The MSc in Clinical Pharmacy is a part-time distance education programme running over 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme.

Entry Requirements (Pathway I)

• Candidates must hold a primary pharmacy degree from a School of Pharmacy that is approved by the Programme Committee;
• They must be registered with the professional accreditation authority in the country in which they are practising;
• Candidates should have practical experience in their area of qualifications of at least one year post-registration;
• All candidates will be required to have full access to computer and internet facilities and to be computer literate;
• Candidates must be employed in a healthcare setting;
• Applicants may be requested to undergo an interview;
• In some exceptional circumstances candidates, by virtue of their training and experience may, at the discretion of the Programme Director and the Head of School, be deemed suitable for entry to the degree.

Entry Requirements (Pathway II)
In addition to the above:

The Programme Management Committee may permit graduates holding a Postgraduate Certificate (equivalent to Level 9 award) in Clinical Pharmacy or a Postgraduate Diploma (equivalent to Level 9 award) in Clinical Pharmacy from an appropriately accredited School of Pharmacy to enter a one year programme. To be considered for entry to this programme, candidates must have completed their Clinical Pharmacy Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma no later than five years prior to the date of registration for this programme.

Programme Requirements (Pathway I)
The programme is made up of two parts. Part 1 constitutes 60 credits of taught modules. Part 2 constitutes 30 credits of a research project.

In Part 1 students must take a minimum of 30 credits in the first academic year. Students cannot proceed to Year 2 of the programme unless Year 1 has been passed. The taught modules will incorporate a combination of self-instructional printed materials (i.e. printed module workbooks), teleconferences, web-based seminars and online assessments.

Part 1

Students take 60 credits as follows:
PF6001 Biostatistics/Critical Appraisal (5 credits)
PF6005 Pharmacoeconomics (5 credits)
PF6006 Pharmacotherapy II: Endocrinology, CNS (Psychiatry/Neurology), Musculoskeletal, Infectious Disease(15 credits)
PF6007 Pharmacotherapy III: Special Populations (10 credits)
PF6009 Pharmacotherapy I: Renal, Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Disorders (15 credits)
PF6010 Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Rational Use of Drugs (10 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Part 2

Students take 30 credits as follows:
PF6008 Research Dissertation in Clinical Pharmacy (30 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Upon completion of the taught modules (60 credits) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy.

Programme Requirements (Pathway II - one year programme)
Students take 45 credits as follows:
PF6001 Biostatistics/Critical Appraisal (5 credits)
PF6007 Pharmacotherapy III: Special Populations (10 credits)
PF6008 Research Dissertation in Clinical Pharmacy (30 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2018/2019 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2018/2019.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Students successfully completing 60 credits (taught modules) may opt not to proceed to the Dissertation (PF6008) and may opt to be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy. A student who subsequently applies to continue to the Master's Degree in Clinical Pharmacy must do so within 5 years from the date of successful completion of the Diploma examinations.

Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
Students unable to complete the full Master's programme may register for the Master's and, on completion of 30 credits, may opt to exit the programme and be eligible for the Level 9 award of Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy. A student who subsequently applies to the Master's Degree in Clinical Pharmacy must do so within 5 years from the date of successful completion of the Certificate examinations.

Individual Modules
As part of UCC's commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), healthcare professionals may take a one-off module and be provided with a relevant transcript of marks. A student who successfully completes and passes a module under CPD and who satisfies the programme eligibility criteria may be eligible for exemptions if he/she subsequently undertakes a Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Clinical Pharmacy within five years from the date of successful completion of the module (and subject to the module being offered on the Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma/MSc Clinical Pharmacy programmes).

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc (Clinical Pharmacy) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Discuss and explain the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and tests leading to the diagnosis, of common disorders/diseases of the various physiological systems;
• Choose the appropriate and effective therapy, for selected diseases of the various physiological systems;
• Monitor and the counsel the patient on the use of the recommended therapies and health promotion;
• Formulate pharmaceutical care plans and counsel patients and use and recommend a "green" prescription appropriately;
• Apply the principles of health economics, economic modelling, Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY';s) sensitivity analysis for use in the health care system;
• Outline the regulatory requirements for supply and use of medicines in order to be able to practice effectively within their constraints;
• Discuss common dosage form systems and the differences that these may have on the management of a chronic or acute disease state;
• Critically appraise a research paper and use checklists to successfully interpret published clinical findings and apply the findings to improve professional practice;
• Conduct a literature review, design a research protocol, collect and interpret data and write a research report.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Discuss and explain the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and tests leading to the diagnosis, of common disorders/diseases of the various physiological systems;
• Choose the appropriate and effective therapy, for selected diseases of the various physiological systems;
• Monitor and the counsel the patient on the use of the recommended therapies and health promotion;
• Formulate pharmaceutical care plans and counsel patients and use and recommend a "green" prescription appropriately;
• Apply the principles of health economics, economic modelling, Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY's) sensitivity analysis for use in the health care system;
• Outline the regulatory requirements for supply and use of medicines in order to be able to practice effectively within their constraints;
• Discuss common dosage form systems and the differences that these may have on the management of a chronic or acute disease state;
• Critically appraise a research paper and use checklists to successfully interpret published clinical findings and apply the findings to improve professional practice.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Discuss and explain the epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, signs, symptoms, and tests leading to the diagnosis, of common disorders/diseases of the various physiological systems;
• Choose the appropriate and effective therapy, for selected diseases of the various physiological systems;
• Monitor and the counsel the patient on the use of the recommended therapies and health promotion;
• Formulate pharmaceutical care plans and counsel patients and use and recommend a "green" prescription appropriately;
• Outline the regulatory requirements for supply and use of medicines in order to be able to practice effectively within their constraints;
• Discuss common dosage form systems and the differences that these may have on the management of a chronic or acute disease state;
• Critically appraise a research paper and use checklists to successfully interpret published clinical findings and apply the findings to improve professional practice.