Bachelor of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine Curriculum

Bachelor of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine of the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) is the first full-time undergraduate pharmacy programme benefited fromthe faculty and technical equipment of the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines (MUST) who provides the high quality teaching and learning conditions. This curriculum is designed to focus on knowledge in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) learning and skills training, to integrate the latest technologies and methods in modern medicine research and manufacturing, and to follow the requirements of Macao’s development in the pharmaceutical industry and medical technology.It will provide innovative talents with composite knowledge and technologies for Macao and China. Graduated students have broad employment prospects, such as TCM research and production, quality management and application of TCM, TCM international trade and marketing, etc. This programme also encompasses international pharmacy training,which will be a solid foundation for further education and career development after graduation.

The aim of the programme is to equip students with the knowledge in 1) basic knowledge of TCM, Chinese Materia Medica, basic knowledge of biomedicine, and basic knowledge of chemistry etc.; 2) Botanical Chinese medicines, Chinese medicines resource, Phytochemistry, and other professional knowledge; 3) Pharmaceutics in Chinese Materia Medica, Authentication of Chinese Materia Medica, Herbal Pharmacology, Unique Processing Methods of Chinese Medicines, Chinese medicine quality analysis, new drug development, bio-pharmaceutics and other professional knowledge related with TCM; 4) Pharmacy Administration, Chinese medicines commodity science and other international trade knowledge.

The programme focuses on research, production and commerce and other skills training, including: 1) the authenticity of identification and characterization of Chinese herbal medicines; 2) TCM quality analysis and quality control; 3) extraction and formulation of the active ingredient from TCM; 4) herbal resources exploitation and quality control; 5) TCM commerce and international trading expansion.

Through four-year study, graduates will have:

(1) Compacted theoretical knowledge and expertise in TCM;

(2) Ability to use learned theory and skills combining with modern scientific methods and techniques in quality control and identification of Chinese herbal medicines and their products to protect the clinical safety of TCM and to ensure the high quality of production;

(3) Ability to expand their business and self-employment in herbal resources, identification, TCM processing, TCM production, drug development from TCM, quality control and evaluation of TCM, Chinese medicines trade;

(4) Ability to engage in teaching and research work in the field of Chinese medicines, and have a solid foundation for further education and pursue higher degrees;

(5) Ability for TCM quality monitoring and management in government departments and manufactories;

(6) International perspective and ability to promote Chinese medicines’ disciplines as well as TCM production’s international development.

  Syllabus

Academic field: Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine.

The main courses include: general education courses, basic courses in Chinese medicine foundation, biomedical basic courses, Chinese medicines professional courses, internships and special research topic. The total credit is 150, including 105 credits for compulsory courses, 18 credits for elective courses, 12 credits for internships, and 15 credits for research project. Passing the courses and the thesis defense, students will be granted with Bachelor of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine. The learning period is generally four years.

The nine weeks’ internship will be in the summer of the third academic year, mainly for onsite training in authentication, identification, quality analysis, and quality control of Chinese medicines. Specific research project will be conducted in the second semester of the fourth academic year. Each student will be under the guidance of instructors to finish a research project with selection in the topic of authentication, identification, processing, quality analysis, quality control, pharmacology and toxicology of Chinese medicines as well as related biotechnology, and new drug development at State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicines (MUST) in order to develop their research capabilities.

Courses

The first academic year:

The second academic year:

The third academic year:

The fourth academic year:

Notes:

(1) Students need to obtain 8 credits from elective courses marked “*” within the study period.

(2) According to the rules of the University, students need to take compulsory courses in general education and obtain 33 credits.

(3) In addition, students need to take elective courses in general education, and obtain 10 credits including 4 credits from Science and Technology category, 2-4 credits from Social Sciences category, and 2-4 credits from Humanities and arts category.

(4) In compliance with the Government Statement, “Bachelor of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine does not meet the required qualifications for pharmacists in the existing Act Section 58 / 901M No. issued on 19 September, thus those who complete this programme do not qualify for a registered pharmacist in Macao; in addition, they do not meet the professional requirement to work as pharmacists in public sector, senior health technicians or medical technicians; however, according to the existing regulations, those who have Bachelor’s Degree of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine can attend the test for the senior technician positions in public sector.”

Graduation Requirements

Upon approval from the Senate of the University, a Bachelor’s Degree will be conferred on a student when he or she has:

1. completed and met the requirements prescribed in the study plan of his or her program within the specific period;*

2. abided by the regulations of the University;

3. cleared all fees and charges and returned all University property and equipment borrowed.

* Students admitted from the academic year 2017/2018 onwards are required to achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above in order to graduate.

(Curriculum is finalized based on the Macao SAR Official Gazette)