Courses & Units
Pharmacology in Practice CSA236
Introduction
Pharmacology is the study of drugs, including their actions and effects on the human body. This unit introduces you to the discipline of pharmacology by examining key areas of health and disease, the mechanisms whereby drugs elicit responses in cells, whether drug actions will be selective and long lasting and the nature of adverse effects of drug use. You will learn how common drugs target specific receptors in body tissues, exerting effects as either agonists or antagonists. You will also explore the major biochemical pathways that are activated when drugs interact with their respective receptors. An understanding of pharmacology is fundamental to your understanding of pharmaceutical products in terms of efficacy and safety, and provides a rationale for their therapeutic use. Topics covered in this unit include: Basic principles of pharmacology; Endocrine pharmacology; Autonomic nervous system pharmacology; Cardiovascular pharmacology; Respiratory pharmacology; CNS pharmacology; Pain pharmacology; Gastrointestinal pharmacology
Summary
| Unit name | Pharmacology in Practice |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CSA236 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | College of Health and Medicine School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology |
| Discipline | Pharmacy |
| Coordinator | Professor Gregory Peterson |
| Available as an elective? | No |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Intermediate |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Health Study Period 3 | Off-Campus | International | Domestic | |
Key
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Note
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Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Study Period 3 | 4/11/2024 | 22/11/2024 | 20/12/2024 | 2/2/2025 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2024 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2024 will be available from the 1st October 2023. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the pharmacology concepts of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and how these can be applied when drugs or other chemicals are introduced to the body
- Explain the biochemical mechanisms of action of common drug classes, and how these can result in both beneficial and adverse physiological changes to the body
- Describe how common disease processes can be modified by the use of drugs or other chemicals.
- Apply knowledge of pharmacology to analyse a variety of case studies.
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019907 | $1,118.00 | $1,118.00 | not applicable | $2,596.00 |
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Requisites
Prerequisites
CXA107 or (CZZ101 AND CZZ102)Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | 3 x 1 hour Online lectures and 1 x 1 hour Online tutorial per week |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Early-semester written assessment (quiz) (30%)|Late-semester written assessment (quiz) (30%)|Written examination - Final (40%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
The following brief textbook presents a clear and accessible approach to the analysis of therapeutic agents at the cellular and molecular level through detailed diagrams, full-color illustrations, and educational features. I use a lot of the illustrations and diagrams from this textbook throughout the lecture notes. Neal MJ. Medical Pharmacology at a Glance. Wiley-Blackwell. For more detail and explanation, the following is recommended: Bryant B, Knights K. Pharmacology for Health Professionals. Mosby Elsevier. This is a useful introductory text that summarises the key principles of pharmacology. It has an easy-to-use format with summary diagrams and explanatory notes. |
|---|---|
| Recommended | For students who are after a more detailed text, there are many suitable options. The following is one widely available option. Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter JM & Flower RJ. Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology. Churchill Livingstone. Recommended electronic resources | Links | Booktopia textbook finder |
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