Doctor of Pharmacy

Purpose

The qualificationis intended to provide the country with qualifying learners who have specialised holistic scholarship and well-developed research and practical skills in a specialised field and can therefore serve the community in a variety of important ways, in both the public and private sectors. Qualifying Learners will master skills in all aspects of the research method including the identification of a problem, literature review, project planning, data collection and analysis, report writing and oral presentation of results. The learner will engage with a specialisation within a particular field of pharmacy through an original contribution that advances the frontiers of knowledge. In so doing, qualifying learners will lead research and will be able to engage with a variety of audiences to advance the speciality and contribute to advances in society.

Rationale

The qualification is well aligned to the national priority of providing improved levels of health and well-being specifically through Postgraduate academic and research related qualifications aimed at providing professionals trained at advanced levels of health services provision. Typical learners who enrol in this qualification are already qualified Pharmacists holding a cognate Master's qualification and are seeking further specialisation in the fields of Pharmaceutics or Pharmacology. Earners graduating in Pharmaceutics will have specialised in the formulation of drugs for optimal delivery and those in Pharmacology will have specialised in studying the physiological and biochemical effects of drugs.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to access the qualification where the admission requirements do not relate directly to the disciplinary area, but where a multi-disciplinary approach can be applied. Appropriate assessment tasks and tools are designed to assess individual learners against the admission requirements on a case-by-case basis, with detailed records maintained. The Institution has trained RPL in various disciplinary fields to facilitate this process.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Master's Degree in Pharmacy, NQF Level 9.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory module at NQF Level 10 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 10, 360 Credits

• Thesis (Pharmacy), 360 Credits

1. Plan, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of research with scholarly integrity.
2. Make a contribution through original research in a Pharmacy discipline that extends the frontier of knowledge by developing a substantial body of work which merits national or international refereed publication.
3. Conduct critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas applicable to Pharmacy.
4. Communicate with their peers, the larger scholarly community and with society in general, about their areas of expertise.
5. Promote, within academic and professional contexts, technological, social or cultural advancement in a knowledge-based society.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Research question or hypothesis is relevant and structured in alignment with the research conducted.
• Literature review contains appropriate depth, is relevant and contemporary, and is contextualised to support the research.
• Research design and methodology used is appropriate to answer the research question.
• Sample size and methods for research, where applicable is appropriate.
• Research design, methodology and the critique and reflection thereof is sufficient to provide an accurate analysis, interpretation, and substantiation of results.
• Ethical considerations have been applied to all aspects of the research, interpretation and the writing of the report, including plagiarism.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• A high level of research capability making a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of the discipline and field of Pharmacy.
• Research is relevant to the field of Pharmacy.
• The learner's work is of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication.
• Learner is able to supervise and evaluate the research of others in the area of Pharmacy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Applies a broad and specialised knowledge of the field of Pharmacy and associated areas to address complex practical and theoretic problems in creative and innovative ways.
• Critique of new knowledge and emerging trends within the discipline of Pharmacy is relevant.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Discuss ideas and interests in an articulated manner, using appropriate discourse to a variety of audiences.
• Present results and findings to the larger scholarly community in oral or written formats.
• Participate in debates and arguments within the Pharmacy sector for the advancement of the discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Argue concepts and ideas logically, based on evidence and factual information in Pharmacy, to contribute towards the social well-being of the community and nation at large.
• Play a national and international advocacy role in sustainable development of the Pharmacy Health Science sector.

Integrated Assessment

Learning and assessment are integrated throughout this qualification due to the outcomes being a research thesis. The thesis is assessed in accordance with the exit level outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement includes integrated assessment, which assesses the learners' ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the exit-level outcomes of the qualification. Evaluation of learner performance to demonstrate applied competence: and criterion-referenced assessment, which is clearly explained to and understood by the learners and that, can be applied in the Recognition of Prior Learning.