Unit Outline

This unit will provide advance training to obtain separation science skills in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical science essential to successfully complete the required research project you will be conducting in Year 2 of the Master of Pharmaceutical Science program. The purpose of this unit is to introduce the advance laboratory skills that researchers are required to utilise on a regular basis.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Develop and validate different types of chromatographic assays
2	Test active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients present in various pharmaceutical formulations
3	Test physicochemical stability of extemporaneously prepared pharmaceuticals
4	Analyse and interpret experimental findings related to chromatography

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CSA741 AND CSA742
Co-requisite	CSA744

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No Alterations have been required. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2024, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Multiple choice question online quizzes	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Submission of practical report	Week 5	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Short answer question written online quiz	Week 9	25 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Practical Exam	Exam Period	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Multiple choice question online quizzes

Task Description:

You will be required to complete 4 online quizzes. Each quiz will have 10 multiple-choice questions. This activity will be conducted and supervised in Pharmacy Practice Room.

Due Date:
Quiz 1 - Week 4
Quiz 2 - Week 8
Quiz 3 and 4 - Week 13

Task Length:

20 - 30 minutes

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse physicochemical characteristics of pharmaceutical agents to assess their impact on chemical stability and physical incompatibilities.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Apply principles of analytical techniques to investigate stability of pharmaceutical agents.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Evaluate applications of different types of separation techniques.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Submission of practical report

Task Description:

Following laboratory-based practicals, you will complete a written assignment encompassing short- and long-answer questions related to;
a. extraction of active pharmaceutical agents from the solid dosage form
b. physicochemical compatibility of pharmaceutical agents, reasonings behind the observed compatibility or incompatibility, and clinical implications this may have.

Task Length:

Maximum 2000 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate and resolve complex pharmaceutical issues related to the stability of pharmaceutical dosage forms.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Evaluate the necessary steps for developing and validating chromatographic and biological assays and analyse their applications in resolving pharmaceutical or clinical problems.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Short answer question written online quiz

Task Description:

Online Written quiz
You will be required to complete 1 short answer written online quiz. The quiz will have between 10 and 15 questions. This activity will be conducted and supervised in Pharmacy Practice Room.

Task Length:

60 minutes

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe scientific approaches to investigate the chemical stability and physical incompatibility of extemporaneous preparations.	LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Identify critical methodological flows in an experimental design and formulate solutions to avoid identified issues.	LO2, LO3, LO4
3	Apply working principles of commonly used laboratory techniques to answer pharmaceutical science or clinical questions.	LO2, LO3, LO4
4	Interpret and analyse the provided data, to determine the concentration of active pharmaceutical agents.	LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 4: Practical Exam

Task Description:

You will be assessed based on your competency in 1) applying chromatographic knowledge for the separation of analytes with different chemical structures; 2) determining the concentration of certain types of pharmaceuticals using a pre-validated analytical system; and 3) submission of experimental findings related to their practical assessment task. The duration of this supervised practical assessment (end of semester examination) will be of 2 hours. The weighting of observation component will be of 50% and submission of experimental findings will be of 50%. The practical assessment task in CSA743 will be more advanced than CSA741/CSA742 practical assessment tasks.

Task Length:

2 Hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accurately perform dilution and pipetting techniques.	LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Calculate the concentration of pharmaceutical agents using a pre-validated analytical assay.	LO2, LO3, LO4
3	Accurately interpret and analyse experimental findings.	LO2, LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.