Course SummaryThis course is for you if you are looking to build upon the Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy to gain an MSc. This qualification provides the necessary critical, analytical and evaluation skills to understand the research process including ethical and risk assessment issues. This course is accredited by the CMHP.Professional accreditationAll our Psychiatric Pharmacy courses are accredited by the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP).Course outline and what you will studyOur one year research MSc Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice is available to you if you have previously successfully completed the PgDip Psychiatric Pharmacy course here at Aston. This single 60 credit module will enable you to convert your Diploma (where you will have obtained 120 credits) to a MSc (where you will then obtain 180 credits in total).You will undertake supervised, but independently executed, practice research and be encouraged to integrate and apply the skills acquired during the PgCert and PgDip courses to investigate in depth an area of clinical psychiatric pharmacy practice of specific interest to you.This module will equip you with the necessary critical, analytical and evaluation skills necessary to understand the research process thoroughly, including ethical and risk assessment issues. It provides experience of practice research and project management together with preparation for submission for publication.In addition to the knowledge gained on this course, you will develop the following skills:The ability to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries in the field of psychiatric practice researchLearn to communicate effectively to academics as well as studentsLearn good writing skills and the ability to complete an ethics proposal for submission to an ethics committeeDevelop the ability to study independently and employ good time management.Learning, teaching, assessment and staffAssessment is in three parts:A research proposal: You will be required to submit a research proposal of approximately 2,000 words. This will be assessed for appropriateness of content proposed research question and design of the study together with ethical issues professional conduct and implications of the results.The research project: This should demonstrate a detailed theoretical understanding and a critical appraisal of the relevant research literature. It should include an appropriate research question or hypothesis, plus suitable experimental design, execution, data handling, data analyses and interpretation in a systematic and accurate manner. The project should usually be between 10,000 and 15,000 words in length. Included in that word limit are an abstract (maximum 300 words) and an executive summary (maximum 1500 words). Independence of thought and action within the research process and effectiveness of timekeeping will all be assessed.Your future career prospectsThe certificate is the first stage for pharmacists in becoming a specialist mental health pharmacist. It is also undertaken by mental health nurses to increase their knowledge base especially those practicing or aiming to practice as non-medical prescribers. General practitioners and psychiatrists, as well as graduates working in the pharmaceutical industry have also been past students.The diploma is frequently a requirement for specialist clinical mental health posts in the NHS. ''Specialist status'' as deemed by Membership of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy is also increasingly expected for higher level clinical posts in the NHS. The Diploma forms part of the pathway for this accreditation.