PHAR 100 Introductory Pharmacology
PHAR 100, Introductory Pharmacology, is designed as a general interest course that introduces the subjects of pharmacology and toxicology, with emphasis on common drugs used by society. Pharmacology is broadly defined as the effect of drugs and chemicals on living organisms, while toxicology is the study of the deleterious effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms. No prior knowledge of physiology is required to understand the drug action described in this course. This 12-week course consists of six modules, which student will work through online. Students will participate in two activities throughout the course that will encourage communication and teamwork, as well as ensure concepts have been understood and can be applied to real life scenarios. In addition, students will be required to submit one individual assignment, answering assigned questions about the course material. At the end of the course, students will have a basic understanding of pharmacology and toxicology.
There are no prerequisites for this course. However, it is recommended that students have 4U Biology.
ONE-WAY EXCLUSION May not be taken with or after: PHAR 230/3.0; PHAR 270/3.0; PHAR 370/3.0; PHAR 340/3.0; PHAR 450/3.0.
After completing PHAR 100, students will be able to:
- Discuss the pharmacological principles of drug abuse to advocate for healthy and appropriate drug use. (PLO 4, 6; Assessment 2)
- Describe the mechanism of action and physiological effects of classes of drugs to be able to summarize the reason(s) for their use and abuse in society. (PLO 4, 6; Assessments 2–5)
- Apply learned knowledge of the essential elements of a phase 3 clinical trial to design a hypothetical clinical trial for a new drug to treat a specific disease or condition. (PLO 4, 8; Assessment 1)
- Effectively discuss and apply relevant pharmacological principles within a group to successfully complete collaborative assignments. (PLO 4; Assessments 1, 2)
- Communicator (Assessments 1–3 and 5)
- Advocate (Assessment 2)
- Leader (N/A)
- Scholar (Assessment 1–3)
- Professional (Assessment 1, 2)
All assessments will be graded using marking rubrics.
Assessment 1 – Phase III Clinical Trial Poster (10%)
Working in groups of 5, students will be assigned a condition or disease for which a hypothetical new drug has been developed to treat. Groups will be responsible for discussing and designing the basic elements needed for a phase 3 clinical trial to test the efficacy and safety of the theoretical new drug in treating the assigned condition or disease state. Each student will then create an aesthetically pleasing and professional poster that conveys the design elements incorporated into their phase 3 clinical trial. Each student will peer review 4 other posters.
Assessment 2 – Herbal and Dietary Supplements Report (20%)
This report aims to get you thinking critically about the efficacy and safety of herbal and dietary supplements, as well as to work in a group to collaborate on gathering peer-reviewed scientific research. Students will be placed in groups of 5 and will be assigned a specific herbal or dietary supplement. Groups are responsible for obtaining published peer-reviewed scientific articles and discussing the evidence for their assigned topic. Each student will write and submit an individual formal report.
Assessment 3 – Individual, Submitted Assignment (20%)
Working individually, students will prepare a document that answers questions posed by the instructor that test understanding and application of course content. The assignment will consist of 9 questions, of which each answer should be a maximum of one double-spaced page.
Assessment 4 – Midterm Exam (15%)
The midterm exam will be conducted online and will consist of well-designed multiple choice questions.
Assessment 5 – Final Proctored Exam (35%)
The final exam will be proctored and will include well-designed multiple choice and short answer questions, emphasizing understanding and application of knowledge learned throughout the course.
A minimum of two tutorials will be run by the instructors during the course, one before the midterm and one before the final exam, providing students with an opportunity to clarify any concepts or questions.
9–10 hours a week (108–120 hours per term)
Required Texts
PHAR 100 course notes via modules posted online.
Optional Texts
Primer of Drug Action, 12th Robert Julien et al., Worth Publishers, 2010.