Pharmacy is a field of Science that combines the knowledge of various fields to produce pharmaceuticals or medicines. India is one of the largest producers of medical drugs in the entire world. Behind this large and expensive industry are a team of experts who have pharmaceutical degrees.
The Arya group of colleges has pharmacy courses at all different levels. Arya has thousands of pharmacy graduates who go on to work in several high paid jobs and industries. How do they do so? By completing one of the following degrees.
Types of Pharmacy Courses
Majorly there are three full-time degree options for Pharmacy courses in India. However, now there are short-term and online options as well. All of the major course options for Pharmacy courses have been elaborated on below.
Bachelors Degrees: The first full-time degree option for pharmacy courses is a bachelor’s degree. Some of the best pharmacy colleges in India usually offer a Bachelor of Pharmacy or B.Pharm degree. There are both a generalized version of the B.Pharm degree and degrees with specialisations such as Ayurveda, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacology. It will cover the basics of pharmacy such as Human Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology etc while leaving space for students to explore more advanced studies at the postgraduate level. The course is of four years in duration and makes students eligible to work as Pharmacists after completion. Colleges that offer B.Pharm require applicants to have a written test score like NEET or the BITSAT. After qualifying for the written test, there will be a counselling session where the applicant will take admission. Applicants need to have completed their class 12th from a recognized school board and in the Science stream with at least a 50% aggregate score.
Masters Degrees: At the postgraduate level, pharmacy students have several options. There is the Master of Pharmacy, Master of Science in Pharmacy and also Master of Technology in Pharmacy degrees. Like with the B.Pharm degree, there are concentration or discipline options at the level too. Some of the popular concentration choices for the M.Pharm degree are Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Industrial Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. This is a two-year long course where applicants should have a bachelor of pharmacy degree from a recognized university and at least 50% qualifying marks. Some of the best pharmacy colleges in Rajasthanconduct admissions to their M.Pharm degree through both merit basis and entrance tests. Both national, state and university-level test scores are accepted for admissions. M.Pharm degree holders become eligible to work in managerial positions at pharmaceutical companies at positions like Quality Assurance Manager, Sales Manager etc.
Doctorate Degrees: The highest level of educational degree one can earn in India is a research or a doctorate degree. A few of the best pharmacy colleges in Jaipur also offer doctor of Pharmacy degrees with B.Pharm and M.Pharm degrees. Doctorate degrees do not have a fixed duration like the other pharmacy courses. Instead, students are given around three to five years to finish the degree. During this time, students will attend classes and conduct research on their chosen research topic. They will receive grants or aid for their work if they are eligible for it from the college. At the end of the research, all findings are put together in the form of a dissertation that the candidate has to defend in front of a panel of experts. Candidates who have a PhD in Pharmacy continue to work in the Pharmacy industry mainly in the research and development department. Others are also eligible to work in academics as professors of pharmacy.
Short-Term Courses: Short-term courses in any discipline are usually pursued to add value to the resume or to switch careers into a different discipline in Pharmacy. Individuals with a short-term course in Pharmacy can also enrol on a full-time degree after graduating. There are mainly two types of short-term courses, certifications and diplomas. Diploma courses in Pharmacy are courses that are of one to three years while certification courses are done within a few weeks to a couple of months. Admissions to both of these courses are mainly on the merit basis of the previous qualifying examination. Certificate course accepts students who have done their class 10th exams while the diploma courses accept class 12th students but individuals with a full-time degree can also apply. Additionally, one must also have certain mandatory subjects at the school level which are Mathematics, Biology and Physics. These are more flexible degrees that are done both on-campus and in distance mode.
Online Courses: Online courses are usually free of cost and available in not just pharmacy subjects but in arts and many technical subjects as well. Online courses are convenient and can be done when individuals have the time for them. Like with regular courses, there are assignments to complete and some courses also include a project to be submitted at the end. Some course providers even provide a certificate of completion at the end of the course if a small fee is paid. Working individuals who do not have the time to pursue a full-time course or degree will find online courses helpful. Online courses, on their own, are not helpful to find jobs or employment. Many employers do not consider online courses as qualifying criteria like those who have a full-time degree. Admissions are on the merit basis of the previous examination. Most online courses do not have a minimum admission requirement or eligibility criteria and students who have completed their class 10th or 12th or bachelor’s can also apply.
How To Choose Pharmacy Degrees?
Choosing between pharmacy degrees depends largely on the candidate. Their previous qualification and also career goals. If one is pressed for time and money, short-term courses like a diploma in Pharmacy are great to get their feet in the door through an entry-level job. However, a full-time degree like B.Pharm or M.Pharm is necessary for better-paid jobs in the industry. Not many pharmacy students choose to opt for doctorate degrees as most of the well-paid higher managerial positions are open to an M.Pharm degree holder but the PhD in Pharmacy degree will help people to work in teaching positions at universities.
Conclusion
The Arya college is one of the best private educational places where students can earn a degree in pharmacy. Pharmacy is a field of medicine that has immense scope. Through its various course options, one can work in hospitals, armed forces, research laboratories or also set up their own pharmaceutical store. Depending on the degree candidates have, the level of job profile, entry-level or mid-management will differ. Hopefully, the information mentioned here has been helpful for candidates in choosing the right pharmaceutical course.