports, written exercises, skills training, writing and oral presentation, project work, journal writing, role-playing, discussions, reflection, student-led teaching, fellow student response, as well as other seminars and practice placement studies. Digital technology