Unit rationale, description and aim

Biomedical science students require sound knowledge of therapeutic agents to enable them to work in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical field, health information areas or as a foundation for graduate programs. This unit will focus on introducing students to general pharmacological principles including drug dosage regimens, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Students will apply these principles to changes that occur across the lifespan. A major focus of this unit will be describing the pharmacology of drugs within the context of relevant pathophysiological states explored in BMSC209 Pathophysiology (or equivalent). Students will apply pharmacological principles to understand why various drugs are used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. The aim of this unit is to develop knowledge and skills in the discipline area of pharmacology and its application to human disease states.  

2025 10

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  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
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  • Semester 2Campus Attendance
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  • Semester 2Campus Attendance

Prerequisites

BMSC209 Pathophysiology

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Relate principles of pharmacology to methods of dr...

Learning Outcome 01

Relate principles of pharmacology to methods of drug administration
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC7, GC8

Compare and contrast the inter-individual changes ...

Learning Outcome 02

Compare and contrast the inter-individual changes in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of drugs across the lifespan of an individual
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7, GC8, GC10

Explain why certain pharmacotherapies are used for...

Learning Outcome 03

Explain why certain pharmacotherapies are used for the prevention and treatment of selected pathophysiological states by examining their pharmacology including pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10

Content

Topics will include:

  • Drug nomenclature
  • Dosage formulations and routes of drug administration
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Pharmacodynamics
  • Adverse drug reactions and drug interactions
  • Lifespan pharmacology
  • Commonly used drugs affecting the nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment strategy allows students to progressively develop their knowledge of pharmacology. The first assessment task is an in-class test which will primarily assess knowledge acquisition and assimilation of basic pharmacological principles including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and lifespan pharmacology. The second assessment task is a multi-media task based on a person who has been prescribed a particular medication. Students will integrate various forms of media as advised by the teaching team to create an authentic, comprehensive and engaging presentation. This approach not only assesses their application of knowledge to a real situation but also their ability to effectively use digital tools to communicate ideas creatively. The final assessment task is the end-of-semester examination which will assess integration and application of key concepts covered in this unit.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome and obtain a minimum mark of 50%.

Overview of assessments

In-class test  The in-class test requires student...

In-class test 

The in-class test requires students to demonstrate their understanding of basic pharmacological principles in preparation for the remaining two assessment tasks.

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC7, GC8

Multi-media presentation Students will integrate ...

Multi-media presentation

Students will integrate various forms of media to create an authentic, comprehensive and engaging presentation based on a person who has been prescribed a particular drug. 

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC2, GC7, GC8, GC10

End-of-semester examination  The end-of-semester ...

End-of-semester examination 

The end-of-semester examination requires students to use critical thinking skills to demonstrate their knowledge of pharmacology.

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC2, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC10

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit uses an active learning approach, integrating lectures and workshop classes with complementary online activities. Lectures are designed to convey essential information, enabling students to develop a comprehensive understanding and draw connections between various components of the subject matter. These sessions also offer opportunities for students to clarify their understanding and ask questions.

Workshop classes are intended to reinforce student learning in a supportive environment. During these sessions, students will engage collaboratively in activities such as reading, writing, discussions, and problem-solving, fostering higher-order cognitive skills like analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Case studies will be utilized to illustrate the practical application of theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts.

Additionally, online activities at the end of each week will provide feedback, allowing students to gauge their understanding and progress.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Bullock, S. & Manias, E. (2022) Fundamentals of pharmacology. 9th ed. Frenchs Forest: Pearson. 

Brown, M., Sharma, P., Mir, F. & Bennett, P. (2018) Clinical pharmacology. 12th ed. Elsevier: Churchill Livingstone 

Catalá, A., & Ahmad, U. (Eds.). (2020). Molecular pharmacology. 1st ed. Intech Open

Knights, K., Darroch, S., Rowland, A., and Bushell, M. (2023) Pharmacology for health professionals. 6th ed. Elsevier 

Ritter, J., Flower, R., Henderson, G., Loke, Y., MacEwan, D., Robinson, E. & Fullerton, J., (2023) Rang and Dale’s pharmacology. 10th ed. Churchill Livingston 

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