units

PHA3801

Faculty of Science

18 January 2012 14 February 2012

Undergraduate - Unit

print version

6 points, SCA Band 0 (NATIONAL PRIORITY), 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Science
OfferedGippsland First semester 2012 (Day)
Sunway First semester 2012 (Day)
Coordinator(s)To be advised (Gippsland); Dr Amudha Kadirvelu and Dr Kyi Kyi Tha (Sunway)

Synopsis

The main theme is an introduction to drug use in our society. The following topics will be covered:

  1. how drugs act at a cellular level, how they target specific body systems and how the body handles drugs (pharmacokinetics).
  2. Sources of drugs - prescription vs over the counter vs herbal remedies and information available to the public about drugs. Rationale for choice of drugs for common diseases.
  3. Drug development from the laboratory to the consumer. Factors influencing the development of new drugs (e.g. economics and logistics).

Assessment

Practical work: 20%
Semester test: 10%
Presentation and essay: 20%
Exam (3 hours): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Amudha Kadirvelu

Contact hours

Three hours of lectures, one hour of tutorials and three hours of practicals per week (includes wet practicals, dry practicals and CAL-Computer Aided Learning).

Prerequisites

PHY2021 and PHY2032, or BIO1711 and BIO2752

Prohibitions

PHA2022