Programs Offered
The undergraduate program has a patient-oriented curriculum integrating clinical pharmacy with the pharmaceutical sciences. The curriculum utilizes an integrated problem-based learning (PBL) format as well as a wide-variety of other learning methods.
BSc (Pharm)
The College of Pharmacy offers a four-year program, following at least one year of general science, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) - BSc (Pharm). This program s being phased out in lieu of the PharmD program. The last class to enter the BSc (Pharm) program was fall 2019.
Year 1 includes pharmacy law and health care ethics, biomedical and physical sciences (anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology and physiology) in discrete three-to seven-week courses. The pharmaceutical sciences (biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism, toxicology, pharmaceutics and physical pharmacy) with necessary reviews of biomedical content, are integrated in Years 2 through 4, with therapeutics, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, pharmaceutical care, communications, interprofessional relations, law and ethics, social and administrative pharmacy issues, and the role of pharmacy in the health care system.
PharmD
The College offers an entry-to-practice PharmD program beginning in September 2020. Pre-requisites include one year of general sciences and one year of biomedical sciences and other courses. The first 3 years of the program include courses in pharmaceutical sciences, social, behavioural and administrative pharmacy, therapeutics, pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, pharmaceutical care, communications, interprofessional relations, law and ethics, and the role of pharmacy in the health care system. Practice experiences in community and hospital pharmacy take place in the summers following first and second year. The final year, beginning immediately at the end of the third year of the program, consists of practice experience rotations in community, collaborative care and elective placement sites.
Pharmacy Residency Program
The College participates with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (Central Zone), Halifax, NS; the Horizon Health Network, Saint John and Moncton, NB; and the IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS (Accreditation Pending) in providing a Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) accredited twelve-month post graduate hospital pharmacy residency program.
Through structured rotations in various areas of pharmacy practice, the program aims to prepare pharmacists for exemplary pharmacy practice. Areas of rotation include patient care, drug information, drug distribution, pharmacy administration, a research project and in-service and education. The emphasis is on providing exemplary patient care. Practitioner role models/preceptors are utilized throughout the program to mentor the necessary skills, knowledge and values required to be a pharmacist for application by the resident. A stipend is provided and a certificate is presented to candidates successfully completing the program.
Undergraduate Curriculum Structure
The PBL curriculum, within the College of Pharmacy, may be scheduled past the posted exam periods. Students are responsible for all costs associated with expenses during this time (e.g. meal plan expiration, residence closure, etc.).
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Courses
A minimal number of classes explain difficult concepts and summarize case material.
Tutorials
The principal feature of the curriculum is PBL. Students learn together in tutorial groups of eight to ten.
Each group is facilitated by a trained non (content)-expert tutor who may be faculty, sessional tutors, practitioners or graduate students.
Two-hour tutorials are held three times a week. In tutorial sessions students are presented with a situation for which they must identify their own prior knowledge and set specific learning objectives. Students use the time between tutorial sessions for self-directed learning of the objectives that they have set. Subsequent tutorials consist of discussion and application of knowledge.
Non-PBL Courses
There are some courses in each year that may be lecture based, assignment based, or case based.
Skills Laboratory
The skills laboratory focuses on practical skill development and application of knowledge acquired in the PBL curriculum and critical appraisal series. Activities required for successful completion of the practical experience program are introduced and practiced. Content includes but is not limited to: extemporaneous compounding, prescription filling and assessment, written and verbal communication skills, patient education, device training, injection training, and jurisprudence.
A cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) level HCP and standard first aid course are the students’ responsibility in cost.
Practice Experience Program (PEP)
BSc (Pharm)
A progressive professional field experience complements the PBL curriculum as follows:
Year 1 - Community Experience Program (CEP)
- the equivalent of a half day per week in a goal-related service learning in a non-pharmacy health-oriented community site.
Year 2 - Practice Experience Program (PEP)
- PHAR 2081.03: Practice Experience Program - Hospital Rotation (two consecutive weeks)
- PHAR 2082.03: Practice Experience Program (PEP) II - Community Rotation (two consecutive weeks)
Second year rotations are completed during the months of May - August, after successful completion of all other second year courses. Each rotation is two weeks in length, at a minimum of 35 hours/week. Second year rotations provide students with an opportunity to see pharmacists practice patient focused care in both community and hospital practice settings. Time is also spent on the distributive, legislative and administrative components of pharmacy practice.
Year 3 - Practice Experience Program (PEP)
- PHAR 3081.03 and PHAR 3082.03: Practice Experience Program (PEP) III - Community Rotation (four consecutive weeks)
This rotation is completed during the months of May - August, after successful completion of all other third year courses. This rotation is four weeks in length at a minimum of 35 hours/week and introduces students to the practical application of the pharmacist’s patient care process in a community pharmacy. Rotation objectives address drug information, prescription and non-prescription medications, patient education, and health promotion presentations to community groups. This rotation is intended to provide an introductory experience to clinical activities including: monitoring patients, identifying drug-related problems, and defining and measuring patient goals and outcomes.
Year 4 - Practice Experience Program (PEP)
- PHAR 4080.045: Practice Experience Program (PEP) IV – Hospital Rotation (six consecutive weeks)
- PHAR 4085.045: Practice Experience Program (PEP) V – Community Rotation (six consecutive weeks)
These six-week rotations are the culmination of the student’s study. Experiential rotations in hospital and community practice sites allow students the opportunity to apply all the knowledge, skills and values they have developed to the provision of total pharmacy care. The focus of these rotations is patient-based and primarily clinical. Each rotation is six-weeks, at a minimum of 40 hours/week.
For each rotation, from year 2 through to year 4, students are required to travel to sites outside of the Halifax/Dartmouth area and will be responsible for any costs incurred as a result of the program.
Students should note that there are very limited PEP rotation sites outside the Maritime Provinces. All PEP rotations must take place within Canada. Students must be prepared to complete all PEP rotations within the Maritimes.
PharmD
Year 1 – Practice Experience Program
Introduction to Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community (4 weeks)
PHAR 1083.04
This four-week introductory rotation is completed during the summer following first year and provides pharmacy students with an opportunity to contribute to patient care in a community pharmacy setting. Pharmacy students will build upon the knowledge, skills and abilities they have developed during the first year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Opportunity will be provided to help pharmacy students cultivate their patient care skills and begin to gain personal clinical experiences working with a variety of patients and other members of the healthcare team encountered in a community pharmacy. Students will begin to make health care decisions with the help and guidance of a pharmacist preceptor. The Pharmacist’s Patient Care Process, pharmacy law and ethics, medication coverage in Canada, the operation of a community pharmacy, case presentations, drug information, quality assurance and interprofessional practice are key areas of this rotation.
Year 2 – Practice Experience Program
Introduction to Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital (4 weeks)
PHAR 2083.04
This four-week introductory rotation is completed during the summer following second year and provides students with an opportunity to actively participate in pharmacy patient care within a hospital pharmacy practice setting. Pharmacy students will build upon the knowledge, skills and abilities they have developed during the first two years of the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Opportunity will be provided to allow pharmacy students to continue to cultivate their patient care skills and gain personal clinical experiences working with a variety of patients and other members of the healthcare team within a hospital setting. Students will begin to make healthcare decisions with the help and guidance of a pharmacist preceptor. Specific units will focus on: the role of the hospital pharmacist as part of the healthcare team; understanding the patient chart; documentation of patient care; applying the Pharmacist’s Patient Care Process; ordering and interpreting lab values as required for the management of drug therapy; case presentations; drug information; medication safety; and interprofessional practice.
Year 4 – Practice Experience Program
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Collaborative Health Care Setting (12 weeks)
PHAR 4081.12
This twelve-week clinical rotation focuses on the provision of patient focused pharmacy care in a collaborative healthcare practice setting e.g. hospital, long-term care, ambulatory or primary care sites. Pharmacy students will apply the knowledge, skills and abilities they have developed during the past three years of the Doctor of Pharmacy program to further refine their clinical skills in preparation to enter independent practice. Students will serve as an active member of the healthcare team incorporating professional, legal and ethical principles; identifying and resolving drug related problems; providing drug information and patient education. Using the Pharmacist’s Patient Care Process learned at the College of Pharmacy students will gain clinical experience providing safe and effective, patient focused and evidence-informed care to a variety of patients with acute and chronic conditions; across the lifespan; and across all levels of care offered within the institution as well as for patients in the transitions between levels of care.
Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Setting (12 weeks)
PHAR 4082.12
This twelve-week clinical rotation focuses on the provision of patient focused pharmacy care in a community pharmacy practice setting. Pharmacy students will complete rotations at community pharmacy practice sites offering an expanded scope of pharmacy practice. Pharmacy students will build upon the knowledge, skills and abilities they have developed during the first three years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum to further refine their clinical skills in preparation to enter independent practice. Students will serve as an active member of the healthcare team and provide safe and effective care under the supervision of a pharmacist preceptor to a variety of patients presenting with chronic and acute conditions across the lifespan.
PHAR 4083.08
This eight-week advanced pharmacy practice rotation will focus on an area of pharmacy practice or research that is of personal interest to the pharmacy student. Rotations may be completed in a direct or non-direct patient care setting. Preceptors may be pharmacists, other health professionals or suitable supervisors who are committed to learning and teaching with a fourth-year pharmacy student. Students will explore and/or develop both traditional and non-traditional roles of pharmacists within either a Canadian or global health care context. Pharmacy students will contribute meaningfully and productively to the patient care and/or professional activities of the rotation site. Students will be required to design, develop and complete a project for the rotation site.
All rotation sites and preceptors are recruited by the College of Pharmacy. For each rotation, from year 1 through to year 4, students are required to travel to sites outside of the Halifax/Dartmouth area and will be responsible for any costs incurred as a result of the program.
Students should note that there are very limited PEP rotation sites outside the Maritime Provinces. All PEP rotations must take place within Canada. Students must be prepared to complete all PEP rotations within the Maritimes.
Prescribed Courses - BSc (Pharm)
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
- PHAR 4010.015: Critical Appraisal Series III
- PHAR 4025.06: Pathocytologic Disorders
- PHAR 4035.06: Disorder of the Liver and Genitourinary Systems
- PHAR 4060.03: Advanced Patient Health Management
- PHAR 4070.015: Pharmacy Skills Lab IV
- PHAR 4080.045: Practice Experience Program (PEP) IV
- PHAR 4085.045: Practice Experience Program (PEP) V
Prescribed Courses – PharmD
Year 1
Year 2
- MICI 3115.03 Immunology
- PHAR 2013.02: Critical Appraisal Series 2A
- PHAR 2014.02: Critical Appraisal Series 2B
- PHAR 2041.01:Special Considerations in Pharmacotherapeutics: Pregnancy and Lactation
- PHAR 2042.01:Special Considerations in Pharmacotherapeutics: Addictions
- PHAR 2051.09: Integrated PBL 3
- PHAR 2052.09: Integrated PBL 4
- PHAR 2061.03: Social, Behavioural and Administrative Pharmacy 3
- PHAR 2062.03: Social, Behavioural and Administrative Pharmacy 4
- PHAR 2073.03: Skills Lab 4
- PHAR 2074.03: Skills Lab 5
- PHAR 2083.04: Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience: Hospital
Year 3
- PHAR 3013.02: Critical Appraisal Series 3A
- PHAR 3014.03: Critical Appraisal Series 3B
- PHAR 3041.01:Special Considerations in Pharmacotherapeutics: Geriatrics
- PHAR 3051.09: Integrated PBL 5
- PHAR 3052.09: Integrated PBL 6
- PHAR 3061.03: Social, Behavioural and Administrative Pharmacy 5
- PHAR 3062.03: Social, Behavioural and Administrative Pharmacy 6
- PHAR 3073.03: Skills Lab 6
- PHAR 3074.01: Skills Lab 7
- PHAR 3075.03: Skills Lab 8
- Pharmacy elective
Year 4
- PHAR 4081.12: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Collaborative Health Care Setting
- PHAR 4082.12: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Community Setting
- PHAR 4083.08: Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience: Elective
Interprofessional Health Education
Students are required to maintain enrolment in IPHE 4900 (see calendar section on Health Professions, Interprofessional Health Education) for the duration of their studies. Please register in IPHE 4900.00 (section 5). Successful completion of this course is a requirement for graduation, and will be recognized further with the awarding of a special Certificate in Interprofessional Collaboration to be presented by the Faculty of Health Professions. Students are asked to consult with their individual school/college to determine the specific guidelines and expectations regarding the required portfolio.