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Chicago College of Pharmacy

Downers Grove, IL Campus

    Core Course Descriptions

    Chicago College of Pharmacy

    Prerequisites are listed for those courses with such requirements. When no prerequisite is listed in a course description it is implied that there is no prerequisite.

    Abbreviation/Number
    Course Name

    BIOC 1551

    Biochemistry I

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    This course combines lectures and small group discussions of clinical case studies in workshops. Lectures address structure-function relationships in major biomolecules, human metabolism, and cell biology. Workshops feature clinical case studies to illustrate principles of clinical biochemistry and application to the practice of pharmacy. Workshop topics may include anemias, cytochrome p450 enzymes, dangers of dietary supplements, diabetes mellitus, drug biomembrane transport, environmental toxins and hemostasis disorders.

    Credits: 3.5

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    BIOC 1552

    Biochemistry II

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    This course combines lectures and small group discussions of clinical case studies in workshops. Lectures address human metabolic profiles of major tissues and organs, principles of gene expression, chromosomal abnormalities, multifactorial inheritance, and nutrition. Workshops feature clinical case studies to illustrate principles of clinical biochemistry and application to the principles of biochemistry and to the practice of pharmacy. Workshop topics may include antimetabolite therapy, kidney disease, hormone replacement therapy, hepatoxicity and metabolic effects of drugs, genome/environmental toxins, hyperlipidemias, and drug-induced jaundice.

    Credits: 4.5

    Prerequisites

    BIOC 1551 Biochemistry I

    CORE 1599

    Healthcare Issues

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    Changes in our healthcare delivery system are creating a growing demand for health professionals with skills in collaboration and teamwork. The various roles healthcare professionals play on a medical team will be introduced to first-year students via practitioner-patient demonstrations utilizing a surrogate patient. Additional lectures will introduce students to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the concept of biomedical research.

    Credits: 1

    FMED 1500

    Healthcare Communications I

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    This course will introduce first year pharmacy and medical students to the fundamental principles of effective communication in the health care setting. The course emphasizes the principles and elements of interpersonal, nonverbal, motivational communication, barriers to effective communication, including cultural awareness.

    Credits: 1

    Prerequisites

    PS-I Standing

    MICR 1510

    Infectious Diseases and Their Etiologic Agents

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    This course is designed as an integrated didactic and self-study program with a laboratory component. A basic knowledge of clinical microbiology is provided so that students can understand the interaction between the host and pathogenic microorganisms. Emphases include the rational management, prevention, and control of infectious diseases.

    Credits: 4

    Prerequisites

    MICR 1576 Introductory Immunology/Biologics

    MICR 1576

    Introductory Immunology/Biologics

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    This course presents basic aspects of the body's defense mechanisms. Current advances in immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis are emphasized. The role the immune system plays in rejection of organ transplants, autoimmunity, and hypersensitivity are also discussed.

    Credits: 2

    Prerequisites

    BIOC 1551 Biochemistry I

    PHAR 1641, 1642, 1643

    Pharmacology I, II, III

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    Pharmacology studies the properties and effects of drugs and, in a more general sense, the interactions between chemical compounds and living systems. This series includes the general principles of pharmacology; the dynamics of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs; drug testing in humans; and the role of official regulatory agencies. The student studies drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system; drugs acting on the central nervous system; cardiovascular drugs; chemotherapy of microbial, parasitic, and neoplastic diseases; drugs acting on blood and blood forming organs; and hormone and hormone antagonists. Topics such as principles of toxicology, vitamins, gastric antacids, digestants, laxatives, antihistamines, antiserotonin agents, and drugs causing birth defects are included.

    Prerequisites
    • Prerequisite for PHAR 1641 Pharmacology I, 4 credits: PS-II standing
    • Prerequisite for PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II, 4 credits: PHAR 1641 Pharmacology I
    • Prerequisite for PHAR 1643 Pharmacology III, 2 credits: PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II

    PHYS 1520

    Human Physiology I

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    This course provides core knowledge of physiology in order to understand normal body function and to acquire the ability to analyze and interpret the immediate and long term compensatory responses to common disease states of excitable cells, cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems. Basic and applied terminology as well as the basic morphology of systems are discussed, and the relationship between anatomy and function of the systems considered is included.

    Credits: 4.5

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    PHYS 1521

    Human Physiology II

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    This course provides core knowledge of physiology required by students of pharmacy in order to understand normal function and to acquire the ability to analyze and interpret the immediate and long-term compensatory responses to common disease states of the renal, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems. Basic and applied terminology as well as the basic morphology of systems are discussed, and the relationship between anatomy and function of the systems considered is included.

    Credits: 4.5

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    PPRA 1501

    Introduction to Pharmacy Practice

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    This course introduces the student to the philosophy, socialization, and practice of the profession of pharmacy through didactic lectures. Students will learn the history and evolution of pharmacy as a profession, various career opportunities, and relevant issues within the profession today.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    PPRA 1511

    Healthcare Systems

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    This course describes elements and forces affecting the organization, delivery, and financing of health care services in general and pharmacy services in particular. The course explores major economic/political/social aspects of the health care delivery system and examines how provider relationships often affect patient outcomes. Strengths and weaknesses of the system, including possible options for mitigating the latter, are identified. The course describes changing roles of pharmacy practice and methods of financing and shows how professional services may influence and be influenced by these factors.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    PPRA 1513

    Principles of Evidence-Based Pharmacy Practice

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    This course introduces students to the knowledge and skills necessary to construct sound pharmacotherapeutic recommendations through retrieval and evaluation of clinical evidence. Students learn efficient approaches to respond to drug information inquiries; and develop primary literature evaluation and critical thinking skills necessary to formulate prudent drug information responses and patient care recommendations.

    Credits: 4

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    PPRA 1522

    Introduction to Pharmacy Practice Experience I: Community

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    This course introduces the student to the philosophy, socialization, and practice of the profession of pharmacy through experiences in a community pharmacy practice environment. This course will meet for a weekly eight hour site visit to an assigned community pharmacy for an introductory pharmacy practice experience. Guided exercises in the community practice environment will introduce the student to the basics of practice and serve as a foundation for advanced pharmacy practice experiences.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PPRA 1501 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice

    PPRA 1523, 1621, 1623, 1624

    Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Longitudinal I, II, III, IV

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    In the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Longitudinal, the student participates in the longitudinal care of four patients over the four quarter sequence. Emphasis will be placed on the changing needs of the patients and insuring continuity of care. The student will learn to effectively communicate with the patient and other health care providers while collecting relevant health care information about the patient. The student will develop affective components necessary to become a caring pharmacist. All four courses in this sequence must be taken sequentially.

    Prerequisites
    • PPRA 1523 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Longitudinal I, 1.5 credits
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1621 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Longitudinal II, 0.5 credits: PS-II standing and concurrent enrollment in or completion of PPRA 1611 Pharmacotherapeutics I
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1623 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Longitudinal III, 0.5 credits: PS-II standing and concurrent enrollment in or completion of PPRA 1612 Pharmacotherapeutics II
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1624 Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Longitudinal IV, 1.5 credits: PS-II standing and concurrent enrollment in or completion of PPRA 1613 Pharmacotherapeutics III

    PPRA 1601, 1701, 1801

    Reflective Portfolio II, III, IV

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    This course sequence provides students with a framework to document regular self assessment of his/her progressive achievement of curricular outcomes. Lecture topics include review of reflective writing, introduction to longitudinal reflective writing, defining evidence, common mistakes made in previous portfolios, and the value of continued self-assessment. The PS-II and PS-III workshops focus on portfolio entries that demonstrate progressive achievement of curricular outcomes.

    Prerequisites
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1601 Reflective Portfolio II, 0.5 credits: PS-II standing
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1701 Reflective Portfolio III, 0.5 credits, PS-III standing
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1801 Reflective Portfolio IV, 0.5 credits, PS-IV standing

    PPRA 1611, 1612, 1613, 1711, 1712, 1713

    Pharmacotherapeutics I, II, III, IV, V, VI

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    Pharmacotherapeutics is a required course sequence of six courses offered in the second and third professional years. It emphasizes the principles of pharmacotherapy as they relate to rational drug product selection, drug and disease state evaluation and monitoring, and the development of a patient care plan. Each course includes lectures as well as workshop sessions in which the student groups are guided by a faculty facilitator to apply problem-solving strategies and evidence-based medicine to realistic patient cases, and to develop patient care plans.

    Prerequisites
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1611 Pharmacotherapeutics I, 5 credits: PS-II Standing
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1612 Pharmacotherapeutics II, 5 credits: PS- II standing, PPRA 1611 Pharmacotherapeutics I and PHAR 1641 Pharmacology I, Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II, PSCI 1602 Chemical Aspects of Drug Action I
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1613 Pharmacotherapeutics III, 5.5 credits: PS- II standing, PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II, PPRA 1612 Pharmacotherapeutics II, PSCI 1602 Chemical Aspects of Drug Action I, Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of PHAR 1643 Pharmacology III and PSCI 1603 Chemical Aspects of Drug Action II
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1711 Pharmacotherapeutics IV, 5 credits: PS-III standing, Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of PSCI 1751 Chemical Principles of Drug Action III
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1712 Pharmacotherapeutics V, 5 credits: PS-III standing, PPRA 1711 Pharmacotherapeutics IV, PSCI 1751 Chemical Principles of Drug Action III
    • Prerequisite for PPRA 1713 Pharmacotherapeutics VI, 5 credits: PS-III standing, PPRA 1712 Pharmacotherapeutics V, PSCI 1752 Chemical Principles of Drug Action IV

    PPRA 1622

    Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience II-Health Systems

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    Students will explore the philosophy and practice of health system pharmacy through didactic lectures, workshop assignments and on site experience at an assigned practice site under the guidance of a preceptor. Students will be introduced to technical pharmacy skills, hospital pharmacy management, distributive systems, quality assurance and the role of the pharmacist in the health care team. Students will explore career options within health care systems.

    Credits: 2

    Prerequisites

    PS-II standing, PPRA 1631 Sterile Products: Regulations and Practice

    PPRA 1631

    Sterile Products: Regulation and Practice

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    This course focuses on the practical aspects of preparing and dispensing sterile preparations. Applicable regulations and practice standards including USP <797> are described, potential hazards of parenteral medications are discussed, drug information references regarding sterile preparations are described and utilized, routine calculations employed by pharmacists preparing parenteral medications are practiced, and specialty areas of practice focused on sterile preparations are presented. Several aspects of aseptic technique are practiced by students weekly in a laboratory setting.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-II Standing

    PPRA 1721

    Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience III: Clinical

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    This course provides students the opportunity to practice the principles and skills in clinical pharmacy through practical experiences, practice simulation, and workshops. Site visits to various hospitals and chronic care sites allow the students to experience and apply the lessons learned in the complementary didactic courses in real practice environments.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-III standing

    PPRA 1731

    Healthcare Communications II

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    This course focuses on the development of practical skills necessary for effective communication in the health care setting; adding to the students' foundational communication skills, via integration of therapeutic knowledge into their communication with patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. Students gain counseling proficiency on a variety of dosage forms across a range of therapeutic drug classes and experience communication with specific populations (based on age, culture and/or socioeconomic differences, heightened sensitivity, etc.) The students learn about behavior modification strategies and implementation of medication therapy management.

    Credits: 2

    Prerequisites

    PS-III standing

    PPRA 1742

    Clinical Skills in Pharmacy Practice

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    This course focuses on the clinical skills associated with the practice of pharmacy. It challenges students to integrate and apply knowledge obtained throughout the pharmacy school curriculum as well as to acquire patient assessment and patient management skills. Clinical skills taught in this course include, but are not limited to, the monitoring and treatment of hypertension, asthma, and diabetes mellitus.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-III Standing

    PPRA 1751

    Pharmacy Management

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    Pharmacists in all practice settings use a variety of management skills on a daily basis. This course introduces students to the role of management within pharmacy and exposes them to a variety of theories, techniques, and tools used by pharmacists to ensure that patient care is delivered in an effective and efficient manner.

    Credits: 4

    PPRA 1752

    Pharmacy Law/Ethics

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    The basic principles of law are reviewed as they relate to the practice of pharmacy under federal, state, and local regulations. The special problems involving the control of narcotics, poisons, and other controlled substances are reviewed. Some laws relative to business activities and discussions of professional ethics are also included.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-III standing

    PPRA 1763

    Quality Assurance and Effective Pharmacy Practice

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    This course encourages students to strive for professional excellence by explaining the nature of quality assurance in health care. The course explores several models of pharmacy practice to assure the quality of drug therapy. The origin, nature, intent, and usefulness of practice guidelines are addressed. The course describes the links among the infrastructure that pharmacists need, the functions that pharmacists perform, and drug therapy outcomes of all types. Topics are structured for practical use in pharmacy settings. Barriers to effective practice are elucidated and strategies to cope with such barriers are presented.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-III standing

    PPRA 1783

    Clinical Pharmacokinetics

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    This course focuses on the application of pharmacokinetic principles for the purpose of optimizing drug therapy. Lectures and workshops are used to teach the following principles: effects of disease and drug-drug interactions on pharmacokinetic parameters, initial loading and maintenance dosage regimen calculations, dosage adjustment for linear and nonlinear drugs, interplay between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, effects of extracorporeal elimination, and interpretation of serum drug concentrations. Patient cases or problem sets will be distributed weekly and used to give practice in the application of principles. Workshops and quizzes will be conducted to assess the understanding of principles.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-II standing

    PPRA 1885

    Elective Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

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    Pharmacy students may select an additional APPE or choose from a selected list of non-patient care electives.

    Credits: 9

    PPRA 1886

    Community Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

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    Pharmacy students under the supervision of an adjunct faculty member will gain experience in community pharmacy practice including dispensing procedures, pharmacy law, practice management and OTC pharmacotherapy assessment. The student will assess drug therapy, monitor clinical interventions, practice counseling and patient care skills, and complete a journal club and a case presentation. The student will develop a philosophy of practice regarding the role of the pharmacist as a member of the health care team.

    Credits: 9

    PPRA 1887

    Hospital Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

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    Pharmacy students under the supervision of an adjunct faculty will gain experience in hospital pharmacy practice including drug distribution systems, intravenous product preparation, drug usage evaluation and practice management. The student will assess patient drug therapy, monitor clinical interventions, complete a journal club and a case presentation and contribute to a quality improvement program at the site. The student will develop a philosophy of practice regarding the role of the pharmacist as a member of the health care team.

    Credits: 9

    PPRA 1888

    General Medicine Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

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    Pharmacy students under the supervision of an adjunct or full faculty member will gain experience in general medicine pharmacy practice including practice management and interactions with other health care providers, participate in drug therapy assessment, patient care activities and monitor outcomes in various patient populations. The student will complete a journal club, a case presentation and drug information paper. The student will develop a philosophy of practice regarding the role of the pharmacist as a member of the health care team.

    Credits: 9

    PPRA 1889

    Ambulatory Care Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

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    Pharmacy students under the supervision of an adjunct or full faculty will gain experience in ambulatory care pharmacy practice, including practice management, interactions with other health care providers, participation in drug therapy assessment, patient care activities, and monitoring outcomes in various patient populations. The student will complete a journal club, case presentation and drug information paper. The student will develop a philosophy of practice regarding the role of the pharmacist as a member of the health care team.

    Credits: 9

    PPRA 1890

    Clinical Specialty Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

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    Pharmacy students under the supervision of an adjunct or full faculty will gain experience in clinical specialty pharmacy practice, including practice management, interactions with other health care providers, participation in drug therapy assessment, patient care activities, and monitoring outcomes in various patient populations. The student will complete a journal club, case presentation and drug information paper. The student will develop a philosophy of practice regarding the role of the pharmacist as a member of the health care team.

    Credits: 9

    PSCI 1501

    Reflective Portfolio I

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    This course provides students with a framework to document regular self-assessment of his/her progressive achievement of curricular outcomes. Lecture topics include an introduction to the e-portfolio platform, reflective writing, defining evidence, and the value of self-assessment. Workshops will focus on baseline assessment.

    Credits: 1

    PSCI 1511

    Pharmaceutical Calculations

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    This course provides an introduction to the practice of pharmacy with an emphasis on the mathematical calculations that are essential to compounding and dispensing drugs and that are commonly encountered in subsequent pharmacy courses. Introductions to pharmaceutical dosage forms and statistical principles are also included.

    Credits: 3

    Prerequisites

    PS-I standing

    PSCI 1512

    Pharmaceutics I: Physical Pharmacy and Dosage Form Design

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    This course discusses the types and characteristics of pharmaceutical dosage forms and the physicochemical principles involved in design, development and formulation of traditional dosage forms. Topics include but are not limited to acids, bases, and buffers; solubility, dissolution, and distribution phenomena, preformulation considerations, solid, liquid, and semisolid dosage forms, and suppositories.

    Credits: 2

    PSCI 1513

    Dosage Form Laboratory

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    This course is centered on preparation of dosage forms, which are compounded extemporaneously in a pharmacy setting. Laboratory exercises will be utilized to familiarize the student with all aspects of compounded prescription preparation, from legal requirements to preservation of the completed dosage form.

    Credits: 1

    Prerequisites

    PSCI 1511 Pharmaceutical Calculations

    PSCI 1514

    Pharmaceutics II: Drug Delivery and Dosage Form Design

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    This course discusses the types and characteristics of pharmaceutical dosage forms and the physiochemical principles involved in design, development and formulation of traditional dosage forms. Topics include: transdermal, pulmonary, nasal and ophthalmic delivery, sterility and microbial contamination; injectable products; liposomes; nanoparticles; implants and specialized devices; biologics and biotechnology-derived products; radiopharmaceuticals; packaging considerations, pediatric and geriatric formulation considerations; and selection of a drug delivery system.

    Credits: 1.5

    Prerequisites

    PSCI 1512 Pharmaceutics I: Physical Pharmacy and Dosage Form Design

    PSCI 1515

    Introduction to Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics

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    Topics covered in this course include: mathematical descriptions of the time course of drug absorption; distribution and elimination; the physiochemical properties of drugs and the relevant physiologic factors that affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; the relationship between drug concentration and clinical responses; the pharmacokinetic variability caused by differences in body weight, age, sex, genetic factors, diseases, and drug interactions; applications of pharmacokinetics and pharmaceutics to clinical situations.

    Credits: 3.5

    Prerequisites

    PSCI 1512 Pharmaceutics I

    PSCI 1601

    Introduction to Drug Structure Evaluation

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    This course reviews the organic functional groups found in drug molecules and their properties. Heterocycles, essential amino acids and nucleic acids are introduced as structural components of several important classes of biomolecules and/or biological target for drug action (e.g. receptor, enzyme, nucleic acid, excitable membrane/other biopolymer). As part of the drug structure evaluation process the acid/base properties, binding interactions possible with a biological target, and metabolic transformations for each functional group are presented. Significant emphasis will be placed on functional group interaction with amino acid side chains.

    Credits: 2

    Prerequisites

    PS-II Standing

    PSCI 1602, 1603, 1751, 1752

    Chemical Principles of Drug Action I, II, III, IV

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    Concepts of drug-target interactions and structure activity relationships are discussed for all of the major classes of drugs. Classification is based on a drug's mechanism of action at its biological target, e.g., messenger receptors, enzymes, nucleic acids, and excitable membranes or other biopolymers. Principle routes of drug metabolism, drug transport and the prediction of drug-drug, drug-disease, drug-herb and drug-food interactions based on each drug's chemical properties are also discussed. Examples of drug action in the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system, and immune system are discussed, as well as anti-infective agents, anti-neoplastic agents, and the impact of biotechnology on drug design.

    Prerequisites
    • Prerequisites for PSCI 1602 Chemical Principles of Drug Action I, 4.5 credits: Completion of PSCI 1601 Introduction To Drug Structure Evaluation and PHAR 1641 Pharmacology I, PS-II standing, Concurrent enrollment in PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II
    • Prerequisite for PSCI 1603 Chemical Principles of Drug Action II, 4 credits: Completion of PSCI 1602 Chemical Principles of Drug Action I and PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II, PS-II standing
    • Prerequisite for PSCI 1751 Chemical Principles of Drug Action III, 2 credits: Completion of PSCI 1602 and 1603 Chemical Principles of Drug Action I and II and PHAR 1642 Pharmacology II, PS-III standing
    • Prerequisite for PSCI 1752 Chemical Principles of Drug Action IV, 1 credit: Completion of PSCI 1751 Chemical Principles of Drug Action III, PS-III standing.

    PSCI 1722

    Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

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    Biotechnology-derived products are increasingly being used to treat diabetes, various types of cancer, blood disorders, growth deficiencies, renal failure, infections, and multiple sclerosis. This course provides an introduction to biotech products, from recombinant DNA and antisense technology to monoclonal antibodies. Background information related to production, storage, and handling will be discussed as they relate to analytical techniques, patient education and counseling, and therapeutic use. Other topics include gene therapy, stem cell research, cloning, biopharming, pharmacogenomics, and the Human Genome Project.

    Credits: 2

    Prerequisites

    PS-III Standing