The objective of the five-year, single cycle degree programme in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology is to provide students with the knowledge and methodologies required for the scientific investigation in the chemical, biological and pharmacological fields aswell as in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical technology areas.
This knowledge will allow graduates to work in pharmaceutical industries and address issue and challenges related to drug development and production.The degree programme particularly focuses on chemical (Physical chemistry and Organic chemistry), biochemical and pharmaceutical disciplines, with particular emphasis on practical laboratory activities. This peculiar multidisciplinarity enables graduates to have a suitable background to work in diverse sectors of the pharmaceutical industries, whether chemical (drug design, production and quality control) or biomedical. The learning outcomes of this Single Cycle Degree/Combined Bachelor and Master programme suit those indicated in national legislation and European Directive 2013/55/EC. Indeed, the degree provides knowledge and skills required to work as a Pharmacist in hospitals and pharmacies, as well as to work in the fields of pharmaceutical consultancy, advising and drug distribution.The Single Cycle Degree/Combined Bachelor and Master Programme in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology offers the possibility of sitting the Professional Registration Exam to become a Pharmacist and, in accordance with Presidential Decree 328 of 5.6.2001, to sit the Professional Registration Exam of Chemists (SectionA).
Programme overview
The first two years of the programme entail basic learning activities in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and medicine-related disciplines in order to provide students with the scientific knowledge required to understand the more specific disciplines over the following years, as well as a good knowledge of English. Individual laboratory activities will begin in the second year and are planned for each of the following year.
In the third and fourth years, students will undertake learning activities mainly in the chemical, pharmaceutical, technological, biological and pharmacological subject areas and will acquire knowledge of the chemical and structural properties of active substances, will learn the pharmaceutical forms and raw materials used in the formulation of medicinal products, and gain understanding of the pharmacological bases and their mechanism of action. This also includes understanding of drug therapy, as well as toxicological and pharmacovigilance aspects. This phase entails intense individual laboratory work. Students will also learn about the regulatory and deontological guide lines to properly perform professional activities (approval of drugs, health products and medical devices by the authorities, pharmaco-economics, dissemination of scientific information on drugs, marketing, etc.). This phase is completed with learning activities related to computational pharmaceutical chemistry and the analytical methodologies for quality control. In the fourth year, as part of their practical-professional training, students will choose elective courses among activities offered by the University (total of 8 credits).
In the fifth year, students will undertake professional internships (30 credits) and prepare their final examination. Inline with European directives, the professional internship will be undertaken in community pharmacies or hospital pharmacies with which specific agreements are in place. Interns will work full-time for at least 6 months under the guidance of a pharmacist. The final examination consists in the discussion of a written dissertation based on an experimental thesis carried out in laboratory.
