PHA3011 Principles of drug action
Faculty of Science
PHA3011 Principles of drug action is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2021 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 3 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2021
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 30%
- and 3 other tasks
This is the 2021 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before PHA3011
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After PHA3011
3 units list PHA3011 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Overview
This unit provides a basic understanding of the principles of drug action - including the targets of drug action (receptors, enzymes, ion channels), drug receptor interactions, receptor families and signalling pathways - as well as the principles of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion). Particular examples of neurotransmitter systems and mediator systems (including histamine, 5HT, eicosanoids and the renin angiotensin system) as targets for drug action are studied in detail.
Offerings in 2021
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Laboratories and workshopsThreshold hurdle20%
- Team assignment: Experimental design in pharmacologyAssignment20%
- In-semester tests & MCQ writing/evaluation activityIn class test30%
- Examination (1 hour and 40 minutes)ExamThreshold hurdle30%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Discuss mechanisms by which drugs can act to produce changes in living systems;
- 2
Utilise the basic principles of pharmacokinetics to explain individual differences in responses to drugs;
- 3
Apply knowledge of endogenous mediator systems to predict the potential therapeutic and adverse effects of drugs;
- 4
Access relevant scientific literature to design a set of experiments to address a specific hypothesis relating to a drug's mechanism of action;
- 5
Demonstrate the ability to execute pharmacological experiments to obtain, present and interpret data relating to mechanisms of drug action;
- 6
Demonstrate the ability to source, critically evaluate and use scientific literature to address a defined pharmacological problem;
- 7
Demonstrate the ability to work individually and collaboratively.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Lectures24 hours
- Laboratories9 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Two 1-hour lectures and three hours of laboratory or self-directed learning/ workshop per week
Active learning will be incorporated into all teaching activities - lectures, workshops and laboratory classes. Key concepts will be delivered via interactive lectures that will incorporate pre-class and post-class activities to provide opportunities fo consolidate your learning.
Laboratory sessions will illustrate and reinforce concepts as you develop experimetnal skills relevant to pharmacology, including skills in presentation and interpretation of data and logical reasoning.
Workshops will be used to extend and apply discipline knowledge and develop critical thinking skills.
The team assignment develops skills in the experimental design and build teamwork capabilities.
Self- and peer-marking activities, along with frequent reflection exercises will help you develop the skills required to critically evaluate your own and others' work and contributions and encourage you to play an active role in the assessment process.
Learning resources
Required resources
If you forget your lab coat, disposable single-use only lab coats can be purchased from the vending machines provided on the ground floor of the BLTB.
Technology resources
Catme (via www.catme.org <http://www.catme.org/> ): This website will be used to facilitate the peer/self-evaluations during the team project. Each team member is to complete 2 surveys – a formative evaluation is due PRIOR to the week 8 mid-project presentation (by 11:59pm Monday May 4) and the final summative evaluation is to be completed by 11:59pm Sunday May 31. This final evaluation will be used in the calculation of marks for individual team members.
In-class activities (lectures and workshops) will often require access to online resources (including polling websites) and information. Students are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop/tablet to each class.
PeerWise: Access to this website will be possible from the start of week 3. This is a website that students can use to create and to explain their understanding of course-related assessment questions, and to answer and discuss questions created by their peers. In writing, answering and evaluating questions here, you not only help create a database of revision questions, but also test your knowledge and understanding of the content as you write detailed explanations of correct/incorrect responses that your peers can evaluate.
Use of PeerWise is an assessable activity . Details about this activity (including how to access and what is required) are included in the Assessment section of this Unit Guide and in the Assessment <https://lms.monash.edu/mod/book/view.php?id=6597566> section of Moodle.
Where it fits
PHA3011 is part of 1 area of study in the 2021 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Klaudia Budzyn
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Elizabeth Davis
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for PHA3011?
PHA3011 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after PHA3011?
PHA3011 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 3 units, including PHA3021, PHA3032 and PHA3042.
When is PHA3011 offered?
In 2021, PHA3011 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
Does PHA3011 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 30% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include PHA3011?
PHA3011 is part of Pharmacology.