Extended Major Overview

Description

The extended major is offered in the Combined Bachelor's and Master's degree where you will graduate with both a Bachelor of Human Sciences (Pharmaceutical Health) and a Master of Pharmacy. The extended major in Pharmaceutical Health provides depth of knowledge in the disciplines of anatomy, pharmacology and pharmaceutical health that will prepare a student for further postgraduate studies in Pharmacy or health-science related areas including allied health. There is a focus on how human form and function have adapted and acclimatised to different environmental pressures as well as an introduction to human diseases and how drugs can target particular organs, cells, proteins and genes. Students will receive an introduction to microbes that cause infectious diseases and the field of immunology. As well as foundational information on these disciplines, from the molecular to population level, students will examine form and function in the context of human health. Understanding scientific concepts is essential for comprehending how drugs are used to manage human diseases. At level 3, principles and concepts of pharmaceutical chemistry and formulated products will be explored. Students will gain an understanding of physical pharmacy and biopharmaceutics that underpin drug formulation into acceptable dosage forms and their therapeutic outcomes. Moving from sciences, students explore the role of a pharmacist as a healthcare practitioner and are introduced to primary care therapeutic topics that are frequently encountered in community pharmacy settings. They will develop communication skills and a sound understanding of the principles of evidence-based medicine that are essential for delivering healthcare information to patients and others. Theory presented in this course is supplemented with practical experiences. The major provides a strong foundation in knowledge and capabilities that will enable students to thrive in their postgraduate pharmacy studies.

Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. integrate key concepts in human biology including structural and functional characteristics of living cells and genetic mechanisms underlying the Central Dogma and inheritance
  2. integrate key concepts about the structure and function of human systems (from cells to organs) and how their function is coordinated
  3. describe the actions of drugs at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels and relate therapeutic effects and unwanted adverse effects to drug action
  4. predict the key chemical characteristics of the most important functional groups in a pharmaceutical context
  5. articulate the interrelationships between the physiochemical properties of a drug, its dosage form, route of administration and bioavailability
  6. demonstrate knowledge in primary care principles and clinical therapeutic areas, and patient assessment and consultations
  7. demonstrate competency in working in a team
  8. demonstrate competency in library research, critical scientific reading, clear written and verbal communication, and effective data collection, analysis and interpretation
  9. describe how and why healthcare providers must respect the beliefs, values and attitudes of the diverse population they serve.
Broadening guidelines
Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. The extended major in Pharmaceutical Health provides depth of knowledge in the disciples of anatomy, pharmacology and pharmaceutical health that will prepare a student for further studies or research in health-science related areas, including allied health and the Master of Pharmacy. The extended major is offered as part of the Combined Bachelor Human Science (Pharmaceutical Health) and Master of Pharmacy degree. If you are studying a Combined Bachelor's and Master's degree (CBM), you can meet the broadening unit requirement simply by completing the postgraduate units that form an integral part of your course. However, we encourage you to use the elective units in your course to study other disciplines. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study. All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree (not part of the CBM) at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Suggested areas to complement the units within this extended major would expand knowledge in: "Data Science" to obtain additional skills in data management and analysis that are becoming highly valuable in health-related industries "Women's Health" to better understand the complexities of reproductive biology and associated health issues. There are numerous valuable ways to expand your studies, and we encourage you to pursue as many areas of interest as you can during your course of studies.
Suggested units to broaden your study area, are:
PHAR1101 Drugs that Changed the World
Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR or Mathematics Applications ATAR with a mathematics unit taken in the first year. Students without ATAR mathematics will take two first year mathematics units.

Chemistry ATAR or an additional chemistry unit taken in the first year.

Incompatibilities

MJD-PHYGY Physiology (ID 118)

MJD-ANHBY Anatomy and Human Biology

Courses

Pharmaceutical Health can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

No study plans found for this major. See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (30 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human None
S2 ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human None
S1, S2 CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (ID 1063)
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry
or ATAR Subject(s) WACE Chemistry 3A/3B or equivalent
S1 PHYL1001 Physiology - How your body works
Incompatibility
PHYL2001 Physiology of Human Body Systems
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Human Biology or equivalent
or ATAR Subject(s) Biology or equivalent
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or IMED1001 Form and Function
and Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
Bridging units

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1721 or SCIE1500, (SCIE1500 recommended). Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete MATH1720 and either MATH1721 or SCIE1500, (SCIE1500 recommended). Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in Chemistry ATAR or equivalent or higher are required to complete CHEM1003::

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or with permission
Incompatibility
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50 or greater] or Equivalent or higher
S1, S2 MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or Mathematics Methods ATAR (with a scaled score of less than 50) or equivalent
Incompatibility
MATH1001 Mathematical Methods 1
and MATH1002 Mathematical Methods 2 and
MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus
and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
and
STAT1520 Economic and Business Statistics
or STAX1520 Economic and Business Statistics
S1, S2 SCIE1500 Analytical Methods for Scientists
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Subject Mathematics Applications
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) ATAR Mathematics Methods
and Unit(s) MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods (ID 5108)
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life
or Successful completion of 12 points from
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
and
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or 6 points ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
and 6 points BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SSEH1101 The Musculoskeletal System and Movement
or SSEH1102 Applied Anatomy and Athletic Performance
S1 ANHB2217 Human Neurobiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of any two Unit(s)
ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or Enrolment in
71520 Master of Biomedical Science
S2 MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Prerequisites
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and one Of
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology (ID 1254) (formerly BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology).
, ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
, ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
, ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life
Incompatibility
for pre-2012 courses: MICR2205 General and Applied Microbiology
S1 PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology
Prerequisites
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
and SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
CHEX1002 Chemistry Structure and Reactivity
and SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry
and SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
and SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life
S2 PHAR2220 Human Pharmacology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
PHAR2210 Foundations of Pharmacology
S1 SSEH2260 Exercise Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of PHYL1001 Physiology - How Does the Human Body Work?
or
Enrolment in
CM017 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Public Health
or CM018 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
or CM019 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and Master of Applied Human Performance Science
or MJD-IMSCP Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
or MJD-MEDSI Medical Science
Degree-specific major units

Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 BMED2001 Humanities in Health and Medicine
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
level 1 24 points Unit(s)
S2 PHYL2002 Cellular Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
PHYL1001 Physiology - How your body works
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or NEUR1001 Neuroscience in Society
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or Enrolment in
71520 Master of Biomedical Science
S2 PUBH2203 Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of any one
PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations
or PUBH1102 Foundations of Global Health
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANTH1001 Being Human: Culture, Identity and Society
or ANTH1002 Global Change, Local Responses
or PUBH2209 Plagues, Pox and Pandemics: the History of Death and Disease
or SCOM1101 Communicating Science
or SCOX1101 Communicating Science
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Enrolment in
MJD-ABHWB Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing and either ( INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard
or INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge

and AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing )
Incompatibility
IMED2003 Medical Sciences Research Methodologies (ID 5971)

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 ANHB3321 Biological Anthropology: Genes and Society None
N/A PHCY3601 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
Prerequisites
enrolment in
the Master of Pharmacy
Co-requisites
Enrolment in
Unit(s) PHCY3606 Foundations of Primary Care
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) PHCY5601 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
N/A PHCY3606 Foundations of Primary Care
Prerequisites
enrolment in
the Master of Pharmacy (51500)
Co-requisites
Enrolment in
Unit(s) PHCY3601 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) PHCY5606 Foundations of Primary Care
N/A PHCY3610 Physical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics
Prerequisites
enrolment in
the Master of Pharmacy
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) PHCY5610 Physical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics
N/A PHCY3618 Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis
Prerequisites
enrolment in
the Master of Pharmacy
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
Unit(s) PHCY5618 Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Analysis
S2 PHYL3004 Extreme Environmental Physiology
Prerequisites
Successful completion of Unit(s) PHYL1001 Physiology - How your body works and
PHYL2002 Physiology of Cells
or PHYL3002 Physiology of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems