BPS1042 Pharmaceutical science in context
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
BPS1042 Pharmaceutical science in context is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Malaysia and Parkville. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Malaysia, Parkville
- Assessment
- No exam
- 6 tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before BPS1042
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After BPS1042
No unit lists BPS1042 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit is designed to introduce you to the major fields of the applied sciences in which pharmaceutical scientists specialise. The relationships between the different disciplines and their distinct roles in drug discovery and medicine development will be demonstrated. Participants are introduced to the following areas as they apply to the biology, chemistry, and formulation of medicines and related products:
- drug discovery biology
- medicinal chemistry
- formulation science
You will also have the opportunity to attend specialised seminars on pharmaceutical science research.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
| Second semester | Parkville | On campus |
Assessment
- DDB presentationsPresentation25%
- Med Chem presentationsPresentation25%
- Form Sci presentationsPresentation25%
- Press release articleWritten10%
- Discovery MCQs/quizzes/otherExercise5%
- Skills coaching sessionsProject10%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Identify and explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the signs and symptoms of a given disorder
- 2
Select a suitable therapeutic target for the treatment of a specified disorder
- 3
Design a research plan of experiments to test whether a drug target is suitable
- 4
Identify the key functional groups of current drug molecules and analyse their interactions with biological targets
- 5
Apply the principles of structure-based drug design in drug discovery to design novel drug molecules
- 6
Calculate and evaluate physicochemical characteristics of current and novel drug molecules to ascertain their drug-likeness
- 7
Apply the processes of lead optimization to improve the drug-likeness of designed drug molecules
- 8
Compare and contrast properties and characteristics of selected essential pharmaceutical forms and rationally choose a pharmaceutical form to create a medicine
- 9
Propose innovative approaches to delivery of drug product and explain the rationale, advantages in formulation performance and methodology involved in manufacturing
- 10
Select performance testing methods and justify their relevance for the overall therapeutic performance of drug product
- 11
Effectively present key project outcomes to a peer audience in an original format using media technology
- 12
Write a Press Release that efficiently communicates your scientific findings to a lay audience
- 13
Reflect critically on skill development by analysing feedback and evidence, identifying strengths and gaps in key skills, and setting targeted goals to guide future growth
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Assessments6 hours
- Applied sessions22 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Twelve 1-hour applied sessions (Q&A)
- Twenty-four 1-hour online modules
- Six 2-hour workshops
- Three 3-hour workshops
- Four 2-hour applied skills sessions
- Three 1-hour coaching meetings
- Three 2-hour assessments
Learning resources
Required resources
An Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences – Production, Chemistry, Techniques and Technology –Author: J Roy –2011 Woodhead Publishing – series in biomedicine (ISBN: 9781907568527) ACD Labs Percepta Suite
Concepts, Structure Design and Methods from ADME to Toxicity Optimization (2016)
Drug Discovery and Development - Technology in Transition, 2nd Edition –Authors: RG Hill & HP Rang –2013 Elsevier Imprint: Churchill Livingstone (ISBN: 9780702042997)
Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology, 8th edition (Section 1 only – no chemistry) –Authors: HP Rang, JM Ritter, RJ Flower, G Henderson –2016 Elsevier Imprint: Churchill Livingstone (ISBN: 9780702053627)
The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry, 4th edition –Editor: CG Wermuth, D Aldous, P Raboisson & D Rognan –2015 Academic Press (Elsevier) (ISBN: 9780124172050)
Technology resources
Physicochemical Calculations - online (ChemDraw, Molinspiration, SwissADME, ACD Labs Percepta)
For more information on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) specifications and the technology systems and services available to students, review the Student Technology Essentials Handbook https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1041220/student-it-brochure.pdf
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Kristian Kempe
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Celine Liew
- Associate Professor Kristian Kempe
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for BPS1042?
BPS1042 has no prerequisites.
When is BPS1042 offered?
In 2025, BPS1042 runs in Semester 2 at Malaysia and Parkville.
Does BPS1042 have an exam?
No. BPS1042 has 6 assessment tasks and no exam.