Pharmacy Degree (2nd Edition)

• Admission profile

  For students from Baccalaureate or equivalent, having completed the Science and Technology option of Royal Decree 243/2022, of April 5, which establishes the organization and minimum teachings of the Baccalaureate. For students from other educational systems and other degrees, it is recommended to have knowledge and skills similar to those required in high school in the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Biology.

• Minimum number of ECTS enrollment credits per student and school period

  For students from Baccalaureate or equivalent, having completed the Science and Technology option of Royal Decree 243/2022, of April 5, which establishes the organization and minimum teachings of the Baccalaureate. For students from other educational systems and other degrees, it is recommended to have knowledge and skills similar to those required in high school in the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Biology.

• Tutorial action and reception

  Every year, at the beginning of the course, the USC holds welcome days organised by the vice-chancellor's office with responsibility for student affairs, which take place in the first fortnight of the course in all university centres, and which aim to introduce the new students the possibilities, resources and services that the University offers.
  At a particular level, the Faculty of Pharmacy keeps all the groups involved informed through its website.
  https://www.usc.gal/en/center/faculty-pharmacy

• Title suspension rules

  When a degree suspension occurs, the USC guarantees the adequate development of teachings that were initiated by their students until its suspension. For that, the Government Council approves the criteria related with the admission of new degree entry registration and the gradual suspension of teaching impartation, among others.
  If the suspended degree is substituted for a similar one —modifying the nature of the degree—, the new degree regulations will set the conditions to facilitate students the continuity of the new degree’s studies. These regulations will also set subject equivalences in both programs.

• Access and admission rules

  The entrance tests to the three Galician universities (Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University (ABAU) and for people over 25 and 45 years old) are organized by the Interuniversity Commission of Galicia (CIUG). To apply for a place, students must meet one of the following access requirements established in article 3 of RD 412/2014:
  • Have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass the university entrance test.
  • Meet the requirements for access to university in the educational systems of Member States of the European Union or other States with which Spain has signed international agreements on this matter.
  • Have passed the university entrance test for those over 25 years of age, for those over 40 years of age with work or professional experience or the test for those over 45 years of age.
  • Possess a degree in higher vocational training, teaching of plastic arts and design or higher sports technician, or equivalent qualifications.
  • Have an official university degree, master's degree or a title corresponding to the previous organization of university education (university diploma, technical architect, technical engineer, graduate, architect, engineer) or equivalent titles.
  • Have completed partial foreign or Spanish university studies, or who, upon completing foreign university studies, have not obtained their homologation in Spain and wish to continue studies at a Spanish university. In this case, it will be an essential requirement that the corresponding university recognize at least 30 ECTS credits.
  • Be able to access the university according to educational regulations prior to Organic Law 8/2013, not included in the previous sections.

  In general, there are the following access routes to the University:
  - University access test (ABAU) Once you have finished high school, in order to access a university degree, you must pass the Baccalaureate Evaluation for access to the University.
  https://ciug.gal/gal/abau
  - Access from Vocational Training If you have an official title of higher vocational training technician, higher plastic arts and design technician or higher sports technician, or titles, diplomas or studies declared equivalent or approved in the Spanish educational system, you can access to study a degree at the university. Applications will be ordered according
  to the average grade of the higher technical degree completed out of a maximum of 10. If you wish to improve your admission grade for degree studies, you can take the voluntary part of the ABAU test.
  https://www.usc.es/export9/sites/webinstitucional/gl/servizos/oiu/desca…
  - Access test for people over 25 years of age This test can be taken by people who are over 25 years of age in the year in which the test is held and who do not have any academic qualifications that give access to the university through another means.
  - People over 45 years of age Those over 45 years of age can study official degree qualifications after passing an adapted entrance test.
  - Access over 40 through validation of work experience.
  - Access over 40 through validation of work experience.
  Access for those over 40 years of age to the Degree in Pharmacy through validation of professional experience has been designed taking into account the suitable professional profiles and the personal interview.
  The level of professional qualification required of the applicant will be that corresponding to the professional qualifications of the professional families and levels of the National Catalogue of Professional Qualifications (CNCP), prepared by the National Institute of Qualifications (INCUAL).
  On the part of the University, the following list of professional families and levels with access to the Degree in Pharmacy has been established:
  List of professional families and levels with access to the degree
  Health: Levels 2 and 3

The objective of the degree in Pharmacy is to train experts on medicine and its impact on health, with the responsibility as a health professional being of activities aimed at the production, conservation and dispensing of medicine, as well as the collaboration in the analytical, pharmacotherapeutic and public health surveillance processes.
General objectives:
1. Train experts in every aspect related to drugs and medicine, in accordance with the approved European Directive referring to the Pharmacy Degree, including the activities of clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care.
2. Provide the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the multiple modalities of the professional activity.
3. Appropriately balance, according to the indications by the WHO (1993, 2000) the contents referring to: basic sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, bio-medical and clinical sciences, socio-economic sciences, experimentation, communication techniques and internships.
4. Establish the bases for the subsequent access to pharmaceutical specialisation, scientific research, technological development and teaching activities.
5. Encourage autonomous learning, inspire individual and team studying and reduce the passive forms of teaching with the purpose of motivating the student for continuous learning.
6. Train professionals able to integrate in the chemical-pharmaceutic industry.
7. Encourage the students' ability to create experimental designs on the basis of the scientific method and the interpretation of scientific projects within the field of health sciences.
8. Train professionals able to integrate in the health care system and to contribute to its optimisation.
9. Enable students to work in teams with other professionals within the different areas of healthcare activity.
10. Promote the critical analysis in the assessment of problems, making decisions and leadership spirit; and train professionals in the culture of total quality with management and direction skills.

• Competencies

  Comp 01. - Analysis and synthesis abilities.
  Comp 02. - Organisation and planning abilities.
  Comp 03. - Oral and written communication in the native language.
  Comp 04. - Knowledge on a second language.
  Comp 05. - Basic skills on computer use.
  Comp 06. - Information management skills (ability to look for and analyse information from different sources).
  Comp 07. - Problem solving.
  Comp 08. - Decision making.
  Comp 10. - Critical and auto-critical ability.
  Comp 11. - Teamwork.
  Comp 12. - Interpersonal skills.
  Comp 13. - Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team.
  Comp 14. - Ability to communicate with experts from other areas.
  Comp 15. - Appraising of diversity and multiculturality.
  Comp 16. - Ability to work on an international context.
  Comp 17. - Moral commitment.
  Comp 18. - Ability to apply theoretical to knowledge to practical activity.
  Comp 19. - Research skills.
  Comp 20. - Learning skills.
  Comp 21. - Ability to adapt to new situations.
  Comp 22. - Ability to generate new ideas (creativity).
  Comp 23. - Leadership.
  Comp 24. - Knowledge on the culture and traditions from other countries.
  Comp 25. - Ability to work autonomously.
  Comp 26. - Project design and management.
  Comp 27. - Initiative and entrepreneurial spirit.
  Comp 28. - Attention to quality.
  Comp 29. - Achievement motivation.
  Comp 30. - Presentation and defence before the university tribunal of a final dissertation, consisting of an integration exercise of the training content received and the acquired skills.

• Abilities and skills

  A/S1 - Intervene in health promotion and disease prevention activities at the individual, family and community level, with a comprehensive and multiprofessional vision of the health-disease process.
  A/S2 - Design, apply and evaluate reagents, methods and clinical analytical techniques, knowing the basic foundations of clinical analyses and the characteristics and contents of laboratory diagnostic reports.
  A/S3 - Evaluate the toxicological effects of substances and design and apply the corresponding tests and analyses.
  A/S4 - Develop hygienic-sanitary analyses, especially those related to food and the environment.
  A/S5 - Develop communication and information skills, both oral and written, to deal with patients and users of the centre where you carry out your professional activity.
  A/S6 - Promote work and collaboration skills in multidisciplinary teams and related to other health professionals.
  A/S7 - Select the appropriate techniques and procedures in the design, application and evaluation of reagents, methods and analytical techniques.
  A/S8 - Carry out standard laboratory processes including the use of scientific synthesis and analysis equipment, including appropriate instrumentation.
  A/S9 - Estimate the risks associated with the use of chemical substances and laboratory processes.
  A/S10 - Design experiments based on statistical criteria.
  A/S11 - Evaluate scientific data related to medicines and health products. Use statistical analysis applied to pharmaceutical sciences.
  A/S12 - Develop skills related to the use of the beneficial effects of medicinal plants and understand the health risks associated with their misuse.
  A/S13 - Estimate the biological risks associated with the use of substances and laboratory processes involved.
  A/S14 - Understand the relationship between the life cycle of infectious agents and the properties of active ingredients.
  A/S15 - Develop skills to identify therapeutic targets and biotechnological drug production, as well as the use of gene therapy.
  A/S16 - Design, optimize and prepare pharmaceutical forms, guaranteeing their quality, including the formulation and quality control of medications, the development of master formulas and official preparations.
  A/S17 - Apply quality control of healthcare, dermo-pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and packaging materials.
  A/S18 - Develop hygienic-sanitary analyses (biochemical, bromatological, microbiological, parasitological) related to health in general and to food and the environment in particular.
  A/S19 - Promote the rational use of medicines and health products.
  A/S20 - Acquire the necessary skills to be able to provide therapeutic advice in pharmacotherapy and diet therapy, as well as nutritional and dietary advice to users of the establishments in which they provide services.
  A/S21 - Evaluate the toxicological effects of substances and design and apply the corresponding tests and analyses.
  A/S22 - Organise and manage the operation of a pharmacy office.
  A/S23 - Manage medications.
  A/S24 - Conservation, custody, dispensing and rational distribution of medicines and other pharmaceutical products.
  A/S25 - Prepare master formulas and officinal preparations.
  A/S26 - Provide pharmaceutical care to patients.
  A/S27 - Carry out pharmacovigilance.
  A/S28 - Carry out billing for a Pharmacy Office, if applicable.
  A/S29 - Know how to correctly use sources of scientific information, including those in English.
  A/S30 - Be able to analyse and synthesize basic information in both Spanish and English and summarise it correctly and intelligibly.
  A/S31 - Be able to structure, develop and summarize a work on a specific aspect of the profession.
  A/S32 - Be able to present orally in a clear and concise manner a report on a general or specific aspect of the profession and defend it publicly.

• Knowledge

  K 01 - Identify, design, obtain, analyse, control and produce drugs and medicines, as well as other products and raw materials of health interest for human or veterinary use.
  K 02 - Evaluate the therapeutic and toxic effects of substances with pharmacological activity.
  K 03 - Know how to apply the scientific method and acquire skills in the management of legislation, sources of information, bibliography, development of protocols and other aspects that are considered necessary for the design and critical evaluation of preclinical and clinical trials.
  K 04 - Design, prepare, supply and dispense medicines and other products of health interest.
  K 05 - Provide therapeutic advice in pharmacotherapy and diet therapy, as well as in the nutritional and food field in the establishments in which they provide services.
  K 06 - Promote the rational use of medicines and health products, as well as acquire basic knowledge in clinical management, health economics and efficient use of health resources.
  K 07 - Identify, evaluate and assess problems related to drugs and medications, as well as participate in pharmacovigilance activities.
  K 08 - Carry out clinical and social pharmacy activities, following the pharmaceutical care cycle.
  K 09 - Know the ethical and deontological principles according to the legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions that govern professional practice, understanding the ethical implications of health in a changing social context.
  K 10 - Recognize one's own limitations and the need to maintain and update professional competence, paying special importance to self-learning of new knowledge based on available scientific evidence.
  K 11. - Identify, design, obtain, analyse and produce active ingredients, drugs and other products and materials of health interest.
  K 12 - Know the physical-chemical characteristics of the substances used to manufacture medicines.
  K 13. - Know and understand the characteristics of reactions in solution, the different states of matter and the principles of thermodynamics and their application to pharmaceutical sciences.
  K 14. - Know and understand the characteristic properties of elements and their compounds, as well as their application in the pharmaceutical field.
  K 15. - Know and understand the nature and behaviour of functional groups in organic molecules.
  K 16. - Know the origin, nature, design, obtaining, analysis and control of medicines and health products.
  K 17. - Know the principles and procedures for the analytical determination of compounds: analytical techniques applied to the analysis of water, food and the environment.
  K 18. - Know and apply the main structural research techniques including spectroscopy.
  K 19 - Apply knowledge of Physics and Mathematics to pharmaceutical sciences.
  K 20. - Apply computational and data processing techniques, in relation to information regarding physical, chemical and biological data.
  K 21. - Know the structures of biomolecules and their transformations in the cell.
  K 22. - Know and understand the microbiological control of medications.
  K 23. - Know the properties of cell membranes and the distribution of drugs.
  K 24. - Know the nature and behaviour of infectious agents.
  K 25. - Know the main metabolic routes involved in the degradation of drugs.
  K 26. -Know medicinal plants: botanical diversity, physiology, use and management.
  K 27. - Know the processes of release, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs, and factors that condition absorption and disposition depending on their routes of administration.
  K 28. - Program and correct the dosage of medications based on their pharmacokinetic parameters.
  K 29. - Know the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of the active ingredients and excipients as well as the possible interactions between the two.
  K 30. - Know the stability of the active ingredients and pharmaceutical forms as well as the study methods.
  K 31. - Know the basic operations and technological processes related to the preparation and control of medications.
  K 32. - Determination of bioavailability, evaluation of bioequivalence and factors that condition them.
  K 33. - Use medications safely, taking into account their physical and chemical properties, including any risk associated with their use.
  K 34. - Know and understand the basic foundations of clinical analyses and the characteristics and contents of laboratory diagnostic opinions.
  K 35. - Evaluate the effects of substances with pharmacological activity.
  K 36. - Know and understand the techniques used in the design and evaluation of preclinical and clinical trials.
  K 37. - Carry out clinical and social pharmacy activities, following the pharmaceutical care cycle.
  K 38. - Understand the relationship between food and health, and the importance of diet in the treatment and prevention of diseases.
  K 39. - Know and understand the management and characteristics of pharmaceutical care in Primary Care and Specialized Care Structures in the Health System.
  K 40. - Know and understand the structure and function of the human body, as well as the general mechanisms of the disease, molecular, structural and functional alterations, syndromic expression and therapeutic tools to restore health.
  K 41. - Know the nature, mechanism of action and effect of toxins, as well as the resources in case of poisoning.
  K 42. - Know the analytical techniques related to laboratory diagnosis, toxins, food and the environment.
  K 43. - Know and understand the management and characteristics of pharmaceutical care in the office environment and in the pharmaceutical industry.
  K 44. - Know the fundamentals of public health and intervene in health promotion activities, disease prevention at the individual and collective levels and contribute to health education, recognising the determinants of health in the population, both genetic as well as those dependent on sex and lifestyle, demographic, environmental, social, economic, psychological and cultural factors.
  K 45. - Know, understand and apply the legal, social and economic conditions related to the healthcare field and in particular to medicine.
  K 46. - Master information retrieval techniques related to primary and secondary sources of information (including databases with the use of a computer).
  K 47. - Know the ethical and deontological principles and act in accordance with the legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions that govern professional practice, collaborating with other health professionals and acquiring teamwork skills.
  K 48. - Know and apply management techniques in all aspects of pharmaceutical activities.
  K 49. - Know the principles and scientific methodology applied to pharmaceutical sciences, including the history and social function of Pharmacy.
  K 50. - Basic knowledge of the National Health System, health legislation in general and specifically that related to medicines, health products and pharmaceutical care.
  K 51. - Know oral and written communication techniques, acquiring skills that allow users of pharmaceutical establishments to be informed in intelligible terms appropriate to the various cultural levels and social environments.
  K 52. - Know the operation and management of a hospital or primary care pharmacy service, including the personnel assigned to them.

Mobility

Student mobility is regulated through the “Regulation of inter-university exchange.” Exchange programmes are managed through the International Relations Office, such as national exchange programmes (SICUE) as well as Europeans (ERASMUS) and from outside the European Union (exchanges with Latin American countries or English-speaking countries):
https://www.usc.gal/en/services/area/international

Internships

1. Mandatory supervised internships
The requirements that the student must meet to take the subject are to have passed 243 ECTS of which at least 237 must correspond to basic and mandatory training subjects, established by the Joint Commission of Colleges of Pharmacists of Galicia - Faculty of Pharmacy/University from Santiago de Compostela. In the Teaching Guide for Tutored Practices, a mandatory core subject of 24 ECTS, a series of items are incorporated to evaluate the skills acquired by the student. All students must carry out these Internship and can do so in two different shifts in each academic year (September-February and February-July). Before the start of the Tutored Internships, students must attend conference sessions on professional opportunities for two days.
2. Optional curricular external internships
These practices can be carried out in health centres, hospital services and pharmaceutical inspection (agreement signed between the Department of Health-SERGAS and the University of Santiago), pharmaceutical distribution (agreements signed
with each entity/company), pharmaceutical industry (agreements signed with each company) and in USC Research Groups authorized by Chancellor Resolution.

• Graduates profile

  Community Pharmacy, health profession, teaching, research and pharmaceutical industry.

• Professional outlets

  The most well-known and majority activity of the graduates is that carried out in the Community Pharmacy, but the degree offers many more career opportunities.
  The pharmaceutical profession is exclusively qualified in relation to other professionals to practice the health profession, which can be carried out by the graduate either on his/her own or as an employee, in those situations required by Law 44/2003, of November 21, of Organization of Health Professions. Among the activities are the technical management of drug distribution warehouses, the Public Administration Service Corps or compounding-pharmacotechnics.
  On the other hand, Graduates in Pharmacy will be assigned professional activities that they can develop in free competition with other health professionals aimed at the production of medicines, collaboration in analytical processes, healthcare, researcher, teaching, clinical, information and health education or prevention management functions.

In the final dissertation, students must prove the acquisition of skills associated with the degree. The Final Dissertations must be tutored by a professor from an area that teaches in the Pharmacy Degree. To request the assignment of Tutors it will be necessary to be in the 4th or 5th year.
The work will be carried out autonomously by the student and will culminate with the completion of a written report and a public presentation and defence of it. To defend the Final Degree Project the student will have to: 1) have passed all the subjects of the study plan; 2) have presented the printed and electronic edition of the Work and 3) have the report of the Tutor assigned for the Work. In order not to delay the graduation of students who meet the requirements, the Faculty will offer Final Dissertations to be completed in both semesters.