Laurea (First cycle degree/Bachelor - 180 ECTS) in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences

The degree programme in APPLIED PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES covers three curricula with different study programmes, aiming to produce the following professional profiles:
Herbalist, the study programme of which aims to produce professionals able to work at specialist level in the fields of transformation, formulation, packaging, sales and control of herb-based health products, guaranteeing user safety and protection of consumer health. Graduates may also work in the agricultural field in the production of medicinal plants and will have the basic knowledge required to manage a production company.
Scientific informant on drugs, the study programme of which aims to produce professionals able to provide scientific information on medicinal specialities, medical products and health products.
Environmental toxicologist, the study programme of which aims to produce graduates with cultural knowledge and professional skills for use in analytical and experimental laboratories, able to carry out biological, chemical, microbiological and toxicological control activities to guarantee environmental and food safety, in order to protect the health of the population.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
Graduates:
· will be familiar with the fundamental principles of chemistry in the field of molecular structure, reactions and chemical balances;
· will be familiar with the fundamental principles of organic chemistry, the main classes of organic compounds and their reactivity;
· will know the main structures of animal and plant cells, and the reproductive mechanisms of cells and organisms;
· will possess knowledge of general and applied biochemistry used to understand biological mechanisms and metabolic activities;
· will possess knowledge of the properties of nutrients contained in food and dietary products;
· will be familiar with microscopic and macroscopic anatomy, will know the organisation of tissues and different organs of the human body;
· will understand cell physiology and the physiology of organs and apparatus in the human body.
The above knowledge and understanding are achieved through participation in lectures, practical exercises, self-study foreseen in the learning activities in chemical, biological and biochemical fields.
Assessment of the achievement of the described learning outcomes shall be mainly through written and oral exams.

ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
Graduates:
· Will know and know how to apply the basic notions of mathematics and physics.
· Will know the basic notions of computing and will be able to use the most common IT tools.
Will possess applied knowledge in one of the following areas:
Pharmaceutical information:
· Will possess specific knowledge concerning the therapeutic properties of natural and synthetic pharmaceuticals and the interpretation of their interaction with the molecular target.
· Will know the features of natural and synthetic pharmaceutical forms and systems.
· Will know the fundamental issues of the processes of absorption and transformation of biologically active molecules.

Environmental toxicology:
· Will know the toxicity mechanisms of chemical and physical compounds, as well as the interactive effects with other molecules in the environment.
· Will know and be able to apply instrumental techniques for the chemical analysis of polluting substances in the environment and in matrices, and assess the obtained results.

Herbalist techniques:
· Will know how to recognise herbs and assess their possible use in therapeutic and healthcare fields.
· Will be familiar with the technological transformation processes of a plant substrate into a finished commercial product.
· Will be able to apply specific instrumental and laboratory techniques aiming at:
- the analysis of pharmaceuticals and the evaluation of the features of innovative compounds or compounds under clinical experimentation,
- the analysis of pharmacologically active ingredients contained in plant medicines,
- the transformation of raw plant materials into finished commercial products in forms that are suitable for administration,
- the chemical analysis of polluting substances in the environment and in biological matrices (toxicological analysis methods).
The achievement of the ability to apply the above knowledge and understanding will be accomplished through the laboratory exercises, applied case studies presented by the lecturers in class and practical and computing exercises, in particular in the field of the course units in biological, chemical and pharmaceutical subjects, as well as during the period of work placement and the preparation for the final examination.
The achievement of these learning outcomes is verified through written and oral exams and the assessment of laboratory reports; the students will also be set specific tasks which aim to demonstrate their command of tools, methods and critical autonomy. During the work placement, students will be assessed through a report presented by the students and the tutor.

JUDGEMENT SKILLS:
Graduates,
within their specific area of study, will be able to:
· oversee quality control and environmental risk assessment.
· evaluate the adverse reactions of a pharmaceutical in pre-clinical and clinical phases (pharmaceutical field);
· evaluate the quality of herbal products (herbalist technician area), risk/benefit analysis of elements and pollutant risks (toxicological-environmental area).
· consult databases to acquire scientific documentation on pharmaceuticals and health products.
· evaluate risk/benefit analyses relating to the complete production cycle of herbal products.
· organise and plan activities, generate new proposals and solve problems.
· work autonomously, formulate autonomous opinions and take autonomous decisions.
Judgement skills are developed in particular through practical exercises, supervised seminars and the preparation of papers, above all in the areas of quality evaluation and certification, as well as during work placement activities and the activities assigned by the supervising professor in preparation of the final dissertation.
The acquisition of judgement skills is assessed through the evaluation of the laboratory reports, and the evaluation of the students' ability to work autonomously as well as in groups during the activities assigned in preparation of the final examination, as well as the work placement.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Graduates:
· will possess appropriate knowledge of the English language to consult texts and scientific publications in the health field, having developed their English language skills (Altair II/B1).
· will possess relational and communication skills appropriate to exercising the profession, in particular concerning relations with healthcare workers.
· will be able to work alongside other professionals for the production and implementation of plans and procedures to manage safety and quality problems, in line with specific regulations.
· will possess a spirit of initiative and entrepreneurialism which will make them able to work in groups.
Written and oral communication skills are developed in particular during seminars, practical exercises, learning activities and work placements, which also require the production of reports and written documents as well as their oral presentation. The acquisition and evaluation of the above communication skills will also be assessed through the production and presentation of a dissertation for the final examination. The English language is learned and verified through seminars and e-learning activities and their relative tests.

LEARNING SKILLS:
Graduates:
· will be able to understand and keep abreast of national and European legislation in specific professional sectors including the protection of industrial property in the pharmaceutical field, intermediate distribution and administration to the public of medicines and healthcare products, legislation in the field of herbal products, chemical safety or environmental protection.
· will be able to analyse and summarise and will possess theoretical learning skills.
Learning skills are acquired throughout the study period, particularly during the course units and self-study in legal and legislative fields, and the consultation of sectoral databases.
Learning skills are evaluated through continuous assessment during the learning activities which require the presentation of autonomously researched data as well as through tutoring activities relative to the preparation of projects and the evaluation of the self-learning skills developed during the activities in preparation of the final examination.