Concepts in Pharmacology (11964.1)

Please note these are the 2023 details for this unit
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Concepts in Pharmacology
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Pharmacy Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
This unit will allow students to develop an understanding of the fundamental science knowledge base of pharmacology. Topics covered will include pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adverse drug effects and clinical considerations. To support student learning and development of critical practice requirements for professional outcomes, pharmacotherapy concepts will be applied to persons across the lifespan.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Explain the mechanism of action, adverse effects, drug interactions and clinical considerations of drugs;
2. Apply fundamental concepts of pharmacology in various clinical contexts;
3. Demonstrate the quality use of pharmacotherapy across the lifespan;
4. Practice in ways that ensure person-centred approaches to pharmacotherapy; and
5. Demonstrate capacity to engage in interprofessional team work for the delivery of quality use of pharmacotherapy.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

10298 Foundations of Anatomy and Physiology

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

10202 Concepts in Pharmacology

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2025 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 1 03 February 2025 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2025 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2026 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
2026 UC Sydney Hills, Castle Hill, NSW Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Mary Bushell
Not available

Required texts

Required Textbook:

  • Knights K., Darroch S., Rowland A., and Bushell M. Pharmacology for Health Professionals (6th edition). 2023 Elsevier. Sydney (including Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing)

Other Recommended Resources:
  • Therapeutic Guidelines, Therapeutics Guidelines Limited, North Melbourne. (e-copy available online via UC library)
  • Rossi S, ed. (current edition) Australian Medicines Handbook. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd. (e-copy available online via UC library)

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Extensions to assignments, placements, deferred intra-semester tests and examinations

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per intra-semester test/examination/placement (on the grounds of illness or other special circumstances as per UC Assessment Procedures). Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer an already deferred intra-semester test, exam or placement. A request for extensions/deferral must be on the Assessment Extension form with relevant documentation and must be lodged with the Unit Convener as soon as possible and no later than three business days from the due date. Students should note that deferral of exams held in the Final Assessment Period (which are centrally timetabled) follow a different process and are assessed by the examinations office.

Students must make themselves available for deferred assessments and placements scheduled by the unit convener as per UC Assessment Procedures.

Any student unable to undertake the deferred intra-semester test, exam, assignment or placement will receive a mark of zero or fail grade for that assessment task.

Special assessment requirements

To pass this unit, students must:

  • Attend 80% of scheduled tutorials, and
  • Achieve 50% overall.

Using generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can aid but should not replace independent thinking. If using genAI tools for the major project (topic development, book chapter, multimedia presentation), acknowledge their use in or provide an appropriate citation. Acknowledgement is not required for low-level tasks such as improving spelling, grammar, and quality of written expression.

You are responsible for content you submit. Be aware of limitations of genAI tools such as inaccuracies, biases, and incomplete content. GenAI tools work best for topics you already understand, with carefully crafted prompting based on peer-reviewed research. Refine prompts for better results and fact-check generated content. Despite the risks, genAI tools can aid brainstorming, concept explanation, synthesis of ideas, and improve the readability and quality of written expression. For further information please refer to UC library genAI guide (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai) and the Academic Integrity Module the Academic Integrity Module. 

The use of generate AI is not permitted for the Early Semester Test or the Final Examination.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the external professional accreditation for the course. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, students are expected to actively participate in at least 80% of the live tutorials.

It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash) it may be recommended that you schedule this unit for a future semester. Consideration will be given for illness; however, evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.

Required IT skills

Required IT Skills

Students should be conversant with searching for and accessing information via electronic means, using Canvas, and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

  • Required textbook costs
  • Elsevier adaptive quizzing access costs (comes with the purchase of the new textbook)
  • Self-printing of the electronically provided material
  • Potential costs associated with remote learning activities (e.g. reliable computer and internet connection).

Work placement, internships or practicums

N/A

Additional information

Style Guide for report formatting

Unless otherwise instructed (on Canvas or in writing), all written assessment pieces (formative and summative) must conform to the following requirements:

  • Headings in bold, maximum font size 16 pt.
  • Font size: 11 pt or 12 pt – Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. (consistent)
  • Margins no less than 1.5cm on all sides.
  • Page number at the bottom right-hand corner of the footer.
  • Student identification number (number only) at the top right-hand corner of the header.
  • References are given in the NLM/Vancouver style (chronological numeric) ONLY. Information on these referencing styles can be found on the library website at https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536
  • Assignment requirements (first page)
  • Any word limits specified in assignments (in this Unit Outline or in task descriptions on Canvas) will INCLUDE all tables, figures and appendices, but EXCLUDE references (unless otherwise stated).
  • Submissions which exceed the specified word (or page) length will be truncated at the word (or page) limit and only assessed to this point.