Undergraduate Specialization Series | Pharmacy Specialty

The COVID-19 pandemic, which invaded the world in 2020, restored medical and health care specialties to its proper place as one of the most important sciences to humans. Pharmacy graduates work at the heart of human health care and take on roles related to the design and development of new treatments, prescriptions and care management, and advice on the range of medical options available.

If you're thinking about working in healthcare and want to be an expert on medications and how to use them effectively, you might want to consider studying pharmacy. Please read our guide on pharmacy specialization, including an overview of courses, specialties, career paths available, and opportunities to study pharmacy in Turkey.

Pharmacy Specialty

Pharmacy is the science of drug preparation and distribution. In other words, the specialty of pharmacy is the study of medicines and chemicals and their impact on living organisms. The pharmacy specialty contributes to the development of these drugs. Pharmacy students study the characteristics of medication and their positive and negative effects, and their marketing and distribution chains.

The pharmacist is a licensed healthcare professional specializing in providing information about different medications and treatment methods for patients. The pharmacist has a good knowledge of all types of medicines, indications, and side effects.

Duration of studying pharmacy

It usually takes five years to complete a bachelor's degree in pharmacy, in most countries of the world in general and in Turkey in particular, to obtain a professional certificate that gives you specialized knowledge, technical skills and qualities needed to become a pharmacist.

Pharmacy courses

The structure of the courses for Bachelor's programs of pharmacy varies depending on the country and university in which you will study. In most universities, students study courses focusing on Chemistry, Human Biology, Physiology, Pharmacy (how to make medicines), and pharmacology (how drugs interact with the body). Most pharmacy programs combine academic research, vocational training, and professional pharmacy skills, such as identifying legal and ethical issues and interacting with patients.

You'll learn all about prescriptions, medications, and clinical practices and practice responding to different scenarios. Here are some courses in the Bachelor's programs of pharmacy:

1. Analytical Chemistry
2. Organic Chemistry
3. History and Terminology of Pharmaceuticals
4. Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences
5. Pharmaceutics
6. Pharmacology
7. Pharmaceutical Legislation
8. Pharmacy and Basic Medical Sciences
9. Pharmaceutical Chemistry
10. Pharmaceutical Technology
11. Clinical Biochemistry

Pharmacy departments

While studying pharmacy, you may have the opportunity to choose from more than one section, for example:

1. Pharmaceuticals
2. Biochemistry Department
3. Medical Chemistry Department Medicinal Chemistry
4. Organic Chemistry Department
5. Medical Plants and Drugs Department
6. Clinical pharmacology
7. Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry
8. Pharmaceutical Technology Department
9. Pharmaceutical Microbiology Pharmacy Department
10. Aqazizin and Toxins

Skills needed for pharmacy major

If you are considering a pharmacy career, you should ask yourself these questions:

1. Are you good at mathematics and science? Courses for the Bachelor's degree in pharmacy tend heavily towards these topics.
2. Do you enjoy working with people? Most pharmacy functions require significant interaction with patients who have serious questions about their health and treatment. If you don't prefer personal communication, there are also opportunities for laboratory research.
3. Do you care about the details? Your work directly affects the lives and lifestyles of the people you interact with. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor every aspect of the function closely.
4. Do you enjoy sitting at the office? If so, the pharmacy may not be the right career choice. Pharmacists should meet with patients, doctors, sales representatives, and others. This often means getting out of the office.
5. Are flexible working hours attractive to you? Pharmacists can essentially limit their working hours, especially if they run their own businesses.

Here are some of the skills of the right personalities for students studying pharmacy:

1. Scientific excellence, especially in Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology
2. Strong memory because studying pharmacy depends on memorizing a lot of medical terms
3. Love helping others
4. Precision and caution
5. Take responsibility
6. Deal gently and patiently
7. Ability to arrange and organize
8. Work under pressure

5 reasons to study pharmacy

1. The increasing demand

Whether you live in a small town or the capital of your country, you've probably noticed that pharmacies are everywhere. You can't walk for a while without finding one. This reveals the high demand for pharmacists, and salaries should not be overlooked either. For example, in the United States, the average pharmacist's income was about $128,000 annually in 2019.

2. Job stability

As a pharmacy graduate, you will also benefit from job security, as skills acquired in a specialized pharmacy degree and pharmacy experience are required globally. Pharmacy graduates often work within six months after graduation.

3. Multiple job options

Studying pharmacy can lead to a variety of job roles, which often offer good professional progress. Instead of becoming a pharmacist, you can use your knowledge of medicine to become a research scientist, medical science liaison, toxicologist, and other professions.

4. Flexible work schedules

Unlike other medical professions, such as doctors or nurses, pharmacists have a more manageable schedule. They do not usually deal with emergencies and have the flexibility to work in shifts, work part-time, or work and continue their studies.

5. Affordable Pharmacy Degrees

In general, pharmacy certificates are less expensive than other medical programs. This does not mean that all pharmacy courses are cheap, but one can easily find a Bachelor's and Master's degree in pharmacy for a reasonable tuition.

Fields of work for pharmacy graduates

The most apparent job the pharmacists will meet may be behind the pharmacy office, where medicines are distributed, and advice is given to the public. However, pharmacy jobs are, in fact, available in many different places, including research laboratories, academic institutions, hospitals, doctors' clinics, veterinary care, national regulators, and pharmaceutical companies.

Here is a list of the most prominent jobs that can be done after studying pharmacy:

1. Working as Pharmacist in a private pharmacy
2. Be an independent pharmacist (establish your own private pharmacy)
3. Work as Pharmacist in hospitals and clinics
4. Medical Sales Representative
5. Scientist of Drug Development
6. Medical science writer

Studying pharmacy in Turkey

Studying pharmacy in Turkey is one of the most preferred departments of many international students. Many universities in Turkey offer pharmacy to international students in English or Turkish language. The requirements for studying pharmacy in Turkey vary from university to university. The essential requirement is to obtain a high school diploma or be in the last year of high school. The cumulative rate is also important, preferably with a rate above 85%, but what distinguishes us is the possibility that we can get you admission even if your rate is lower than the required in most Turkish private universities. Pharmacy tuition fees in Turkey are about $8,000 annually.

Medipol University is one of Turkey's best-distinguished universities for the study of various medical specialties. You can see the study guide in Turkey to learn more about studying medical specialties in Turkey.

Keywords: Pharmacy Specialty - Pharmacy Study - Pharmacy - Pharmacy Study in Turkey

Sources:

1. Course Guides Pharmacy Degrees
2. Why Study Pharmacy in 2021? Top 7 Reasons to Consider