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Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)/Master of Pharmacy Practice

Course overview

This program prepares students for a career in pharmacy. Over the program, through hands-on learning, and experience on campus and in the work setting, students will develop the knowledge, skills and attributes of a USyd 5-star pharmacist—a person-centred, socially accountable health advocate who is: 

  • a culturally responsive communicator and collaborator;
  • a medicines and health services expert;
  • professional, ethical and socially accountable; 
  • an innovator, researcher and educator; and
  • a leader and manager.  

Learning outcomes

USyd 5-star pharmacist  Course learning outcome
On successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
Graduate quality (GQ) 
Culturally responsive communicator and collaborator 
  • Collate and interpret information from a diverse range of information systems.    
  • Communicate appropriately and effectively, both verbally and in writing, in culturally responsive ways.  
  • Document, communicate and record relevant information, findings, decisions, recommendations and other information accurately and concisely, taking due account of privacy and confidentiality.  
  • Work effectively and collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams.  
  • Collaborate with patients, carers and other clients in shared decision-making by ensuring person-centred care. 
GQ3. Communication (oral and written)  
GQ4. Information and digital literacy  
GQ6. Cultural competence 
GQ7. Interdisciplinary effectiveness 
Medicines and health services expert
  • Use their scientific, clinical and professional expertise to make appropriate decisions and provide person-centred medicines and health services, which meet the principles of shared decision making, patient autonomy, quality use of medicines, health promotion and optimal health care.  
  • Implement appropriate and effective actions and recommendations which support and promote safe, rational and cost-effective use of medicines and other health care options and optimise culturally responsive socially accountable person-centred care.
GQ1. Depth of disciplinary expertise  
GQ2. Critical thinking and problem solving 
GQ4. Information and digital literacy
GQ6. Cultural competence 
Professional, ethical and socially accountable
  • Act with integrity and be accountable for their behaviour and decisions. 
  • Act in accordance with legal requirements and professional codes, standards and guidelines   
  • Demonstrate a proactive and reflective approach to developing their own professional competence and expertise.   
  • Demonstrate a high standard of professional and ethical behaviour towards their peers, healthcare professionals, patients and their carers, and the public.  
  • Recognise and act on the presence and causes of health inequities and disparities, including the impact of social determinants of health.  
  • Promote the best interests and safety of patients and the public.  
  • Promote and advocate for cultural safety, respect and responsiveness, particularly in relation to all vulnerable populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 
GQ6. Cultural competence 
GQ8. An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity
Innovator, researcher and educator
  •  Demonstrate effective research and inquiry skills to expand the evidence base. 
  • Effectively educate peers, other healthcare professionals, patients and their carers and the public. 
  • Act as a role model and mentor of pharmacy students, pharmacists, other healthcare professionals and others. 
  • Demonstrate awareness of the inherent complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty of contemporary and future professional practice.
GQ2. Critical thinking and problem solving 
GQ4. Information and digital literacy 
GQ5. Inventiveness
Leader and manager
  •  Demonstrate effective leadership and management skills and behaviour to positively influence consumers, health professionals and the wider community.  
  • Actively engage in lifelong learning and development.  
  • Identify and address personal and professional limitations (including health and wellbeing) and situations in professional practice likely to compromise performance and patient care.  
  • Engage proactively in the identification, assessment, monitoring, mitigation and management of risk to minimise harm and maximise patient and public safety.   
  • Contribute to the responsible and socially accountable stewardship of resources to promote equitable, viable and sustainable access to health care.  
  • Contribute to quality assurance and quality improvement processes through collaboration, critical thinking, curiosity and creativity.   
  • Demonstrate the skills and behaviour to maintain, comply with and regularly review appropriate policies, processes and protocols to ensure safe and accountable provision of health care.
GQ3. Communication (oral and written)  
GQ6. Cultural competence  
GQ9. Influence