Outline

Overview

Have you ever wanted to know how drugs work? Pharmacology is the study of the properties and biological actions of drugs and chemicals and the key roles they play in the prevention and treatment of human diseases. In this unit of study you will be introduced to the foundational concepts in pharmacology: a) principles of drug action, b) pharmacokinetics and precision medicine, c) drug design, and d) drug development and regulation. Additionally, you will learn the tools pharmacologists use in their investigations and develop skills in laboratory and problem-based enquiry. You will have the opportunity to explore and apply the core concepts in pharmacology through practicals, simulations and problem-based workshops. By undertaking this unit you will not only learn to view health and disease through the lens of a pharmacologist, you will further develop valuable skills in critical thinking and problem solving, communication, digital literacy, teamwork and interdisciplinary effectiveness. This unit of study is highly recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in medicine and allied health professions (e.g. nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dentistry) and medical research pathways.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Pharmacy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	CHEM1XX1 or CHEM1903
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PCOL2555 or PCOL2011 or MEDS2002 or BMED2401
Assumed knowledge ?	(BIOL1XX7 or MBLG1XX1) or (MEDS1X01 or BIOL1XX8 or BIOL1XX3)
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Brent McParland, brent.mcparland@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Tina Hinton, tina.hinton@sydney.edu.au
	Andrew McLachlan, andrew.mclachlan@sydney.edu.au
	Slade Matthews, slade.matthews@sydney.edu.au
	Kellie Charles, kellie.charles@sydney.edu.au
	Robert Vandenberg, rvandenb@sydney.edu.au
	Sophie Stocker, sophie.stocker@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam Closed book, supervised exam.	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Oral presentation Slide presentation on a topic identified and chosen in EBL workshop	10%	Multiple weeks	5 min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Drug Profile Pharmacodynamics Canvas: pharmacodynamics on your assigned drug	2%	Week 02 Due date: 09 Mar 2025 at 23:59	Three paragraphs
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Module 1 Quiz Module 1 Quiz; 10 questions in 15min closed book	5%	Week 05	15 min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Concentration-response curves exercises Group Laboratory Report	10%	Week 06 Due date: 06 Apr 2025 at 23:59	1000-1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Module 2 Quiz Module 2 quiz: answer 10 questions in 15 minutes (closed book)	5%	Week 08	15min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Cholinesterases and inhibitors practical report Individual laboratory report	15%	Week 09 Due date: 04 May 2025 at 23:59	1000-1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Drug Profile Presentation Group presentation	8%	Week 12	10 minute Powerpoint presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Module 3 Quiz Module 3 Quiz; 10 questions in 15 min, open book	5%	Week 12	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= AI allowed ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Assessment. Purpose of this task is to serve as an indicator of early engagement with Canvas. The task requires you to answer three questions on the pharmacodynamics of your assigned drug. The task contributes 2% towards your final mark. Objective: week 12 your assigned group will present a drug profile that incorporates the following: pharmacodynamics; molecular pharmacology (drug design and chemical interaction of drug and target); pharmacokinetics and lastly clinical trials.

Continuous Assessment. Two in-class and one online individual module quizzes. Purpose of the quizzes is to encourage continuous learning during semester. Two of three module quizzes have been removed from online because of the use of AI. The module 1 and 2 quizzes will open for 15 minutes and include 10 multiple choice questions in a random order. These two quizzes will run at the beginning of data analysis workshops (weeks 5 and 8). The module 3 quiz will be run at the end of Week 12 and will be online, open book. In total the quizzes are worth 15% of your overall unit of study mark. See your Canvas site for more information.

Group Laboratory Report on Concentration-Response Curves. This is a group (3-5 students) activity and involves writing-up a standard laboratory report. The report will require understanding the theoretical basis and rationale of the experiment, experimental design, experimental setup, measurement principles, graphs, calculations, implications of results, and answers to questions. The assignment is worth 15% of your overall unit of study mark. See your Canvas site for more information.

Individual cholinesterases and inhibitors practical report. As for the previous laboratory report, but writen-up as an individual. The intention is understand the process of writing a full report from your group report. The individual report will contribute 15% towards your final mark. See your Canvas site for more information.

EBL oral presentation. This involves a 5 minute slide presentation on a topic identified and chosen in one of the EBL workshops. Your PowerPoint presentation will require integration of information from lectures and independent research to create a short oral presentation. The oral presentation is worth 10% of your overall unit of study mark. See your Canvas site for more information.

Group Drug Profile Presentation. This is a week 12 group task that requires the creation and presentation of a 10 minute drug profile. Your drug profile should incorporate information on the following: pharmacodynamics; molecular pharmacology (drug design and chemical interaction of drug and target); pharmacokinetics and lastly clinical trials.

End of Semester Exam. All material in the unit of study is examinable, but not all material can be examined within the constraints of the formal assessment process. There is one final examination lasting 2 hours containing short answer questions, worth 40% of your unit mark. Sample questions will be provided for you to familiarise yourself with the question types. The exam is not a hurdle task (i.e. you can still pass the course with a fail in the final exam).

Full use of AI tools (Drug Profile Pharmacodynamics, Concentration-response curves exercises, Cholinesterases and inhibitors practical report, Drug Profile presentation, Module 3 quiz)
For submitted work (early feedback assessment; laboratory reports and oral presentations) you are allowed to use automated writing tools and artificial intelligence (AI) for the following purposes:
Editing assistance - You may use automated writing or AI tools such as Cogniti to provide feedback on your work and suggest readability improvements to your text in terms of grammar and expression. You cannot use generative AI tools to generate content.
Generating ideas for assessment - You may use AI tools such as Cogniti to brainstorm initial ideas and approaches for completing your assignment. However, you must develop or edit those ideas to a substantial degree to ensure your submission is your own, original work.
Creating media for assessment - You may use AI tools such as Cogniti to generate media that you use as part of your submission.
Suggesting a structure or outline - You may use AI tools such as Cogniti to help you draft an outline for your work.
Searching and summarising literature- You may use AI tools such as Cogniti to find and summarise research articles. The generated summary should not be included in the submission. You need to incorporate the scholarship yourself into your submission.
Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission, must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to reference and acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

Please adhere to the following guidelines:
Do not enter confidential, personal, copyrighted or otherwise sensitive information into any AI tool. If you use these tools, you must be aware of their limitations, biases, and propensity for fabrication.
Do not rely on the accuracy of outputs. You remain responsible for your work. This means you must independently verify and edit AI-generated content to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and suitability of the output.
Failure to declare the use of AI tools is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and may result in penalties, which can include a fail for the assessment.
You are advised to keep copies of the prompts you provided and AI outputs as evidence of your research and writing process. This allows you to produce an accurate acknowledgement of AI use when you submit your work. This can be requested by the unit coordinator if there is any uncertainty about the originality of your work.

No use of AI tools (Tutorial quizzes, Oral Presentation and final exam): The use of automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence is prohibited in these assessments. You are not allowed to use AI or any other software to create information or answers, to alter your own original writing, or to generate or modify text from other sources. This includes translation software, editing/paraphrasing software and other generative artificial intelligence tools.
Unapproved use is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and may result in penalties, which can include a fail for the assessments.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work of exceptional standard: Mastery of topics showing extensive integration and ability to transfer knowledge to novel contexts; treatment of tasks shows an advanced synthesis of ideas; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is very well presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an outstanding level.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of superior standard: Excellent achievement, consistent evidence of deep understanding and application of knowledge in medical science; treatment of tasks shows advanced understanding of topics; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is well-presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a superior level.
Credit	65 - 74	Competent work demonstrating potential for higher study: Confident in explaining medical science processes, with evidence of solid understanding and achievement; occasional lapses indicative of unresolved issues; treatment of tasks shows a good understanding of topic; work is well-presented with a minimum of errors; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a high level.
Pass	50 - 64	Work of acceptable standard: Satisfactory level of engagement with and understanding of topic; some inconsistencies in understanding and knowledge of medical science; work is adequately presented, with some errors or omissions, most criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an adequate level.
Fail	0 - 49	Work not of acceptable standard: Unsatisfactory achievement and engagement with the medical science discipline; inadequate understanding or fundamental misunderstanding of topics; most criteria and learning outcomes not clearly or adequately addressed or achieved; lack of effort/involvement in the unit.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

All assignments must be submitted by the due date and quizzes and exams attended when they are scheduled. Students are expected to manage their time and to prioritise tasks to meet deadlines. Assessment items submitted after the due date without an approved extension using a special consideration or special arrangement form or request will incur penalties. Simple extensions are only available for submitted written work where assessment type is indicated as "Assignment". Failure to meet assessment deadlines will incur mark deductions of 5% of the maximum awardable mark available for every day past the due date (for electronic submissions, days late includes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). These deductions will continue for 10 calendar days, until the solutions for the assignment are released, or marked assignments are returned to other students. At that point the mark awarded will be zero. For example, on an assignment given a mark of 70/100, the penalty would be 5 marks if submitted up to 24 hours late, resulting in a final mark of 65/100. If the assignment is submitted 6 days late, the penalty would be 30 marks and the final mark would be 40/100. If the assignment is more than 10 days late, submitted after the solutions for the assignment are released, or marked assignments are returned to other students, the final mark will be 0/100.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Progressive	Drug Development - Kuracloud mini lectures	Lecture (4 hr)
Week 01	1. Introduction to PCOL2021	Lecture (1 hr)
	2. Introduction to Pharmacodynamics & Drug Profile	Lecture (1 hr)
	X-Lab Orientation	Practical (4 hr)
Week 02	3. Mechanism of drug action	Lecture (1 hr)
	4. Receptor theory and inverse agonists	Lecture (1 hr)
	EBL Introduction and EBL1A - More is not better	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 03	5. Agonists	Lecture (1 hr)
	6. Antagonists	Lecture (1 hr)
	EBL1B - More is not better	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 04	7. Autonomic nervous system	Lecture (1 hr)
	8. Research-led seminar: TBA	Lecture (1 hr)
	Concentration-response curves	Practical (4 hr)
Week 05	9. Introduction to molecular pharmacology and drug discovery	Lecture (1 hr)
	10. The shape and properties of drugs	Lecture (1 hr)
	Module 1 quiz followed by data workshop for concentration-response curves	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	11. How drugs interact with their targets 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	12. How drugs interact with their targets 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Molecular modelling of cholinergic compounds	Practical (4 hr)
Week 07	13. Allosteric modulation of drug targets	Lecture (1 hr)
	14. Research-led seminar: Discovery and development of new drugs to treat pain	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cholinesterases and inhibitors	Practical (4 hr)
Week 08	15. Absorption and distribution	Lecture (1 hr)
	16. Metabolism	Lecture (1 hr)
	Module 2 quiz followed by data workshop for cholinesterases and inhibitors	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 09	17. Pharmacogenomics	Lecture (1 hr)
	18. Excretion	Lecture (1 hr)
	EBL2A - Why can't I drink?	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 10	19. Pharmacokinetics	Lecture (1 hr)
	20. Pharmacokinetics - practical application	Lecture (1 hr)
	Pharmacogenomics	Practical (4 hr)
Week 11	21. Research-led seminar: From molecule to precision medicine: Understanding variability in response	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Oral presentations for EBL2B - Why can't I drink?	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	Group drug profile oral presentations	Practical (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

The University of Sydney Coursework Policy 2014 states:

55 (2) A student enrolled in a unit of study must comply with the requirements set out in the faculty resolutions, award course resolutions or unit of study outline about undertaking the unit of study, including on matters such as: (a) attendance at and participation in lectures, seminars and tutorials; and (b) participation in practical work.

The Faculty of Science resolutions states:

9(1). Students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of timetabled activities for a unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Associate Dean.

Thus, attendance at a minimum of 80% of all timetabled classes is compulsory for successful completion of the course. Attendance will be recorded. If you do not show sufficient cause for absence from any part of the course you may not be allowed to sit the final examination. Absences from scheduled practical, workshop or tutorial sessions must be supported by appropriate documentation (also see Guidelines for Special Consideration/Arrangements for important information relating to absence from scheduled classes). It may be possible to attend a different practical or tutorial session by special arrangement with the UoS coordinator.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Prescribed readings: all readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Recommended Textbooks

J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower, G. Henderson, Y.K. Loke, D.J. MacEwan and H.P. Rang: Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology, 9th ed (Churchill Livingstone, 2020)
Fundamentals of Pharmacology 9e 2022 by Shane Bullock(Murdoch) and Elizabeth Manias(Deakin).

Study Aid: M.J. Neal: Medical Pharmacology at a Glance 7th ed (Blackwell Scientific Publications, 2012)

For general reading see Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Trends in Neuroscience, Australian Prescriber, Current Therapeutics

Web Resources: links to appropriate web resources can be found under the Resources tab on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. describe important drug targets and drug actions at the cellular and molecular levels
LO2. explain the relationship between concentration and effect and derive important drug parameters from concentration-effect curves
LO3. discuss how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolised and excreted and the factors affecting their deposition in the body
LO4. explain the relationship between molecular structure and drug activity
LO5. outline the processes involved in drug discovery, development and regulation
LO6. describe experimental methods used in pharmacological enquiry and conduct laboratory experiments using a variety of instruments and assays
LO7. describe the essential components of an experimental design and analyse (using statistics), interpret and critique data arising from laboratory experiments
LO8. use digital and other sources of information and technologies to research and identify information and critically evaluate the credibility of information sources and information for reliability and relevance
LO9. communicate effectively through oral, written and visual means
LO10. work collaboratively and effectively with peers in group- and team-based learning activities and assessments
LO11. demonstrate the capacity for self reflection as well as reflection on the relevance of pharmacology to society.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Close the loop feedback on your Unit of Study Survey feedback will be provided following the release of marks.

Additional information

Science student portal

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PCOL2021: Foundations of Pharmacology

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect