Courses + Schedule

Program Delivery

The CCPP program begins in September (Fall Term) every year and runs over the course of 3 semesters (10 months) until June. The program utilizes a "blended" learning approach, meaning there are both online and on-campus requirements.

Fall and Winter Terms (Terms 1 and 2) are delivered in a part-time and online format to enhance both accessibility and flexibility for learners to maintain employment while enrolled. Spring Term (Term 3) utilizes a blend of online and face-to-face delivery that is designed to optimize student learning in experiential components of the program, with students engaging in simulated patient care experiences in the Patient Care Skills laboratory.

Program Workload

For Fall and Winter Terms (both 13 weeks, online), students are required to spend 6-8 hours of online class time per week plus an estimated additional 6-10 hours required per week to complete assignments, review materials, and for studying, depending on the individual. For Spring Term (6 weeks online, 2 weeks on campus), students are required to spend 10-13 hours of class time plus an estimated additional 8-12 hours per week required to complete assignments, review materials, and for studying, depending on the individual.

Course Schedule

Course Descriptions

Fall (Term 1) - Online

BASE I - (behavioural, administrative, social + evidence-based pharmacy practice)

Introduces learners to patient-centred care in Alberta including pharmacists’ scope of practice, jurisprudence, and the health care system. Learners will explore the application of communication, professionalism, cultural sensitivity, and ethical frameworks to pharmacy practice plus develop skills in answering health and medication related questions using an evidence based approach.

Patient Care Skills I

Introduces learners to the patient care process and how to apply it with an emphasis on medication use process. Fundamental skills related to prescription processing and preparation, communication, accessing patient health information, drug information, and documentation will be covered.

Pharmacotherapy I

Learners will expand their knowledge and skills in caring for patients with various disease conditions within the patient care process framework.

Winter (Term 2) - Online

BASE II - (behavioural, administrative, social + evidence-based pharmacy practice)

Learners will apply ethical and legal frameworks, management, patient safety culture, Indigenous perspectives, and social determinants of health to pharmacy practice. Learners will engage with an individual’s specific cultural or communication needs, collaborate in groups, make shared decisions, and appraise synthesized resources and primary research.

Patient Care Skills II

Learners will further develop skills with the patient care process using the pharmacists’ scope of practice to conduct a patient assessment, develop a pharmacotherapy plan, and implement monitoring and follow up. Interprofessional communication, patient education, and medication safety practices will also be covered.

Pharmacotherapy II

Learners will expand their knowledge of various types of select medical conditions and will apply therapeutic and pharmaceutical science knowledge to various patient care scenarios. Learners will further develop their critical thinking and self-directed learning skills, along with their breadth and depth of therapeutic knowledge, as they incorporate principles of evidence-based therapeutic decision making within the patient care process framework.

Spring (Term 3) - Online + In-Person

BASE III - (behavioural, administrative, social + evidence-based pharmacy practice)

Learners will integrate concepts from BASE I and II across differing practice settings. Learners will prepare for ongoing professional learning, leadership development, and practice in interprofessional teams.

Patient Care Skills III

Building on Patient Care Skills I and II, learners will apply the patient care process to more complex patient scenarios using the pharmacists scope of practice. Emphasis will be on patient assessment, decision making, and medication therapy management.

Pharmacotherapy III

Learners will expand their knowledge and skills in order to provide care to various patient populations. Learners will engage in active learning and focus on using evidence, applying the biopsychosocial model, making decisions, monitoring outcomes, and adjusting drug therapy for complex patients.