Division of Health Sciences
School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences
What's the difference between our undergraduate programs?
Each of our undergraduate programs taught at the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences provides training for a specific professional field.
While most people would have a good idea of what, for example, a pharmacist does, the precise difference between each of our programs is not always clear to the casual observer.
To help understand the differences between our undergraduate programs, we like to refer people to The Five Ds:
Discovery - Bachelor of Medical Science
Prerequisite: none
This program is flexible and designed to expose students to the very broad range of disciplines that underpin the scientific basis of medicine, including biochemistry, physiology, genetics, microbiology and immunology. This basic knowledge is later applied in more advanced and integrated courses, such as human disease, human nutrition, medical biotechnology, pharmacology, toxicology and forensic science. The program has a strong emphasis on developing an interest and generic skills in research, including laboratory-based experimentation, data presentation and analysis, communication and problem solving. Depending on the combination of courses undertaken, this program prepares graduates for areas such as medical research, the biotechnology industry, medical informatics, medical sales and marketing, and medical education roles. The program also provides pathways to graduate entry programs in allied health, medicine and higher degrees by research.
Diet - Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Science
Prerequisite: none
This program teaches students about the science of diet - that is, everything we eat and drink. The degree provides broad scientific training followed by advanced study in microbiology, biotechnology, nutrition, processing, and quality and regulation. It gives graduates the skills to work in a variety of food and nutrition related areas - from developing new foods to providing advice nutritional advice and information.
Development - Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science
Prerequisite: one of Stage 2 Biology or Chemistry or Physics
This program covers the full spectrum of medicines development, from the laboratory through to commercialisation, marketing and product management. While the core subjects provide a foundation in scientific theory and pharmaceutical practice, the program structure allows students to either specialise or gain insight into several areas of the pharmaceutical industry, including manufacturing, clinical trials, sales and marketing, management, and research and development.
Diagnosis - Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine
Prerequisite: Stage 2 Chemistry
Laboratory Medicine involves the detection, diagnosis, and management of disease. The program gives students the skills required to perform and coordinate a range of diagnostic tests, such as cross-matching for blood transfusions, identifying the organisms that cause infection, screening for cancer cells, and detecting genes responsible for disease. Graduates are employed as medical scientists in a range of environments including diagnostic and pathology laboratories, forensics and medical and veterinary research.
Delivery - Bachelor of Pharmacy
Prerequisite: Stage 2 Chemistry
Pharmacists play an important role in primary health care, delivering appropriate medicines and informed advice on how best to use them. The pharmacy degree begins with broad scientific training followed by advanced studies in pharmaceutics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics and pharmacy practice. While many pharmacists work in community/retail pharmacy, others are employed in hospitals, by government and regulatory agencies, inn the pharmaceutical industry and in research and academia.
