PHARMACOLOGY: INTRODUCTION TO DRUG ACTION - 2021/2

Module code: BMS2047

Module Overview

The purpose of the module is to introduce the subject of pharmacology to the students

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

TRINDER Sarah (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Workshop Hours: 9

Independent Learning Hours: 69

Lecture Hours: 10

Tutorial Hours: 10

Laboratory Hours: 1

Guided Learning: 11

Captured Content: 40

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

BMS1032 - Introduction to principles of physiology and practical skills

Module content

Indicative content includes:
• Introduction to drugs and receptors
• Drugs and peripheral nervous system
• Drugs for cardiovascular diseases
• Inflammation and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Central nervous system neurotransmitters
• Anxiolytics and hypnotics
• Anti-epileptic drugs
• Anti-depressants
• Anti-psychotics
• Drugs for motor disorders
• Opioids and centrally-acting analgesics
• Chemotherapy
• Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion (ADME)
• Pharmacokinetics
• Factors affecting ADME

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework COURSEWORK - ESSAY 30
Examination Online EXAM - 90 MIN - 50 MCQS AND ONE ESSAY QUESTION (FROM A CHOICE OF THREE) 70

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Understanding of the topic, and ability to find, evaluate and use additional material to answer the coursework questions.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

·         One coursework essay from a choice of three, 1000 words, designed to be flexible and give the students a chance to choose their own topics within the scope of the questions. Provisional deadline will be Tuesday week 9 semester.

·         One 90 minute exam, with MCQs and 1 essay question from s choice of 3

Formative assessment and feedback

Coursework tutorials and peer feedback sessions will be timetabled.  Students will receive feedback on their essay prior to the exam period. General feedback on each question is provided via SurreyLearn so that all students can benefit from it.

Module aims

  • To provide an overview of pharmacology with the emphasis on therapeutically useful drugs
  • To provide a framework, based on physiology and biochemistry, for understanding the mechanism of action of drugs

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Describe how drugs can modify the activity of various body systems
2 Describe how this can be therapeutically useful and also how this can give rise to side effects
3 Be familiar with the major classes of drugs in therapeutic use
4 Know how the body handles drugs, and how this influences the response to some drugs

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide the basic information required to understand the mechanism of action of drugs and how they are handled by the body, and encourage the students to read more widely.

The learning and teaching methods include:
• Lectures, revision tutorials, electronic voting
• 3-4 lectures/week

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2047

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Microbiology BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biomedical Science MSci (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biochemistry BSc (Hons) 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biochemistry MSci (Hons) 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Veterinary Biosciences BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Biological Sciences BSc (Hons) 2 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.