Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Degree programme
Introduction
The lack of graduate pharmacists in Sri Lanka has created immense problems in the drug management system especially in areas such as hospital and community pharmacy, drug administration, drug registration and quality assurance. The need to start a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) program was essential. Hence, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura commenced the first ever B. Pharm program in 2006 with the intake of 20 students.
The aim of the course was to produce a pharmacy graduate who is able to deliver the elements of Pharmaceutical Sciences and who would serve the country with competence, compassion and care.
Course structure
The B. Pharm program is a full time course of four academic years (12 terms) and each academic year consist of three 10-week terms. The program consists of lectures, tutorials and practical sessions.
In-course assessments will be held at the end of each second term and the end of year assessment at the end of each relevant academic year.
For the first year which the student sits for the In-Course assessment and the First End of Year (B. Pharm-Part I) Examination in Pharmaceutical chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutics I (physical pharmacy), Anatomy and Physiology and Mathematics, biostatistics and Information Technology.
At end of Second Year B. Pharm students sits for Pharmaceutics II (dosage forms and preparation), Pharmaceutical microbiology, Pharmaceutics III (Pharmacy practice), Pharmacy law and ethics, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy I for In-Course Assessment and Second End of Year (B. Pharm-Part II) Examination.
For the Third Year In-Course Assessment and End of Year (B. Pharm-Part III) Examination students sit for Pharmaceutical analysis, Pharmaceutics IV (pharmaceutical technology and biopharmaceutics), Hospital and community pharmacy, Pharmacology and toxicology and Pharmacognosy II.
The Final Year B. Pharm In-Course Assessments and at the end of the year (B. Pharm-Part IV) Examination students sits for the Medicinal chemistry, Clinical pharmacy, Pharmacotherapeutics, Pharmaceutical biotechnology and Pharmaceutical marketing management and accounting.
The regular In-Course Assessments are held on an annual basis and these accounts for 20% and the End of Year Assessments are accounts for 80% of the final marks in each year.
The credit hours system will be followed. Students will be expected to gain a minimum of 120 credits to be eligible for the award of the B. Pharm. degree.
The evaluation is based on the Grade Point Average. The grades obtained by each candidate at course unit examinations are evaluated, in order to calculate his or her Grade Point Average.
A student requires a Grade Point Average of not less than 2.0 to qualify for the B. Pharm Degree.
Course duration
The B. Pharm course is a full time course of four academic years (12 terms) with a minimum of 03 years for lateral entrants from the Ministry of Health, each academic year consisting of three 10-week terms.