Diploma in Applied Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences)

Dosage Form Design

This module aims to introduce the various types of pharmaceutical dosage forms, the different routes of drug administration and drug delivery systems. The advantages and limitations of various modes of drug delivery will be discussed. Students will be able to relate to the physiological, physical and chemical factors that influence the choice of medication administration route and dosage form design.

Anatomy and Physiology

This module poses triggers that stimulate students to appreciate the order by which the human body is organised and helps them understand the holistic aspects of the human biological systems. It also gives students a fundamental understanding of how the various systems in the human body function together to maintain a balance.

Topics covered in the module include important levels of organisation for structure and function such as cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and the whole human body/organism; anatomical directions such as body sections, body regions and body cavities; systems that are involved in the distribution of food and oxygen namely the digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems; and the urinary systems to maintain and regulate body fluids.

Pharmaceutical Legislation

This module places an emphasis on the application of legislation in the pharmaceutical industry and allows students to appreciate the importance of medicines regulation. It provides an overview on the regulatory requirements for the distribution, sales and use of medicines in Singapore. Learning outcomes include understanding the application of the Medicines Act, the Poisons Act, the Misuse of Drugs Act, the Health Products Act and the Sale of Drugs Act.

Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing Project

Students on the Work-Study Programme (WSP) track will be involved in on-the-job training at their place of employment. A project on understanding the industry practices for the sales and marketing of the company’s products/services will be designed in consultation with the employer. Non-WSP track students will be assigned in-house projects in place of the OJT component.

Basis of Drug Action

This module covers the basic principles of drug action, which include drug-receptor interactions and dose-response relationships (pharmacodynamics); delivery, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs (pharmacokinetics). Biologic drug actions, genetic factors, genetic polymorphisms and inter-individual variations that may influence the effects of drugs (pharmacogenomics) will also be discussed. This is a concept-driven course that provides an understanding of the mechanisms by which chemical and biologic drugs act in the body.

Current Good Manufacturing and Laboratory Practices

This module aims to provide students with an appreciation of good manufacturing practices (GMP) as a set of guidelines for the regulation of pharmaceuticals, as well as their role in related industries. It also provides students with a holistic view of current issues in the laboratory setting with a special emphasis on biomedical practices and research ethics.

It encompasses the approaches taken in the development of manufacturing systems, quality assurance, quality control, validation and regulatory audits. Students will also learn about facility design and layout, including aspects of basic resource management, total quality management, good laboratory practices, good documentation practices (ISO standards), laboratory certifications (e.g. BSL, ASL, etc.) and Intellectual Property Rights.

Good Distribution Practices

This module introduces students to the regulatory guidance for good distribution practices of health products. Students will learn about the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders within the distribution chain as outlined in key guidelines, including the necessary standards to be upheld as health products transit from the manufacturer’s premises, eventually to the end user.

The module takes a closer look at the principles and objectives behind Good Distribution Practice guidelines of health products, thereby allowing students to gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of upholding high standards within the industry and the impact it has on the quality of health products utilised by consumers today.

Health Products Supply and Distribution Project

Students on the Work-Study Programme (WSP) track will be involved in on-the-job training at their place of employment. A project on understanding the industry practices for the supply and distribution of a health product will be designed in consultation with the employer. Non-WSP track students will be assigned in-house projects in place of the OJT component.

Health Products Logistics

This module aims to equip students with a basic understanding of operating and managing the pharmaceutical supply chain, and also the current issues and challenges that are faced by this industry. The area of coverage includes, but is not limited to, quality assurance, validation and logistics handling. 

Students will be able to gain an in-depth understanding on the application of regulatory guidelines and industrial best practices in safe storage, handling, transportation, disposal and cold chain management of pharmaceutical products without compromising product quality.

Pharmacotherapeutics

This module will cover basic pharmacotherapy of common ailments and conditions (e.g. cough and cold, nausea and vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea, etc.) encountered in primary healthcare settings. Students will acquire skills and knowledge on current concepts regarding appropriate over-the-counter (OTC) drug treatment, drug information search and interpretation, and information provision on therapeutics and general health products.

Students will develop patient assessment and related skills in the provision of patient care and education, and learn to apply pharmacotherapy knowledge in practical settings.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

This module introduces basic understanding of various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices, their integration, development, and roles in general health and disease management. Students will be exposed to appreciate the various theoretical concepts and possible risks associated with CAM practices. The four major domains of CAM practices, namely.

Dietary Supplements

This module covers foundational topics that are important for understanding the need and requirements of dietary supplements among different groups in the population. The differences between dietary supplements and nutrition, diet, nutraceuticals and functional food are explored.

The four main themes of the module are (i) requirements of dietary supplements, (ii) components and functions, (iii) deficiencies and overconsumption, and (iv) regulation, health claims and commercial aspects.

Non-sterile compounding

This module aims to provide hands-on sessions for students to integrate the scientific principles of pharmaceutics and a practical knowledge applied to the preparation and compounding of medicines for dispensing. Students are required to perform extemporaneous compounding of various solid, liquid and semi-solid dosage forms.

Students will also gain foundations and practice in pharmaceutical calculations and learn to interpret commonly used abbreviations and formulas not used in conventional mathematics modules.

Pharmacotherapeutics II

This module focuses on pharmacotherapy of common chronic diseases (e.g. asthma, diabetes, hypertension and psychiatric disorders etc.). The rationale use of therapeutic interventions and treatment plans to manage chronic disease progression will be explored. The module will also cover skills related to patient education so as to strengthen the chronic health management and continuity of care to improve patient outcomes.

Good Dispensing Practice

This module trains students to integrate drug knowledge, dispensing and clinical skills, and apply their knowledge through prescription assessment, making interventions and product recommendations, and specialised counselling for certain disease conditions.

Through hands-on sessions in the laboratory, they will learn how to appreciate the possible consequences of medication errors and the methods of preventing them, as well as how Good Dispensing Practice can be built into the workflow and processes within the pharmacy.

Pharmaceutical Formulation and Processing

This module covers basic principles involved in the formulation and processing of oral pharmaceutical products. Students are introduced to the roles and functions of excipients, and the application of physicochemical principles to the preparation of dosage forms will be covered.

Students will also learn concepts of raw materials and drug standards, and the importance of administration of safe, effective, stable and reliable drug delivery systems. Common downstream processes used for batch manufacturing of powders and tablets, such as milling, extraction, shear granulation, fluid bed drying, spray-drying, tabletting and coating, will also be discussed.

Aseptic Handling Techniques

This module equips students with scientific and hands-on skills required in aseptic compounding and quality testing of sterile products. The application of concepts of aseptic dispensing techniques and speciality compounding will be carried out in a clean room, and students will learn how to prepare total parenteral nutrition, intravenous (IV) admixtures, ophthalmic products and cytotoxic preparations.

Students will be introduced to fundamentals in microbiology, such as media preparation, microbiological testing and analysis; as well as the different types of quality control tests pertaining to IV/ophthalmic products.

Analytical Instrumentation

This module introduces students to different analytical techniques with a focus on the basic working principles of the instruments, applications and limitations of the techniques, as well as data analysis. In the module, students are exposed to physical and chemical tests used for drug characterisation.

Extraction and analytical techniques using chromatography, rheological studies, moisture analysis, thermal analysis and spectrometry are also introduced.