Bachelor’s Programme in Pharmacy Programme description

The Bachelor¿s Programme in Pharmacy is a three-year programme of professional study (180 credits). Students who complete the programme are awarded the degree of Bachelor in Pharmacy, which forms the basis for authorisation as a pharmacist in accordance with the Act relating to Health Personnel etc. Section 48. 

The title of pharmacist covers both the Norwegian titles reseptarfarmasøyt (pharmacist with a bachelor¿s degree in pharmacy) and provisorfarmasøyt (pharmacist with a master¿s degree in pharmacy). It is only the pharmacies¿ pharmaceutical personnel that are independently entitled to dispense prescription pharmaceuticals or pharmaceuticals on requisition, which in accordance with applicable distribution regulations, must be subject to control by a pharmacist, cf. The Pharmacies Act Section 4-4.

The programme was established under the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges Sections 3-2 and 3-3 and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet ¿ Oslo Metropolitan University. A national curriculum has not been established.

The pharmacist¿s field of work and tasks

The task of a pharmacist with a bachelor¿s degree is to provide pharmaceutical services to the public in the form of advice and guidance, thereby helping to ensure correct and rational use of pharmaceuticals by individuals and in society at large.

OsloMet ¿ Oslo Metropolitan University educates bachelor¿s degree candidates in pharmacy, most of whom go on to work at pharmacies. Authorised pharmacists with a bachelor¿s degree can work in middle management or management positions at pharmacies. The candidates may also be suitable for a variety of positions in the primary and specialist health service, in public administration and in the pharmaceutical industry.   

The programme shall help students to develop into responsible and reflected professionals who are qualified and sought-after in their field of work. The students are expected to acquire the knowledge, skills, and general competence necessary to be granted authorisation as a pharmacist with a bachelor¿s degree, and thereby also be entitled to dispense pharmaceuticals in Norwegian pharmacies.

Knowledge of pharmaceuticals and their application is a crucial basis for practicing the profession. Pharmacists have knowledge of and skills in the production of pharmaceuticals, knowledge of the effect of pharmaceuticals on the body, and about the use and misuse of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacists must have basic theoretical knowledge from different topics and standpoints in the field of pharmacy and an understanding of good problem-solving in cooperation with users of pharmaceuticals, colleagues and other partners.

The tasks undertaken by a pharmacist with a bachelor¿s degree require contact and cooperation with other health personnel who prescribe pharmaceuticals; doctors, dentists and veterinarians. The pharmacy is an important supplier of pharmaceuticals to hospitals, nursing homes and home-based care services. Pharmacists are increasingly becoming part of an interdisciplinary team, where different healthcare professionals together arrive at the best pharmaceutical treatment for patients/users of pharmaceuticals. Relational and communication skills, including good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian, are thereby an essential part of a pharmacist¿s expertise and are used daily in their work.

Further studies

The Bachelor¿s Programme in Pharmacy qualifies the student for admission to several master¿s degree programmes. The master¿s degree programmes in pharmacy offered at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Tromsø (UiT) are particularly relevant. A cooperation has also been established with the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen, where students with a completed bachelor¿s degree from OsloMet are accepted for the two-year master¿s degree in pharmacy. The Master¿s Programme in Biomedicine at OsloMet may also be relevant. 

The National Council for Professional Education in Pharmacy has stipulated common learning outcomes at the programme level for all bachelor¿s degree programmes in pharmacy taught in Norway. The learning outcomes are intended to ensure that the candidates reach a minimum level in all subject areas and that they can apply for direct admission to a two-year master¿s degree programme in pharmacy after completing the programme.

After completing the programme, the candidate is expected to have achieved the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The candidate

• has in-depth knowledge of the physical, chemical and pharmacological properties of key active ingredients (including plant-based ones)
• has broad knowledge of the structure of the human body, its functions, and disease development
• has broad knowledge of the composition and production of important types of pharmaceuticals, along with their physical, chemical and biopharmaceutical properties
• has broad knowledge of the effects and use of pharmaceuticals and their role in the prevention and treatment of illness from an individual and societal perspective
• has basic knowledge of the quality requirements, quality assurance and quality control of pharmaceuticals and products and services related to Pharmaceuticals
• has knowledge of important analysis methods for Pharmaceuticals
• has knowledge of basic mathematical, statistical and epidemiological Methods
• has knowledge of veterinary pharmacology
• has knowledge of pharmacy¿s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society
• is familiar with clinical testing of pharmaceuticals and the pertaining collection of and requirements relating to documentation

Skills

The candidate

• is capable of dispensing prescription pharmaceuticals, assessing prescription instructions, identifying and handling problems related to pharmaceuticals, providing information about pharmaceuticals and facilitating user participation in a way that ensures correct use of pharmaceuticals
• is capable of collecting information about pharmaceuticals and suggesting solutions to theoretical and practical challenges in the field of pharmacy, based on critical assessment and logical argumentation
• has basic skills in aseptic work technique
• is capable of applying systems for quality assurance of pharmaceuticals and products and services related to pharmaceuticals, and of working in accordance with the regulations governing the production and distribution of Pharmaceuticals
• is capable of using and following up internal control systems
• is capable of working independently in accordance with acts, regulations and professional ethical guidelines
• is capable of making use of research-based knowledge, planning and carrying out a project in the pharmacy discipline independently, or in cooperation with others, in accordance with generally accepted requirements that apply to the field
• is capable of making use of research results in professional practice and critically reflecting on his/her own professional practice

General competence

The candidate

• is capable of actively contributing to developing the field of pharmacy and the role of pharmacists in society
• is capable of reflecting on ethical issues, showing respect for users of pharmaceutical services and providing guidance that safeguards the integrity and rights of users
• is capable of cooperating and communicating with partners and users of pharmaceutical services
• is capable of contributing to and participating in interdisciplinary cooperation that benefits the patient/customer
• is capable of reflecting on the importance of scientific documentation and distinguishing between documented and undocumented claims
• is familiar with innovation in relevant fields and masters simple tools used in innovation and entrepreneurship
• has knowledge of national and global health and environmental challenges and of multicultural society
• has insight into the role of pharmaceutical issues in a multicultural society

The programme is divided into 15 compulsory courses and incorporates both practical and theoretical teaching at the university and external practical training at pharmacies. Each year of the programme has a scope of 60 credits.

The structure of the programme is outlined in the figure below. The courses build on each other with gradual progress both in terms of theoretical and practical knowledge. All the courses conclude with a final assessment.

Reference is made to the course descriptions for more detailed information about the content of the individual courses in the programme.

The academic year is 40 weeks and the expected workload is 40 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, students' own activity and exams.

Study progress

The following progress requirements apply to the programme:

• The student must have passed all courses in the first year of the programme in order to start the second year of the programme.
• The student must have passed all courses in the second year of the programme in order to start the third year of the programme.

Internationalisation contributes to raising the quality of education and strengthens the academic community on the programme, at the same time as it prepares the students to become global citizens.

The increasing globalisation of the labour market also makes international professional experience and knowledge of languages and cultures more and more important.

Internationalisation takes place both through activities on campus in Norway and through mobility to institutions abroad.

The use of international course literature and focus on multicultural and global issues in the programme contribute to increased understanding and improve the students' ability to cope with diversity, both nationally and internationally; to work professionally in a multicultural society. Literature in English also provides an opportunity for the students to become familiar with English terminology and international research.

The staff¿s networks, research collaboration and cooperation with colleagues abroad is an important aspect of this. The programme is represented in international pharmacy education networks. In some courses, the students will attend lectures given by foreign guest lecturers.

OsloMet has exchange agreements in place with universities and university colleges in Europe. Students can opt to take three months of the programme abroad during the sixth semester in connection with the course FARMA3900 Bachelor¿s thesis. Similarly, foreign students can write their bachelor¿s thesis at OsloMet.

FARMA3900 will be taught partly in Norwegian and partly in English, and international students can take the whole course in English if required. The students can decide whether they wish to write their bachelor¿s thesis in English or Norwegian. Students who go on exchanges must write their thesis in English if the exchange stay is in a country outside Scandinavia.

Reference is made to the criteria that apply to student exchanges and the information about stays abroad.

Required coursework is all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the assessment/exam. Coursework requirements are assessed as approved/not approved. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description.

The primary purpose of coursework requirements is to contribute to the students' progress and academic development, and to stimulate the students to master the subject matter. The programme's main coursework requirements are in the form of compulsory attendance, laboratory reports, and practical and written tests.

Compulsory attendance

Attendance is compulsory for teaching activities that cover subject matter which the student cannot acquire on his or her own.

The minimum attendance requirement for scheduled and supervised group work and seminars is 80 %. A minimum of either 80% or 90% attendance is required for skills training (laboratory courses and practical handling of prescriptions). Other activities may also be subject to compulsory attendance requirements. Detailed provisions on compulsory attendance are set out in the course descriptions and teaching plans.

The attendance requirements must be met before the student can take the exam in the course. Students will be contacted if they are at risk of exceeding the maximum limit for absence. If it emerges that a student has exceeded the limit for absence, the lecturer must assess whether and how the student can compensate for the absence. Whether or not it is possible to compensate for absence depends on the extent of the student's absence and which activities they have missed. If it is not possible to compensate for absence, the student must move down a year.

Laboratory reports

In certain laboratory courses, the student must document his/her laboratory work through written reports (lab reports).

Reports that are not approved must be improved and re-submitted.

Practical test

The course FARMA2120 includes a practical test in the production of pharmaceuticals subject to sterility requirements.

If a test is not approved, arrangements will be made for another attempt before the ordinary exam. Approval is required in order for the student to be able to take the ordinary exam.

Students are entitled to a third attempt before the resit/rescheduled exam. If the test is not approved after three attempts, the student must take the course with the next class.

Drug calculations assignments

In the course FARMA2400, the calculation assignments must be approved before the student can take the exam. See the course description for more detailed provisions.

Different forms of assessment are used on the programme that are adapted to the learning outcomes of the various courses. The forms of assessment used shall both support learning and document that the students¿ competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcomes. This is done by giving the student qualified and frequent feedback during and at the end of each course. Continuous assessment provides insight into the student¿s progress and is intended to motivate his/her further efforts.

The assessment of exams and practical training are carried out in accordance with the applicable rules set out in the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations Relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet, and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet.

Exams

Each course is concluded with an assessment in the form of an exam. The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course, and on whether the student has achieved the stipulated learning outcomes. The grades pass/fail or letter grades from A to F are used, with A being the highest grade and E the poorest pass grade. The grade F means that the student has failed the exam.

Most courses have coursework requirement that must be approved before the student can take the exam. See the course descriptions for more details.

Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description.

For exams where a percentage of the exam papers are assessed by an external examiner, the external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students. In such cases, the external and internal examiners first grade the selected papers. The internal examiner then continues grading the rest of the papers together with another internal examiner. The assessments from the first part are summarised to serve as guidelines for the assessments carried out by the two internal examiners.

The grade given for a written exam can be appealed, cf. Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges and Section 7-3 (2) of the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. In a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidates who submitted the appeal. This means that all members of the group do not have to participate in the appeal.

Practical training

The assessment of the student shall be an overall assessment of the students' professional, personal and ethical suitability for practising the profession. The main areas for the assessment are general requirements, social skills, competence in the field of pharmacy and professional competence.

The practical training is assessed as passed or failed. To pass the practical training, the student must have met the compulsory attendance requirement. The student must attend at least 90 % of the scheduled time. In the event of absence of more than 10 %, the absence can be made up for during the period by agreement with the practical training supervisor. If it is not possible to compensate for the absence, the whole period must be retaken. This will result in delayed progress in the programme.

Other criteria for passing the practical training are set out in the manual for practical training at a pharmacy and the programme¿s own practical training compendium.

External programme supervisors 

The programme has an external programme supervisor who is to contribute to quality assurance and quality development of the programme. The external programme supervisor is charged with evaluating the programme's structure and coherence, including the relationship between the learning outcomes as described in the programme description and the work and teaching methods and assessment arrangements. The programme supervisor should normally supervise all the courses in the programme over the course of a three-year period and provide feedback and advise that the academic environment can use in its further work on quality of education.

Suitability

Diplomas for the completed programme are only awarded to graduates who are suited to practise the profession. A student who represents a potential threat to the physical or mental health, rights and safety of his/her patients and colleagues is not suited for the profession.

Suitability assessments are made on a continuous basis throughout the study programme, and will be included in the overall assessment of the students' professional and personal suitability for work as health personnel. Students who demonstrate little ability to master the pharmacist profession must be informed of this at the earliest possible stage of the programme. They will be given supervision and advice on how to improve, or be advised to leave the programme. Special suitability assessments are used in special cases, cf. the Regulations concerning Suitability Assessment in Higher Education.