The Single-Cycle Degree Programme in Pharmacy lasts five years and its main objective is to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge and solid cultural foundations to train professionals in the healt hcare Area who, within the context of their scientific and technological multidisciplinary (chemistry, biology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmaceutical legislation and ethic) contribute to achieving the objectives defined by the National Health Service to adequately respond to the changing needs of society in the health field, and are able to work for for purposes of public health , also through the personalised accompaniment of patients, including chronic patients, in compliance with pharmacological therapies, and health counselling for disease prevention.
The aim of the course is also to train expert professionals in the in the pharmaceutical and healthcare products sector (cosmetics, dietary and nutritional supplements, herbal products, medical devices, health care articles) able to:
- perform the role of health educators and participate in institutional campaigns carried out in collaboration with the public administration in various areas of Healthcare ;
- when dispensing pharmaceutical drugs, provide the patient with qualified information, instructions, warnings, advice and assessment before and after the use of such drugs;
- play a fundamental role as a link between the patient, the doctor and National Health service facilities.
The learning outcomes of the Single Cycle Degree Programme carefully t ake into account the new professional functions already outlined at the national and European Union levels and which have also been identified through consultation with the representative organisations of the production of goods and services and of the professions. These include: integrated home care, initial analysis (clinical pharmacies), appropriateness of medicine use, continuity of medicine supply for cases of ongoing treatment, alongside specific in-depth studies on: Pharmaceutical Care, Pharmacotherapy, Pharmacovigilance, Health Promotion, Information on Medicinal Drugs and Medical Devices , Nutrition and food supplements, Pharmacoepidemiology , Pharmacoeconomics and Health Economics , Health Management, Health Communication and Business Management.
To achieve the learning outcomes set out above, the Single Cycle Degree Programme in Pharmacy is structured in a way that allows progressive learning. It starts out with the study of the basic disciplines during the first two years and is completed in the following three years which focus on specialist disciplines and include an adequate professional internship with evaluation test (TPV). This enables students to progress gradually and continuously in their acquisition of the multidisciplinary knowledge necessary to prepare them for the professional role of Pharmacist.
The subject groups studied during the first two years are:
1) Basic Physics-Mathematics , Statistics -IT and Chemistry areas;
2) Basic Biology and Medicine .
During the following three years, students continue their specialist training with courses grouped into the following core learning areas:
3) Biological and Pharmacological Area;
4) Chemical-Pharmaceutical and Food Area ;
5) Technological -regulatory and Business Economics area
Students will also have the opportunity to opt for professional training activities, in order to acquire specific knowledge in specific areas of professional interest, such as Nutrition and food supplements , Cosmetics, Biological Drug s for rare diseases and Phytoderivatives . The course structure diagram integrates core activities with related and supplementary activities consistent with the educational profile of the Degree Programm e and makes it possible to broaden the range of training offered, taking into account the multidisciplinary nature of the Programme and the fields of application and career opportunities in a constantly evolving work context.
Upon completion of the compulsory learning activities, students acquire a substantial number of credits through Elective Learning Activities among those offered by the University, to complete their practical-professional training. Lastly, the Single-Cycle Degree Programme provides students with the opportunity to apply the multidisciplinary knowledge acquired during their training in the course of the professional internship (TPV) to be carried out in a pharmacy open to the public and/or a hospital pharmacy or in local pharmaceutical services under the supervision of the pharmaceutical service for a total of 900 hours, of which at least 450 hours must be carried out in a pharmacy open to the public.
The internship is full-time and lasts for a period of at least six months. At the end of the programme, students will take a final exam involving the discussion of a written bibliographical dissertation of a practical-professional or experimental nature.
The final examination for the Second-Cycle Degree includes the performance of a practical assessment test (PPV), which precedes the discussion of the dissertation and is intended to verify the professional skills acquired through the internship within the Degree Programme and ascertain the candidate's level of technical preparation for authorisation to practise as a pharmacist.
