Academic Programs for the Pharmacy Specialty
The fundamental education for the specialty of “Pharmacy” is provided by bachelor’s and master’s academic programs.
The duration of the academic program of the Bachelor of Pharmacy in “Pharmacy” specialty is four years. Each academic year is divided into two semesters, each carrying an academic load of 30 ECTS credits. The annual workload is 60 ECTS credits, with one credit corresponding to 30 academic hours. Throughout the course, students engage with theoretical, professional, and related subjects. After successful completion of the Bachelor’s program the graduate is awarded a Bachelor of Pharmacy qualification.
The teaching process for theoretical and professional courses takes place within various university facilities (biochemical, administrative, laboratory, anatomical), as well as in university hospital complexes, healthcare, research, expertise centres and pharmaceutical manufacturing institutions. The teaching process is conducted by the skilled teaching staff of the respective departments.
A list of taught subjects by years in Bachelor’s program:
| I year | General Chemistry Organic Chemistry Biology Mathematics, Informatics Medical Physics Physiology with Basics of Anatomy First Aid |
History of Armenia History of Pharmacy Foreign Language Russian Language General Military Training Physical Training Latin Armenian Language |
| II year | Physiology with Basics of Anatomy Physical-colloid Chemistry Analytical Chemistry Organic Chemistry Botany Biochemistry Pathology Microbiology |
Bioethics Medical Psychology Philosophy Organisation of Medical Inventory Provision Civil Defence Practical Training Elective Courses (Fundamentals of Research/Statistics) |
| III year | Pathology Health Law Pharmacology Pharmacognosy Drugs Chemistry |
Pharmaceutical Technology Pharmaceutical Chemistry Pharmaceutical Management and Economics Practical training |
| IV year | Pharmacology Clinical Pharmacology Pharmaceutical Technology Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Chemistry Toxic Chemistry |
Pharmaceutical Management and Economics Emergency Medicine Hygiene and Ecology Toxicology Standardization of Herbal Raw Materials and Plant Origin Preparations Practical training |
The academic program for the “Pharmacy” specialty and its educational units are structured in alignment with the requirements of the RA National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the RA “Pharmacy” Sectoral Qualifications Framework (SQF).
The object of the professional activity of the Bachelor of Pharmacy is the drugs, medical and paramedical goods used for disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and hygiene.
After completing the academic program with the “Pharmacy” specialty, the graduate should be ready to perform the following professional functions:
- general pharmacy practice,
- innovation and marketing,
- advocacy-informational,
- educational,
- scientific research,
- organizational-managerial.
The Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme Learning Outcomes:
- Prepare medicines in pharmacy settings.
- Participate in drug development and manufacturing.
- Organize and implement all the functions associated with the storage of herbal raw material.
- Apply the quality control principles in the stages of development, dispensing, storage and use of medications and pharmaceutical raw material.
- Conduct the storage and distribution of medicines and paramedical products in wholesale and retail.
- Carry out pharmaceutical and pharmacognostic analyses of medications and raw material.
- Evaluate the demand for pharmaceutical products of different groups.
- Compose standard documentation of medications and other pharmaceutical products.
- Carry out information campaign on new medications among physicians.
- Provide counselling to the medical, pharmaceutical companies and the public on use of medicines.
- Organize pre-medical aid, distribution and use of medicines to patients and victims in emergency situations.
- Participate in scientific research in the field of Pharmacy.
Upon successful completion of all courses provided by the Bachelor of Pharmacy academic program, students undergo a final attestation which aims to assess the theoretical and practical readiness of future specialists to tackle professional challenges outlined by the program. Graduates who successfully pass final attestation are awarded a higher education diploma and the “Bachelor of Pharmacy” qualification in the “Pharmacy” specialty. A graduate holding bachelor’s of Pharmacy degree is authorized to conduct professional activities and may further pursue education at the master’s degree.
The duration of the Master of Pharmacy academic program is one year. Graduates holding a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy are eligible for admission to the master’s program. The academic year is divided into two semesters, each with a study load of 30 ECTS credits, where one credit corresponds to 30 academic hours. The subjects taught within the master’s program demonstrate an advanced professional orientation, requiring a comprehensive level of professional training for successful completion.
A list of taught subjects in the Master’s program:
| Clinical Pharmacology | Pharmaceutical Commodity Research |
| Clinical Pharmacy | Resourceology of Medicinal Plants |
| Pharmaceutical Technology | Phytotherapy |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Disaster Medicine |
| Pharmacokinetics | Clinical Immunology and Allergy |
| Pharmaceutical management and Economics | Practical Training |
After successfully completing the program of the Master of Pharmacy, in addition to the Bachelor program’s learning outcomes, the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate theoretical and practical in-depth knowledge and critical understanding in the field of Pharmacy.
- Demonstrate in-depth profession-related knowledge on the medicine use peculiarities: medicine selection, dosage, adverse effects and interactions, as well as their usage in common diseases.
- Participate in all stages of drug development: molecular design, synthesis, extraction, and active substance detection, formulation, production, quality assurance, registration and retail.
- Perform profession-related activities in the pharmaceutical industry, wholesaling and retailing medicine quality control laboratories, and other healthcare institutions.
- Evaluate the quality, efficacy, and safety of medicines and raw material quality, using modern equipment and study methods.
- Perform activities on documentation and standardization of medicines and other medical products according to the field-related laws, regulations, and guidelines to evaluate market demand, distribute products for wholesaling and retailing.
- Demonstrate communication skills for effective interaction with patients, colleagues, other healthcare specialists and the public to provide information and counselling.
- Analyse and apply didactic, scientific, normative and informative literature and other sources for the profession-related self-development and knowledge creation.
- Conduct scientific research in the field of Pharmacy.
- Organize the pharmaceutical companies’ management, planning, financing, and marketing research.
Graduates who have successfully completed all courses in the Master of Pharmacy program, passing all exams and tests, are eligible for final attestation. Those who successfully pass final attestation are awarded a higher education diploma with the qualification of “Master of Pharmacy” and the specialty of “Pharmacy”. Graduates holding Mater’s of Pharmacy degree have the rights to engage in independent pharmaceutical activities and can continue their education through PhD program, continuous professional and additional (narrow) specialized education programs.
Academic programs in the specialty “Pharmacy” are implemented by the Faculty of Pharmacy under the guidance of the faculty Dean.