Part Time Postgraduate Certificate Programme in Psychiatric Pharmacy by Distance Learning
leading to the award of a
Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy
The Aims of the Postgraduate Certificate Programme are:-
- to provide an introduction to professionally relevant and academically challenging postgraduate education that will enable pharmacists to make maximal contribution to the use of medication in psychiatry.
- to further knowledge and understanding of the drugs used in psychiatry as a basis for patient centred decision making. A problem solving approach to therapeutic dilemas will be encouraged in order to appreciate the role of drugs in the treatment of individual patients and to engender a critical analysis of the different therapies available.
- to provide a foundation year to a 1-year Postgraduate Diploma Course in Psychiatric Pharmacy which it is planned to submit for approval during the academic year 1998/9. The Diploma Programme will promote best practice in Psychiatric Pharmacy.
Objectives:
By participating in this course, pharmacists will advance their knowledge and expertise in the area of mental health and psychiatric disorders with particular emphasis on current and developing drug therapy .This will enable them to make a maximal contribution to the safe, efficacious and economical use of medicines in this context.
Entry requirements:-
An applicant for the Certificate Programme must provide evidence of having:-
- either a first degree from a British University or a qualification deemed by the appropriate School Board of Aston University to be at least of equivalent standing
together with
b) a professional qualification which allows the applicant to practice as a pharmacist
and
c) evidence of access to patients with psychiatric illnesses, for example either by employment in a hospital possessing psychiatric beds or by community involvement with a residential, group or nursing home.
The Postgraduate Certificate will consist of six modules covering the following topics :-
- An introduction to psychiatry
- Underlying principles: Psychopharmacology, pharmacokinetics and the molecular basis for psychiatric drug action
- The affective disorders
- Psychotic illness
- Anxiety and insomnia
- Psychiatric disorders associated with brain degeneration
Each module has been written by expert practitioners in the field and academic staff of the University. A variety of support material will also be available.
The Modules will be assessed individually by:-
- formative, problem-based exercises, with answers for self assessment, included in the text of each module.
- tutor marked assignments and multi-choice questionnaires.
These will provide a structured foundation to clinical practice in psychiatric pharmacy.
The Postgraduate Certificate Study programme will be part-time and delivered by Distance Learning:-
- Each of the six Modules are designed to take a total of 100 hours. This will involve approximately 60 hours of study and directed learning with the rest made up of application to professional practice and independent reading.
- Two Modules will be delivered during each University term.
- Each Module will be worth ten credits
- Sixty credits and a pass at the final "open-book" examination at the end of the year, will lead to award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy
With the exception of the examination there are no attendance requirements for this programme of study. Student support from a member of the course team will be available on a regular basis via a telephone help-line.
It is expected that the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy will lead to a one year practice based Postgraduate Diploma Study Programme offered from this University late in 1999 for those successful students who want to progress further.
The Postgraduate Diploma Programme will aim to promote best practice in Psychiatric Pharmacy by:-
- integrating and building on the pharmaceutical, therapeutic and clinical knowledge gained in the Certificate Programme in a patient oriented approach to the practice of Pharmacy within a the Psychiatric specialty.
- engendering a problem solving approach to the therapeutic dilemmas of the individual patient.
- improving the communication skills of the Psychiatric Pharmacist in order for them to become a more effective member of the multi-disciplinary team .
Following on from the Diploma it is likely that successful students will be able to progress to a research-based one year Masters Programme offered by another university.
Fees:
The fees for the Postgraduate Certificate Programme will be £1000 per year.
A limited number of bursaries of £250 each will be awarded on merit to paid-up members of the UKPPG on application to the Committee through the treasurer.
Bursary application forms are available from the course office and an award will be made after due consideration by the UKPPG Committee of the case put forward by the individual student and the submission of evidence of payment of course fees to Aston University.
Enrolment
The Certificate Study Programme was widely advertised in July 1999 for the second intake. Enrolment is timed to take place during the following four months with the first Module due to be sent out in January 2000.
If you would like to speak to the Course Tutor, Celia Feetam, or another member of the Course Team you may telephone on 0121-359-3611 extension 4751 or 4748. If no one is available to speak to you please leave your name and number and we will call you back as soon as possible.
Application forms for the Course may be obtained from:-
The Course Office, Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Pharmacy, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
The Course programme e-mail address is c.l.feetam@aston.ac.uk
Aston University home page may also be accessed on http://www.aston.ac.uk
This exciting new course has the full endorsement and commitment of all the members of the present United Kingdom Psychiatric Pharmacy Group Committee who have helped to develop it and will continue to support it financially by awarding bursaries to assist selected students with their fees.
