Objectives
The Honours course aims to provide experience and training in
research in pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical science or pharmacology.
This overall objective is served by the following goals:
- to extend knowledge
and understanding in specific topics of interest in pharmacy
and related sciences,
- to improve skills
in critically reading the literature and communicating effectively
in science,
- to learn particular
research methods and techniques,
- to develop the
ability to plan and carry out a research project, and to prepare
a thesis on the results.
Honours students
specialise in a particular field of study and at the same time
are exposed to the great range of opportunities for undertaking
higher degrees and following careers in pharmacy practice or the
drug sciences. Choice of a particular Honours research topic does not mean a student undertaking further RHD studies is required to continue in the same project area.
Admission
The Honours course is essentially self-directed and requires considerable
commitment from candidates, especially to achieve First Class
Honours. Honours students are expected to have a credit grade
point average or higher. Initiative, motivation, time management and perseverance
are important attributes for success in Honours, and evidence
of these qualitites would be a great assistance to selection.
Places are limited.
Prospective students
should discuss their interests with academic
staff in Pharmacy in order to decide whether to enrol and
to identify an appropriate field of research for the Honours project.
The total number
of students who can be accommodated in this program is limited
by the availability of supervisory staff and laboratory and clinical
facilities. Although the Tasmanian School of Pharmacy has a relatively
wide range of research
activities, it does not cover all aspects of pharmacy research and it is
necessary to ensure that the appropriate resources and supervisor
are available to suit each prospective Honours student. Students
may be allocated research projects that are in line with School
research priorities. See also: OH&S and Lab Safety Guidelines
Research
project and thesis
Research is the acquisition of new knowledge and involves a literature
review and research planning, the collection
of data, statistical analysis and producing a written thesis describing the work undertaken by Honours.
The thesis is the
major outcome of Honours, and is the major determinant of the
grade awarded. The thesis is judged on content and presentation.
The thesis is the formal report on what has been achieved with
the research project. It includes a review of methods used, presentation
of the results obtained, analysis of the results and discussion
of the findings in relation to other published studies. A good
thesis is clearly and concisely written, shows a good critical
knowledge of the literature, demonstrates well-planned and executed
data acquisition, gives a thorough and effective analysis of the
findings and draws appropriate conclusions with reference to the
literature. The level of difficulty of the project and the independence
shown by the student are taken into account when grading the thesis
(as for seminar presentations). An Honours project may also result in a journal publication if the work is of a high standard and the result has a significant scientific impact.
Work on the thesis
should commence at the completion of the literature review and research plan. The content and style should
be discussed and planned with the supervisor, who will read and
correct drafts (generally two which may be in parts).
The marks awarded
for the thesis will depend on the quality of the approach taken
to planning and carrying out the project, the depth of analysis
and discussion, and clarity of presentation. Progress with the
project can be delayed through technical or other difficulties,
and the time available is relatively brief for successfully finishing
a research project. It is therefore not necessary to complete
all planned work or to bring the study to a publishable conclusion,
although this would be a welcome bonus. Honours is primarily an
educational experience in research training and is assessed on this basis. The thesis
is assessed by two examiners and the supervisor, who is also required
to state the extent to which the student was able to work independent
of assistance (see assessment below). Students must attend an Honours library skills workshop in semester 2, year 3, which gives an overview of electronic databases and EndNote reference management system. It is expected that EndNote will be used for all submitted work.
Preparation
and submission of thesis
Two soft-bound copies and an electronic
copy on CD-Rom must be submitted. Students are expected to make
corrections after examination and before hard binding the final
versions. Remember the structure of the thesis should
be (see Honours Guidelines
for further details):
Structure of thesis:
- Title page
- Declaration (that the work is yours, except
where otherwise acknowledged)
- Contents
- Abstract (min 2 pages)
- Author's contribution statement (see
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction (literature review and research
proposal)
- Methods
- Results (experimental data and explanatory
text)
- Discussion (interpretation of results and review
in relation to the literature)
- References
- Appendices (large data sets, which are summarised
in Results). This section does not need to be page numbered. See thesis preparation
Ethics and responsibilities
There are ethical issues in conducting both human and animal research,
and these are formally addressed in seeking the required approval
from the relevant University Ethics Committees. There are also
ethical issues in recording and reporting research findings, for
example avoidance of plagiarism. These issues and the responsibilities
of supervisors and students are detailed in the University's Research
Higher Degrees Handbook, with which all research students and
supervisors should be familiar. There will be a workshop on these
issues in third year, see Honours schedule. See: University Ethics.
Coordination
of the Honours Integrated Program
The Research Committee of the School of Pharmacy has oversight
of the Honours Program, and the Chair acts as Coordinator of the Honours
program. The Research Committee (1) approves new Honours enrolments
at the end of second year; (2) approves provisional projects and
supervisory arrangements early in third year; (3) appoints examiners.
The Coordinator will hold regular meetings with Honours students
during third and fourth year, to provide a mechanism for feedback
from students on the Honours program and to provide another means
of monitoring progress.
Assessment
Each student
is assigned two examiners, who independently grade the thesis.
The average marks are used, but if there are significant differences
then a third examiner may be appointed or advice from the Head
of School may be sought. The supervisor is required to declare
the extent of assistance given to the student in planning and
carrying out the work, following the literature, analysing data
and correcting drafts of the thesis.
Seminar 1 ( research plan) and Seminar 2 (final seminar) are marked
by attending staff and a consensus agreed upon by the Research
Committee. A preliminary background seminar and progress seminar are delivered
but not assessed (see seminar preparation). You will also be required to present a background seminar (semester 1, year 3) and progress seminar (semester 1, year 4) which are not marked.
Satisfactory progress will be required in order
for a student to remain in the Honours program. In addition to
completing the assigned work on time, the candidate will be expected
to maintain an active interest in other research activities in
the School, as shown by attending all the Honours seminars and
other research presentations as required, including attendance at School Research Seminars, particularly all Honours presentations. The School Research Committee will undertake a review of progress at the completion of semester 2, year 3. Students who do not perform well in the units CSA301 and CSA302 and do not maintain a credit grade average in undergraduate BPharm units will be excluded from the Honours program. Credit will be awarded in the year 4 units CSA402 and CSA403 on successful completion of CSA301 and CSA302.
| CSA301
/ CSA302 |
Research plan |
20% |
| |
Seminar 2 (research plan) |
5% |
| |
|
|
| CSA404 / CSA405 |
Thesis |
65% |
| |
Seminar 4 (final) |
10% * |
| |
|
|
| |
* (comprises 50% seminar presentation, 50% discussions in question time) |
First Class Honours (>80%) requires a very good performance in all areas: initiative and creativity, research planning, conduct of the study, analysis of data, understanding of the issues, oral and written presentation of work, and ability to meet deadlines.
Second Class Honours is in two levels. Honours 2U (70-79%) requires a high quality performance in all the areas above without the same depth and/or freedom from errors. Honours 2L (60-69%) indicates a competent performance but with important problems in one aspect or another.
Third Class Honours (50-59%) indicates a satisfactory performance but without evidence of the independence and quality required for 2U. Marks under 50% are not awarded Honours.
Schedule
of events
A schedule of events is available. This is available to second
year students contemplating the integrated program at the information
seminar held in second semester. Please note it is a requirement in year 4 that Honours integrated students undertake their community and hospital placements in the first two blocks in semester 2.
Further information
Students who are interested in the Honours Integrated program
should discuss this with the Honours Coordinator or another member
of academic
staff. It would be advisable
to do this at an early stage in your undergraduate studies. Students
applying for admission to the Honours course must contact the
School before enrolling in the year preceding their Honours year. The Honours program is largely self directed. It is the responsibility of the student to meet with staff to discuss potential projects of interest.
An application
form (available at the Year 2 BPharm(Hons) Integrated Program
Information session) must be completed and returned to the School's
office before beginning Honours.
Detailed
Curriculum for the Integrated Honours Program
M4F
