Pharmacy Practice Courses
PHMD 1000. College: An Introduction. (1 Hour)
Introduces the University, college, and health professions to enhance students’ understanding of self and the decisions they make academically and socially as members of the University’s diverse, multicultural community. Offers students an opportunity to engage in group activities and individual assignments along with active participation in a learning community to help them adjust to life on an urban campus, develop a better understanding of the learning process, acquire essential academic skills, and make connections with the faculty and students in the college.
PHMD 1001. Introduction to the Profession of Pharmacy. (1 Hour)
Introduces the profession of pharmacy. Addresses professionalism, pharmacists’ responsibilities, and the education and training of pharmacists.
PHMD 1201. Introduction to Pharmacy Practice. (2.5 Hours)
Seeks to prepare pharmacy students for their first introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE)/co-op. Introduces students to the policies, procedures, and expectations of the Cooperative Education Program. Offers students an opportunity to develop the skills needed to be successful in the preparation, activity, and reflection components of the pharmacy co-op program; to prepare their first résumés; and to learn proper interviewing techniques. Exposes students to the various co-op opportunities available to them as well as potential career paths within the pharmacy profession. Covers workplace issues including diversity, sexual harassment, ethics, and confidence of information. Introduces students to the technical knowledge and skills required for their first pharmacy experiences in both community and institutional pharmacy practice and to drug information resources. Offers students an opportunity to develop basic communication skills to aid them in successful completion of their first IPPE.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 1202
PHMD 1202. Lab for PHMD 1201. (0.5 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to learn several skills needed for future patient-care experiences. Supplements lecture content and provides practical reinforcement of concepts. Students apply knowledge learned in the classroom related to the appropriate and effective use of communication strategies and basic sterile techniques/manipulations. Labs related to the learning of communication skills support a patient-centered approach in assessing, adapting, and evaluating patient medication use needs.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 1201
PHMD 1990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHMD 2100. Entrepreneurship in Health Sciences. (4 Hours)
Addresses principles and applications of entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry, focusing on healthcare ventures and technology. Explores different business organizations, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, joint ventures and not-for-profit enterprises. Such explorations offer students an opportunity to identify and evaluate business skills and commitment necessary to successfully operate an entrepreneurial venture and address the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Considers the requirements, costs, and benefits of various forms of financial options open to entrepreneurs. Presentations and discussions are led by accomplished entrepreneurs and practitioners engaged in healthcare teaching, research, and business. Case studies identify the challenges and rewards of successful entrepreneurial ventures that set positive examples for budding entrepreneurs in leading change and innovation.
PHMD 2310. Professional Communication in Pharmacy Practice. (2 Hours)
Offers pharmacy students an opportunity to learn the principles for understanding, applying, evaluating, and creating successful verbal and nonverbal communication interactions in a variety of pharmacist and interprofessional settings. Through a patient-centered approach, reviews and builds on core communication skills learned in the foundational introduction to pharmacy practice courses. Topics include using effective communication approaches to detect and intervene to improve adherence, facilitate behavioral change, collaborate with other professionals, and tailor communication to special and culturally diverse patient populations.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 2311
Attribute(s): NUpath Difference/Diversity
PHMD 2311. Lab for PHMD 2310. (0.5 Hours)
Supplements lecture content from PHMD 2310. Designed to provide pharmacy students with several skills needed for future patient-care experiences and provide practical reinforcement of concepts. Students apply knowledge learned in the classroom related to the appropriate and effective use of communication strategies. Labs related to the learning of communication skills support a client-centered approach in assessing, adapting, and evaluating patient medication use needs. Specifically offers students an opportunity to learn and practice six core communication skills: listening, asking questions, providing empathy, understanding and managing confusion, understanding and managing conflict, and understanding and analyzing nonverbal behavior.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 2310
PHMD 2350. Healthcare Systems. (3 Hours)
Examines the evolution of the American healthcare delivery system from the early forms of organized institutional healthcare through the dynamic, and increasingly integrated, delivery systems of the present. Explores the interactions of regulatory, economic, political, and social aspects of the healthcare system with particular emphasis on pharmacy practices. Compares current policies and proposals for health reform and pharmacy benefit coverage. Analyzes the impact and consequences of national and international actions in one era on the structure, function, and outcomes of healthcare and professional pharmacy practice in later years. Major emphases include factors affecting American population health, health disparities, and strategies, including pharmacy/pharmacists, to improve the nation’s health.
PHMD 2550. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Drug and Medical Device Development. (4 Hours)
Introduces the process of innovation and entrepreneurship within drug and medical device development. Explores the perspectives of the pharmaceutical industry and medical device industry, as well as regulatory agencies, within the United States. Presents drug/device discovery, development, deployment, and life cycle as it pertains to business development and planning. Examines the roles of individuals in innovation and entrepreneurship across the industry.
PHMD 2900. A Global Appreciation of Self-Care Approaches and Strategies. (4 Hours)
Develops a basic understanding of self-care and preventive health strategies that consumers use in United States and other cultures/countries. Examines the similarities and differences of the role of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and pharmacy in the healthcare environment through the use of the internet and contemporary media, observations in other countries, and discussions with guest speakers. Explores the clinical use, safety and efficacy of common OTC medications and complementary alternatives (vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbals, homeopathic remedies, etc.) available in the US compared to what is available in other countries. Explores historical and modern community pharmacy environments and other culturally relevant venues in other cultures.
PHMD 2940. History of Pharmacy and Professional Leadership. (2 Hours)
Explores the history of the profession of pharmacy, with a particular focus on the development of patient care aspects of the profession from the mid-20th century to the present. Engages in comparative reviews of major historical events that shaped the post-industrialization clinical pharmacy movement and the leaders and groups responsible for advancing the movement. Offers opportunities for students to identify and refine their own leadership abilities and prepare to influence the future of the profession with perspectives gained from historical and current events along with emerging opportunities.
PHMD 2990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHMD 2991. Research in Pharmacy Practice. (1-4 Hours)
Offers an opportunity to conduct introductory-level research or creative endeavors under faculty supervision. May be repeated once.
PHMD 3450. Research Methodology and Biostatistics. (3 Hours)
Offers an interactive course covering aspects of research designs used in experimental and observational studies, hypothesis testing, and an introduction to basic biostatistics. Offers students an opportunity to critically examine selected articles from the clinical literature, to analyze the framing of the research question and the methods used to insure the validity and generalizability of the study’s findings, and to assess for potential ethical issues in research design and conduct. Clinical trials, observational studies, and problem sets illustrate principles of research design, conduct, and data analysis.
Prerequisite(s): (ENGL 1102 with a minimum grade of C or ENGL 1111 with a minimum grade of C or ENGW 1102 with a minimum grade of C or ENGW 1111 with a minimum grade of C or ENGW 1113 with a minimum grade of C or ENGW 1114 with a minimum grade of C ) or graduate program admission
Attribute(s): NUpath Ethical Reasoning, NUpath Natural/Designed World
PHMD 3600. Leadership and Advocacy in Health Professions. (2 Hours)
Designed to help facilitate successful careers of young healthcare professionals and expand students’ knowledge of their leadership potential. Consists primarily of topic discussions that include a variety of issues related to professional development, focusing on leadership, organizational and relational skills, and advocacy. Covers global issues in leadership and advocacy. Encourages students to recognize the need for leadership in health professions and the ability of practitioners to influence change regardless of whether they have a title or position of authority. Seeks to be valuable to students with interests in administrative positions in various settings, including in high-level clinical positions, and to students who plan to pursue postgraduate training.
PHMD 3990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHMD 4350. Exploring Academic Careers. (2 Hours)
Designed to prepare students to become more confident and effective as educators for many audiences, including peers, colleagues, clients, and patients. Offers students an opportunity to increase their awareness of teaching and learning principles and related roles and responsibilities as they apply to academic careers and faculty in the classroom, in experiential settings, and in university units. Discusses and explores knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are applicable across professions.
PHMD 4581. Cancer Chemotherapy. (2 Hours)
Emphasizes the role of chemotherapy in the management of malignant disease. Reviews specific antineoplastic agents, specific malignancies, and related topics. Focuses throughout the course on supportive care for the cancer patient.
PHMD 4585. Research Methods in Health Systems. (2 Hours)
Exposes students to research skills and methods used by health system pharmacists when planning and conducting research. Builds on content from prior courses. Designed for students planning to pursue a career in a health system or the pharmaceutical industry. Focuses on discussion and application; taught by healthcare-system-based pharmacists actively involved in clinical research. Emphasizes the process used to generate robust research questions and research plans throughout. Uses practice statements/guidelines, published studies, patient databases, and faculty's current research projects to illustrate course topics.
PHMD 4611. Comprehensive Disease Management 1. (6 Hours)
Covers foundational concepts of pharmacy practice, including patient evaluation; identification of drug-related problems; pathophysiology; and clinical management of diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. Specifically covers asthma and COPD, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, fluids/electrolytes, and renal disorders. Reviews, system-by-system, the mechanisms of these diseases and their evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Offers students an opportunity to apply scientific knowledge and principles of medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and pharmacokinetics to the design of rational, evidence-based therapeutic strategies to provide care to patients in inpatient, ambulatory, and community settings. Emphasizes pathophysiology, self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, monitoring, and preventative health and population-based health outcomes.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 4502 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHSC 3412 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 2350 with a minimum grade of D-
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4612
PHMD 4612. Comprehensive Disease Management 1 Seminar. (1 Hour)
Designed to provide students with opportunities to apply concepts from PHMD 4611 to patient cases, special projects, and other medication-related issues focusing on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice, identification of drug-related problems, and diseases of the respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular, and renal systems. Accompanies PHMD 4611 and seeks to facilitate accomplishment of course objectives using an active learning format. While completing seminar work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in comprehensive disease management lectures and readings as well as previous and concurrent course work.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4611
PHMD 4621. Comprehensive Disease Management 2. (6 Hours)
Covers the pathophysiology and clinical management of diseases of the renal, cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal systems. Reinforces foundational concepts of pharmacy practice and diseases covered in PHMD 4611, while completing a system-by-system review of the mechanisms of renal, cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal disorders and their evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Offers students an opportunity to design rational therapeutic strategies to provide care to patients with these disease states in inpatient, ambulatory, and community settings. Emphasizes pathophysiology, self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, monitoring, and preventative health and population-based health outcomes.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 3430 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 4611 with a minimum grade of D-
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4622, PHMD 4623
PHMD 4622. Comprehensive Disease Management 2 Seminar. (1 Hour)
Designed to provide students with opportunities to apply concepts from PHMD 4621 to patient cases, special projects, and other medication-related issues focusing on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice; identification of drug-related problems; and diseases of the renal, cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal systems. Accompanies PHMD 4621 and seeks to facilitate accomplishment of course objectives using an active-learning format. While completing seminar work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in comprehensive disease management lectures and readings as well as previous and concurrent course work. Activities in seminar are reinforced by laboratory skill-building exercises in PHMD 4623.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4621, PHMD 4623
PHMD 4623. Comprehensive Disease Management 2 Skills Lab. (0.5 Hours)
Offers a self-paced, blended learning experience designed to provide the student with functional knowledge and skills in the area of physical assessment, patient education, and counseling in the ambulatory clinic and community pharmacy settings. Uses discussions, videos, podcasts, simulations, and hands-on learning activities in the lab. Offers students an opportunity to apply information gained in previous and concurrent courses to clinical situations. While completing laboratory work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in the closely aligned PHMD 4621 and PHMD 4622 as well as previous and concurrent course work.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4621, PHMD 4622
PHMD 4631. Comprehensive Disease Management 3. (6 Hours)
Covers the pathophysiology and clinical management of infectious diseases, solid organ transplant, dermatology, and otic/ophthalmic disorders. Reinforces foundational concepts of pharmacy practice and diseases covered in PHMD 4611 and PHMD 4612, while completing a system-by-system review of the mechanisms of infectious diseases and their evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Offers students an opportunity to design rational therapeutic strategies to provide care to patients with these disease states in inpatient, ambulatory, and community settings. Emphasizes pathophysiology, self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, monitoring, and preventative health and population-based health outcomes.
Prerequisite(s): PHMD 4621 with a minimum grade of D-
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4632, PHMD 4633
PHMD 4632. Comprehensive Disease Management 3 Seminar. (1 Hour)
Designed to provide students with opportunities to apply concepts from PHMD 4631 to patient cases, special projects, and other medication-related issues focusing on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice, identification of drug-related problems, and management of the infectious diseases and dermatologic and oral/otic disorders. Accompanies PHMD 4631 and seeks to facilitate accomplishment of course objectives using an active-learning format. While completing seminar work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in comprehensive disease management lectures and readings as well as previous and concurrent course work. Activities in seminar are reinforced by laboratory skill-building exercises in PHMD 4633.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4631, PHMD 4633
PHMD 4633. Comprehensive Disease Management 3 Skills Lab. (0.5 Hours)
Teaches and assesses various skills, including interpretation, processing, and verification of medication orders; detection and resolution of drug-related problems; use of current pharmacy software programs; and patient education and counseling in the community pharmacy setting. Uses discussions, videos, podcasts, simulations, and hands-on learning activities in the lab. While completing laboratory work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in the closely aligned PHMD 4631 and PHMD 4632 as well as previous and concurrent course work.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4631, PHMD 4632
PHMD 4641. Comprehensive Disease Management 4. (6 Hours)
Covers the pathophysiology and clinical management of men’s and women’s health issues and neurological, psychiatric, and oncologic disorders. Reinforces foundational concepts of pharmacy practice and diseases covered in PHMD 4611, PHMD 4612, and PHMD 4613, while completing a system-by-system review of the mechanisms of infectious diseases and their evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Offers students an opportunity to design rational therapeutic strategies to provide care to patients with these disease states in inpatient, ambulatory, and community settings. Emphasizes pathophysiology, self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, monitoring, and preventative health and population-based health outcomes.
Prerequisite(s): PHMD 4631 with a minimum grade of D-
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4642, PHMD 4643
PHMD 4642. Comprehensive Disease Management 4 Seminar. (1 Hour)
Designed to provide students with opportunities to apply concepts from PHMD 4641 to patient cases, special projects, and other medication-related issues focusing on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice, identification of drug-related problems, and management of women’s and men’s disease, psychological disorders, and cancers. Accompanies PHMD 4641 and seeks to facilitate accomplishment of course objectives using an active-learning format. While completing seminar work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in comprehensive disease management lectures and readings as well as previous and concurrent course work. Activities in seminar are reinforced by laboratory skill-building exercises in PHMD 4643.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4641, PHMD 4643
PHMD 4643. Comprehensive Disease Management 4 Skills Lab. (0.5 Hours)
Teaches and assesses various skills, including interpretation, processing, and verification of medication orders; detection and resolution of drug-related problems; use of current pharmacy software programs; medication reconciliation; presentation of hospitalized patients; and management of sterile compounding systems in the hospital pharmacy setting. Uses discussions, videos, podcasts, simulations, and hands-on learning activities in the lab. While completing laboratory work, students are expected to review, discuss, integrate, and apply information presented in the closely aligned PHMD 4641 and PHMD 4642 as well as previous and concurrent course work.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 4641, PHMD 4642
PHMD 4700. Principles in General Medicine. (2 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to apply concepts learned in comprehensive-disease-management modules to patient cases, special projects, and other medication-related problems in an active-learning environment. Creates an environment similar to that of acute care advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) to enable students to gain familiarity and confidence in disease-state management, oral communication skills, and professional behavior and interactions. Focuses on oral presentations and communication skills, which is similar to how students are evaluated on clinically based rotations; students are also evaluated by quizzes and exams to measure mastery of content-specific objectives.
PHMD 4890. Contemporary Issues in Geriatric Pharmacy. (2 Hours)
Focuses on the physiological and practical aspects of medication use in the elderly; healthcare delivery systems; the role of healthcare professionals in providing geriatric care; and the management of geriatric syndromes. Caring for the aging population requires a patient-centered approach that encompasses the patient’s health goals, a complex psychosocial landscape, as well as the physiologic changes associated with aging. It is imperative for healthcare professionals to understand the interplay of these factors in order to appropriately assess, treat, and improve outcomes for the older adult population. Offers students an opportunity to utilize problem-based learning (PBL), where students work in groups to analyze patient cases, identify problems, and develop action plans to resolve problems.
PHMD 4970. Junior/Senior Honors Project 1. (4 Hours)
Focuses on in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student’s major field. Combined with Junior/Senior Project 2 or college-defined equivalent for 8-credit honors project. May be repeated without limit.
PHMD 4971. Junior/Senior Honors Project 2. (4 Hours)
Focuses on second semester of in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student’s major field. May be repeated without limit.
Prerequisite(s): PHMD 4970 with a minimum grade of D-
PHMD 4990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHMD 5115. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 2. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular, renal, and gastrointestinal diseases. Studies knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Offers students an opportunity to develop patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management and monitoring, and preventative health and population-based health outcomes. .
Prerequisite(s): (PHSC 5110 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHSC 5181 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5191 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5120. Principles of Pharmacy Practice. (4 Hours)
Introduces policies, procedures, and expectations of the experiential program. Offers students an opportunity to prepare for their first introductory pharmacy practice experience by developing knowledge, attitudes, and communications skills needed to be successful in all components of the experiential program. Exposes students to various IPPE/co-op opportunities, as well as potential career paths, within pharmacy. Covers workplace issues including diversity, sexual harassment, ethics, and confidence of information; resumé preparation; and interviewing techniques. Introduces technical knowledge and skills required for IPPE/co-op in community and institutional settings and drug information resources.
PHMD 5140. Integrated Social and Administrative Sciences 1. (4 Hours)
Explores foundational concepts in social and administrative sciences, examining the organization and function of American healthcare systems. Assesses the impacts of system-level actions on individual patients. Offers students an opportunity to build skills in understanding specific drug information needs and finding and conveying this information. Compares and contrasts approaches for successful verbal and nonverbal communication among pharmacists, patients, and other health professionals across diverse situations. Evaluates American legal frameworks that establish standards for pharmacy practice today.
Prerequisite(s): ENGW 3306 with a minimum grade of D- or graduate program admission
PHMD 5182. Integrated Learning Lab 2. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and therapeutics of cardiovascular diseases. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote the development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHMD 5191. Concepts in Practice 1. (1 Hour)
Applies concepts through activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes focused on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice. Covers identification of drug-related problems, problem solving, and disease state management. Focuses on patient assessment and common cardiovascular diseases. Reviews, discusses, synthesizes, and applies information from current and previous coursework and experiential activities in an active-learning format.
PHMD 5192. Concepts in Practice 2. (1 Hour)
Applies concepts through activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes focused on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice. Covers identification of drug-related problems, problem solving, and disease state management. Focuses on advanced cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, and renal and gastrointestinal diseases. Reviews, discusses, synthesizes, and applies information from current and previous coursework and experiential activities in an active-learning format.
PHMD 5210. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 4. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, immunology, microbiology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with acute and chronic bacterial and fungal infectious diseases. Offers students an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Focuses on developing patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, and monitoring, as well as preventative health and population-based health outcomes. .
Prerequisite(s): (PHSC 5205 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5283 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5293 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5215. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 5. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, immunology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with viral infectious diseases, organ transplant, and self-care therapeutics. Offers students an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Focuses on developing patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, and monitoring, as well as preventative health and population-based health outcomes. .
Prerequisite(s): (PHSC 5205 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5283 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5293 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5220. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 6. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with acute and chronic pain and neurologic and psychiatric diseases. Offers students an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Focuses on developing patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, and monitoring, as well as preventative health and population-based health outcomes. .
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 5210 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5215 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5284 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5294 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5223. Evidence-Based Medicine. (2 Hours)
Studies the principles of evidence-based medicine and how to apply them to patient-centered care. Offers students an opportunity to develop skills in critical appraisal of the scientific literature and practical application of the evidence to clinical decision making. Consists of didactic instruction, in-class group projects, and a group-based written assignment. Applies principles of research methodology, biostatistics, and professional writing.
Prerequisite(s): (ENGW 3306 with a minimum grade of C or graduate program admission)
Attribute(s): NUpath Writing Intensive
PHMD 5225. Medical Writing. (2 Hours)
Introduces concepts and principles of effective scientific writing and communication of clinical information to health professionals and the scientific community. Examines a variety of scientific genres that provide context to common writing techniques and conventions employed. Emphasizes developing expertise in critical research, data evaluation and synthesis, audience analysis, peer review, revision, and evidence-based summaries and conclusions. Provides opportunity to develop necessary skills to effectively synthesize scientific evidence and write and communicate to a variety of scientific audiences. Designed for those who will encounter a spectrum of scientific writing throughout their careers.
Prerequisite(s): ENGW 3306 with a minimum grade of C or graduate program admission
PHMD 5240. Integrated Social and Administrative Sciences 2. (4 Hours)
Provides a foundation in research methodology, drug information skills, and evidence-based medicine in an interactive format. Emphasizes research designs used in experimental and observational studies, hypothesis testing, and basic biostatistics, along with the critical examination of articles to analyze research questions and methods related to validity, generalizability, and ethical issues in design and conduct. Uses clinical trials, observational studies, and problem sets to illustrate principles of research design, conduct, data analysis, and evaluation. Emphasizes development of applied drug information skills in formulary support, health informatics, medication error and adverse event reporting, and quality assurance, as well as writing for a variety of audiences (pharmacists, healthcare providers, and the lay public) and use of peer review.
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 5140 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5182 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5192 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
Attribute(s): NUpath Ethical Reasoning, NUpath Natural/Designed World, NUpath Writing Intensive
PHMD 5245. Integrated Social and Administrative Sciences 3. (4 Hours)
Describes managerial, administrative, and leadership skills essential for a contemporary pharmacist. Uses general business principles as a foundation for applications to common pharmacy practice settings, with an emphasis on community and hospital pharmacy. Offers students opportunities to participate in projects and group work designed to facilitate understanding and applications of managerial, administrative, leadership, and entrepreneurship principles to pharmacy practice. Emphasizes enhanced development of applied drug information skills important to the pharmacist in areas of formulary support, health informatics, medication error and adverse event reporting, and quality assurance. Covers analysis and evaluation of laws, rules, and regulations controlling pharmacy practice related to medication dispensing.
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 5240 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5283 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5293 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5250. Pharmacy Care Management. (4 Hours)
Focuses on the managerial and administrative skills required by a contemporary pharmacist practicing in either a community or hospital setting. Covers classical management principles of planning, decision making, organizing, hiring, and controlling. Case study methods are used as an interactive teaching tool. Also covers pertinent current events.
Prerequisite(s): PHMD 2350 with a minimum grade of C
PHMD 5270. Economic Evaluation of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy Practice. (2 Hours)
Introduces the principles of economic theory of healthcare markets and economic evaluation of health products and services. Economic theory topics include fundamentals of supply and demand, market structure, market failure, and the role of government. Economic evaluation topics include measuring costs and benefits of a specific treatment, types of formal decision analysis, ethical considerations, and implementation in the real world. Restricted to students with fifth-year PharmD standing.
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 4631 with a minimum grade of C- or PHMD 4631 with a minimum grade of D- ); (PHMD 4632 with a minimum grade of C- or PHMD 4632 with a minimum grade of D- )
PHMD 5282. Integrated Learning Lab 2. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and therapeutics of cardiovascular diseases. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote the development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHMD 5283. Integrated Learning Lab 3. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes pharmacokinetics; professional communication skills; drug information; jurisprudence; research methods; patient counseling; and pharmacology, immunology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and therapeutics of chronic rheumatologic, immune-mediated, dermatologic, and oncologic diseases. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHMD 5284. Integrated Learning Lab 4. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes professional communication skills; drug information; management; jurisprudence; patient counseling; aseptic technique/compounding; and pharmacology, immunology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and therapeutics of acute and chronic infectious diseases. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote the development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHMD 5285. Integrated Learning Lab 5. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes professional communication skills; drug information; jurisprudence; patient counseling; pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and pathophysiology; and therapeutics of acute and chronic neurologic, pain, and psychiatric diseases. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote the development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHMD 5293. Concepts in Practice 3. (1 Hour)
Applies concepts through activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes focused on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice. Covers identification of drug-related problems, problem solving, and disease state management related to the pharmaceutical care of patients with a focus on pharmacokinetics and chronic rheumatologic, immune-mediated, dermatologic, and oncologic diseases. Reviews, discusses, synthesizes, and applies information from current and previous coursework and experiential activities in an active learning format.
PHMD 5294. Concepts in Practice 4. (1 Hour)
Applies concepts through activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes focused on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice. Covers identification of drug-related problems, problem solving, and disease state management related to the pharmaceutical care of patients with a focus on acute and chronic infectious diseases. Reviews, discusses, synthesizes, and applies information from current and previous coursework and experiential activities in an active learning format.
PHMD 5295. Concepts in Practice 5. (1 Hour)
Applies concepts through activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes focused on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice. Covers identification of drug-related problems, problem solving, and disease state management related to the pharmaceutical care of patients with a focus on acute and chronic neurologic pain and psychiatric diseases. Reviews, discusses, synthesizes, and applies information from current and previous coursework and experiential activities in an active learning format.
PHMD 5320. APPE Readiness. (4 Hours)
Designed to prepare students for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences. Builds upon and assesses knowledge, skills, and attitudes developed during the first three years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum. Offers learning activities and assessments that simulate student responsibilities during an APPE including interprofessional collaborations, caring for diverse patient populations in different settings, communicating with care team members, and assessing evidence to support informed recommendations and educational interventions for patients. Utilizes a continuous professional development and lifelong learning plan and reflection on skill development to set goals for APPE and postgraduation.
Corequisite(s): PHMD 5335
Attribute(s): NUpath Capstone Experience
PHMD 5330. Jurisprudence. (3 Hours)
Examines how federal and state regulatory bodies, statues, laws, regulations, policies, guidance, and practice guides set the standard for the present-day practice of pharmacy.
Prerequisite(s): PHMD 4611 with a minimum grade of C- or PHMD 4611 with a minimum grade of C-
PHMD 5335. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 7. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with acute and chronic conditions with men’s and women’s health, endocrine, and thyroid disorders. Offers students an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Focuses on developing patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, and monitoring, as well as preventative health and population-based health outcomes. .
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 5220 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5285 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5295 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5345. Integrated Social and Administrative Sciences 4. (4 Hours)
Introduces the principles of economic theory of healthcare, pharmaceutical markets, and economic evaluation of health products and services. Economic theory topics include fundamentals of supply and demand, market structure, market failure, and the role of government, with a focus on pharmaceutical products and market. Economic evaluation topics include measuring costs and benefits of a specific treatment, types of formal decision analysis, ethical considerations, and implementation in the real world. Studies advanced development of applied drug information skills important to the pharmacist in areas of formulary support, health informatics, medication error and adverse event reporting, and quality assurance. Covers analysis and evaluation of laws, rules, and regulations controlling pharmacy practice related to medication dispensing.
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 5245 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5285 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5295 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHMD 5386. Integrated Learning Lab 6. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes professional communication skills, drug information, jurisprudence, patient counseling, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and therapeutics of acute and chronic conditions with men/women’s health, endocrine, and thyroid disorders. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote the development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHMD 5396. Concepts in Practice 6. (1 Hour)
Applies concepts through activities designed to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes focused on foundational aspects of pharmacy practice. Covers identification of drug-related problems, problem solving, and disease state management related to the pharmaceutical care of patients with a focus on acute and chronic conditions with men/women’s health, endocrine, and thyroid diseases. Reviews, discusses, synthesizes, and applies information from current and previous coursework and experiential activities in an active-learning format.
PHMD 5450. Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Preparatory Seminar. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to collect relevant information to make informed decisions concerning the selection of advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). Designed to provide new knowledge (e.g., what is expected of a P4 student) and to strengthen existing knowledge (e.g., from didactic courses) to offer a smooth transition from the didactic courses to APPEs.
PHMD 5560. Applied Drug Information. (2 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to obtain the skills necessary to become effective providers of drug information. An effective provider assesses drug information needs and evaluates, applies, and communicates data from the published literature and other sources to optimize patient care. Designed to help students develop applied drug information skills important to the pharmacist in areas of formulary support, health informatics, medication error and adverse event reporting, and quality assurance. Students complete a variety of active learning exercises, including multiple evidence-based written drug information responses and a current events analysis. Emphasizes writing for a variety of audiences, including pharmacists, other healthcare providers, and the lay public, as well as use of peer review.
Prerequisite(s): ENGW 3306 with a minimum grade of C or graduate program admission
Attribute(s): NUpath Writing Intensive
PHMD 5571. Pharmaceutical Industry—An Introduction. (1 Hour)
Presents a general overview of pharmaceutical industry functional areas. Focuses on areas that host national postgraduate training programs. Introduces all major functions of industry, such as clinical research, medical affairs, regulatory affairs, health economic and outcomes research, marketing, sales, medical science liaisons, business development, and pharmacovigilance. Explores the phases of drug development and how these phases interact with different departments.
PHMD 5575. Pharmaceutical Industry. (2 Hours)
Offers a global overview of pharmaceutical industry career options and pathways. Focuses on all major functions of the industry, such as clinical research and medical affairs. Additional areas covered include regulatory affairs, health economic and outcomes research, marketing, sales, scientific liaisons, and pharmacovigilance. Explores the phases of drug development and how these phases interact with different departments.
PHMD 5600. Pharmacy Capstone. (4 Hours)
Acts as a final integrator of the major, general education, and experiential aspects of the student’s education. Expects students to demonstrate motivation and initiative and to work cooperatively with their faculty mentor, community partners, and fellow students (where applicable) in order to complete a comprehensive, high-quality scholarly work (e.g., a research project, educational project, administrative project, business plan, case report, or community-service learning project or professional manuscript) appropriate for dissemination to the university and professional community. The timeline for completion is set by the faculty mentor and agreed to by the individual or all members of the student group. May be repeated once.
Attribute(s): NUpath Capstone Experience, NUpath Writing Intensive
PHMD 5675. Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Practice in Urban Health. (2 Hours)
Introduces various aspects of ambulatory care pharmacy practice and social, economic, cultural, and psychological intricacies. Covers chronic disease management and prevention and wellness. Offers students an opportunity to gain insight into the pharmacist’s role as part of a patient-centered medical home model and/or an interdisciplinary primary care team, with an emphasis on urban health.
Prerequisite(s): PHMD 4621 with a minimum grade of D- or PHMD 4621 with a minimum grade of C- (Graduate)
PHMD 5900. Self-Care and Nonprescription Medications: A Team-Based Approach. (2 Hours)
Focuses on the clinical use, safety, and efficacy of common nonprescription medications and complementary alternatives (vitamins, minerals, supplements, herbals, etc.) used in the outpatient setting to treat minor medical problems. Pharmacists are often approached by members of the community to recommend treatments for common ailments. It is important for pharmacists to quickly and accurately assess patients to determine if they are candidates for self-care or if a referral to another healthcare provider is warranted. Offers students an opportunity to develop the necessary skills to determine if self-care treatment is an option for patients and to make appropriate self-care and nonprescription product selection recommendations based on the assessment of a patient’s health status, medical problems, and current practice of self-treatment through case-based examples.
PHMD 5976. Directed Study. (1-4 Hours)
Offers independent work under the direction of members of the department on a chosen topic. Course content depends on instructor. May be repeated for up to 4 total credits.
PHMD 5984. Research. (1-4 Hours)
Offers an opportunity to conduct research under faculty supervision. May be repeated without limit.
Pharmaceutical Science Courses
PHSC 1001. Introduction to Contemporary Pharmaceutical Sciences. (1 Hour)
Introduces multiple aspects of the contemporary pharmaceutical sciences. Explores how these disciplines are used to solve real-world medical problems. Offers students an opportunity to learn about foundational concepts in pharmacology; drug development and translational medicine; and the nexus of biotechnology, engineering, industry, entrepreneurship, and the career landscape for scientists. Discussion-based classes that introduce fundamental concepts are followed by student-driven classes that explore the real-world application and societal context of the material. Seeks to help students interested in pharmaceutical sciences to identify and interact with like-minded students and faculty researchers.
PHSC 1990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHSC 2000. Professional Development for Pharmaceutical Sciences Co-op. (1 Hour)
Introduces students to the pharmaceutical sciences cooperative education program and professionalism in the field. Students assess their workplace skills, interests, and values and discuss how these impact personal career decisions. Offers students an opportunity to develop effective job search and career management skills, prepare a professional resumé, learn proper interviewing techniques, develop a strong online professional profile, and learn how to use the Northeastern job database and referral process.
PHSC 2100. Lab Research Rotation. (4 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to conduct laboratory research under the direct supervision of a laboratory mentor, generally a faculty member or laboratory director, gain experience in research techniques, and develop good laboratory practices as they learn about research topics under investigation in the laboratory of their choice. Students attend seminars, departmental events, and other activities relevant to the mentor’s laboratory. The time commitment is at least eight hours a week. Mentor expectations and grading criteria are decided upon between the student and the mentor prior to the start of the rotation and must be approved by the course director. Students prepare a presentation that encompasses the research performed by the student that includes description, experimental design, data generated, data interpretation, and discussion of their research project. May be repeated once.
PHSC 2301. Human Physiology 1. (3 Hours)
Provides students with an understanding of the principles of physiology. Discusses physiological information mostly related to cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and endocrine systems. Focuses on the physiological mechanisms of the major organ systems. Physiological information is related to the specific areas of pharmacology.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1113 with a minimum grade of C-
Corequisite(s): PHSC 2302
PHSC 2302. Human Anatomy Lab. (1 Hour)
Accompanies PHSC 2301. Focuses on the anatomy of the major organ systems. Digital images allow each student to study the structure of each organ system in-depth.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1113 with a minimum grade of C-
Corequisite(s): PHSC 2301
PHSC 2303. Human Physiology 2. (3 Hours)
Continues PHSC 2301. Provides students with an understanding of the principles of physiology. Discusses physiological information mostly related to cell physiology, muscle physiology, and physiology of the nervous system. Focuses on the physiological mechanisms of the major organ systems. Physiological information is related to the specific areas of pharmacology.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 2301 with a minimum grade of C ; PHSC 2302 with a minimum grade of C
Corequisite(s): PHSC 2304
PHSC 2304. Human Physiology Lab. (1 Hour)
Accompanies PHSC 2303. Covers topics from the course through various experiments.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 2301 with a minimum grade of C ; PHSC 2302 with a minimum grade of C
Corequisite(s): PHSC 2303
PHSC 2320. Biochemistry. (4 Hours)
Introduces the structures, functions, and metabolism of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Discusses the mechanisms of enzyme reactions, enzyme kinetics, vitamins, biological oxidation-reduction reactions, and bioenergetics, as well as various inborn errors of metabolism.
PHSC 2330. Immunology. (3 Hours)
Provides students with an understanding of the principles, mechanisms, organs, cells, and molecules of the innate and adaptive immunity. Monoclonal antibodies, organ transplant immunity, hypersensitivity, tolerance, tumor immunity, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiencies are discussed in light of potential therapeutic interventions. Weekly journal club-style presentation of related assigned topic is required.
Prerequisite(s): ((PHSC 2303 with a minimum grade of C or BIOL 2219 with a minimum grade of C ); PHSC 2320 with a minimum grade of C ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 2400. Research Ethics for Beginning Health Scientists. (4 Hours)
Explores various dimensions of ethical research. Introduces ethical foundations and controversies that are central to understanding and developing appropriate ethical frameworks for engaging in research. Requires students to work collaboratively to carefully develop essential skills for ethical analysis and evaluation of professional code of conduct concerns.
Attribute(s): NUpath Ethical Reasoning
PHSC 2650. Introduction to Health Science Research. (4 Hours)
Surveys research methods and topics relevant to health science research with the goal of engaging undergraduate students to commit to research training throughout at least one semester and possibly continuing throughout their undergraduate program. Exposes students to lectures addressing the benefits of a research experience and readings of original literature. Health science faculty from across the university present their lines of research focusing on projects that would be available to students. Seeks to familiarize students with use of the scientific method in addressing unsolved problems and to prepare them to select the most appropriate research laboratory to engage in research.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1111 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- ; (CHEM 1161 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- or CHEM 1211 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- ); (MATH 1241 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- or MATH 1245 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- )
PHSC 2990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHSC 2991. Research in Pharmaceutical Science. (1-4 Hours)
Offers an opportunity to conduct introductory-level research or creative endeavors under faculty supervision. May be repeated once.
PHSC 3411. Pharmaceutics 1. (4 Hours)
Develops an understanding of pharmaceutical dosage forms, with emphasis on solids, liquids, semisolids, parenterals, inhalation, and novel drug delivery systems. Combines the discussion of pharmaceutical products developed in industry and those compounded in local pharmacies. Focuses on application of mathematical principles and problem-solving skills in pharmaceutical compounding.
Prerequisite(s): (MATH 1241 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 1245 with a minimum grade of C- or MATH 1341 with a minimum grade of C- ); CHEM 2313 with a minimum grade of C ; (PHYS 1145 with a minimum grade of C or PHYS 1149 with a minimum grade of C or PHYS 1161 with a minimum grade of C ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 3412. Pharmaceutics 2. (4 Hours)
Continues PHSC 3411. Examines the physical and chemical properties of the drug as it relates to pharmaceutical product development. Covers concepts of thermodynamics, colligative properties, ionic equilibriums and buffers, solubility, complexation and protein binding, reaction kinetics, mass transport, interfacial phenomena and dispersion, and rheology.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 3411 with a minimum grade of C
PHSC 3419. Pharmaceutics Laboratory. (1 Hour)
Formulates pharmaceutical dosage forms such as powders, capsules, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, ointments, gels, creams, lotions, and suppositories, and tests the quality of the products in the lab using approved methods of analysis. Also provides an understanding of the physical and chemical properties of drugs as they relate to formulation development through experimental observation of dissolution, stability, and effects of pH and co-solvent on solubility of drugs.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 3411 with a minimum grade of C
PHSC 3430. Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics. (3 Hours)
Focuses on the basic principles and methods of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics. Covers the kinetics of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; linear and nonlinear pharmacokinetics; general concept of one- and two-compartment models with instantaneous (i.v. bolus), zero order (i.v. infusion), or first order (oral administration or i.m. injection) input; evaluation of bioavailability and investigation of the factors affecting drug availability; influence of the route of administration, dosage form, and regimen on bioavailability of drugs; bioequivalence study; multiple dosing kinetics; general approaches to dosage adjustment in renal disease; noncompartmental analysis; and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 3412 with a minimum grade of C or graduate program admission
Attribute(s): NUpath Analyzing/Using Data
PHSC 3510. Medicinal Cannabis and Translational Cannabinoid Research. (4 Hours)
Introduces fundamentals of medical cannabis and cannabinoid research. Includes foundational concepts of medicinal and psychoactive ingredients of marijuana, the human endocannabinoid system (ECS), cannabinoid receptors, and endocannabinoids. Reviews the growing nationwide acceptance of cannabis; the federal and state laws/policies regulating cannabis supply chain; research and product development along with effectiveness, safety, and side effects of cannabis for various ailments; and advances in the discovery/development of ECS-targeting drugs. Promotes the preparedness for conducting research, providing patient consultation, and working with healthcare providers and policymakers in this field. Alumni and external guests are invited to share clinical and industrial insights.
Prerequisite(s): (CHEM 2311 with a minimum grade of D- or CHEM 1104 with a minimum grade of D- or CHM 2110 with a minimum grade of D- ); (BIOL 1111 with a minimum grade of D- or BIOL 1113 with a minimum grade of D- )
PHSC 3801. Principles of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 1. (4 Hours)
Introduces the principles and basic concepts of pharmacology and medicinal chemistry and the general mechanisms of drug action, including drug receptor interactions. Discusses the major functional groups and their contributions to receptor interactions, metabolism, and toxicity. Covers drug classes affecting the peripheral autonomic and central nervous systems. Considers therapeutic uses, mechanisms of drug action, and undesirable actions, including side effects and adverse reactions.
Prerequisite(s): (PHSC 2303 with a minimum grade of D or BIOL 2219 with a minimum grade of D ); CHEM 2313 with a minimum grade of D
PHSC 3802. Principles of Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry 2. (4 Hours)
Continues PHSC 3801 and covers the principles and basic concepts of pharmacology and medicinal chemistry and the general mechanisms of drug action, including drug receptor interactions. Discusses the major functional groups and their contributions to receptor interactions, metabolism, and toxicity. Considers therapeutic uses, mechanisms of drug action, and undesirable actions, including side effects and adverse reactions.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 3801 with a minimum grade of D
PHSC 3990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHSC 4501. Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry 1. (5 Hours)
Introduces the principles and basic concepts of pharmacology and the general mechanisms of drug action including drug receptor interactions. Discusses the major drug classes affecting the peripheral autonomic and central nervous systems including anxiolytics, sedative-hypnotics, anesthetics, anticonvulsants, neuroleptics, antidepressants, and antimanic agents. Considers therapeutic uses, mechanisms of drug action, and undesirable actions including side effects and adverse reactions.
Prerequisite(s): ((PHSC 2303 with a minimum grade of C or BIOL 2219 with a minimum grade of C ); CHEM 2313 with a minimum grade of C ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 4502. Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry 2. (5 Hours)
Continues PHSC 4501. Covers the mechanisms of action, structure-activity relationships, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects of drugs including cardiovascular agents, hormones, anticancer drugs, antibiotics, and antiinflammatory agents.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 4501 with a minimum grade of C
PHSC 4970. Junior/Senior Honors Project 1. (4 Hours)
Focuses on in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student’s major field. Combined with Junior/Senior Project 2 or college-defined equivalent for 8-credit honors project. May be repeated without limit.
PHSC 4971. Junior/Senior Honors Project 2. (4 Hours)
Focuses on second semester of in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student’s major field. May be repeated without limit.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 4970 with a minimum grade of C
PHSC 4990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)
Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.
PHSC 4995. Practicum. (1-4 Hours)
Offers eligible students an opportunity for practical experience. May be repeated without limit.
PHSC 4997. Senior Thesis. (4 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to prepare an undergraduate thesis under faculty supervision.
Attribute(s): NUpath Capstone Experience, NUpath Writing Intensive
PHSC 4998. Senior Thesis Continuation. (4 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to execute a project as described in PHSC 4997, which involves laboratory work; skill development; and the ability to generate, analyze, and report valid and reproducible data with the highest level of honesty and integrity. Students write and defend a thesis project to a public audience that describes the scientific background and context of the research, the hypothesis tested, methods utilized, and experimental results obtained. The thesis also includes interpretation of data, its contribution to the field, and future directions for the research. Students are expected to demonstrate motivation and initiative and to develop skills necessary to work cooperatively with a faculty mentor and other lab personnel.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 4997 with a minimum grade of D-
Attribute(s): NUpath Writing Intensive
PHSC 5100. Concepts in Pharmaceutical Science. (2 Hours)
Introduces new students in the Pharmaceutical Science Graduate Program to important concepts in medicinal and combinatorial chemistry as they relate to drug discovery, and a brief overview of pharmacology, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology. Also introduces the major drug receptor families and their signaling pathways.
PHSC 5102. Concepts in Pharmaceutical Science 2. (2 Hours)
Presents key concepts and challenges of drug design, development, and evaluation. Integrates the principles of drug design, development, and delivery in a discussion of both small-molecule formulations and biologics. Contextualizes the hallmarks along the path of preclinical drug design to clinical translation. Components of the course include Team-Based Learning (TBL) and professionalism. The TBL sessions offer students an opportunity to work on course-related team applications and include graded peer evaluations.
PHSC 5110. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 1. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Studies knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Offers students an opportunity to develop patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management and monitoring, and preventative health and population-based health outcomes. .
Prerequisite(s): (PHSC 2303 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHSC 2304 with a minimum grade of D- ; ENGW 3306 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 5130. Foundations of Pharmaceutical Sciences 1. (4 Hours)
Examines physical and chemical properties of drugs and discusses pharmaceutical products developed in industry and compounded in pharmacies. Focuses on application of mathematical principles and problem-solving skills in pharmaceutical compounding of dosage forms including solids, liquids, parenterals, inhalation, and novel drug delivery systems. Discusses thermodynamics, colligative properties, ionic equilibriums and buffers, solubility, protein binding, and reaction kinetics. .
Prerequisite(s): ((MATH 1241 with a minimum grade of D- or MATH 1245 with a minimum grade of D- or MATH 1341 with a minimum grade of D- ); CHEM 2313 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 5181. Integrated Learning Lab 1. (1 Hour)
Offers students an opportunity to develop and assimilate knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the pharmaceutical care of patients to supplement and augment pharmacy curricular topics within an immersive learning experience. Includes pharmaceutics, healthcare systems, professional communication skills, research methods, drug information, jurisprudence, patient counseling, and aseptic technique/compounding. Uses innovative digital tools, environments, equipment, learning materials, and pedagogical methods that promote the development and refinement of problem-solving skills, adaptability/resilience, and a team mindset that can be applied during experiential activities (co-op/introductory pharmacy practice experience/advanced pharmacy practice experience), as well as future careers.
PHSC 5205. Integrated Science and Therapeutics 3. (4 Hours)
Integrates foundational concepts of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology, immunology, and pharmacotherapeutics to treat patients with acute and chronic rheumatologic, immune-mediated, dermatologic, and oncologic diseases. Offers students an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes pertaining to drug action, drug-receptor interactions, structure-activity relationships, dose-response relationships, drug mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and adverse effects. Focuses on developing patient evaluation skills using the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process and identification of drug therapy problems. Emphasizes self-care, patient education, assessment, medication administration, management, and monitoring, as well as preventative health and population-based health outcomes.
Prerequisite(s): (PHMD 5115 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5182 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHMD 5192 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 5212. Research Skills and Ethics. (2 Hours)
Teaches students the basics of laboratory safety, safekeeping laboratory data, and the process of writing a grant proposal. Also, case studies explore the concepts of data distortion or fabrication, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, ethical aspects of peer review, and the attribution of credit in science.
PHSC 5230. Foundations of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2. (4 Hours)
Introduces fundamental concepts and applications of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics. Offers students an opportunity to integrate knowledge, skills, and concepts to clinically treat patients. Discusses pharmacokinetic analysis and modeling; one-compartment, two-compartment, and three-compartment models; multiple dosing kinetics; methods of calculation; dosage adjustment in renal impairment; and noncompartmental analysis.
Prerequisite(s): (PHSC 5130 with a minimum grade of D- ; PHSC 5181 with a minimum grade of D- ) or graduate program admission
PHSC 5300. Pharmaceutical Biochemistry. (2 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to obtain an understanding of the principles of physiological chemistry. Focuses in-depth on the major topics of physiological chemistry, including general chemistry and biomolecules, peptide synthesis and protein structure, carbohydrates and nucleic acids, thermodynamics and kinetics of molecular interactions, and colloids and micelles. Relates biochemical information to the specific areas of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and drug discovery/development.
PHSC 5305. Professional Development for Pharmaceutical Sciences. (1 Hour)
Introduces and examines the goals, expectations, policies, and procedures of the Masters’ in Pharmaceutical Sciences internship program and professionalism in the field. Discusses the role and involvement of internship employers. Offers students an opportunity to develop job search and career management skills; assess their workplace skills, interests, and values; discuss how those qualities impact career decisions; prepare a professional resumé; and learn proper interviewing techniques. Issues of ethics and professionalism are designed to inform students of issues they will face in the pharmaceutical field. Content of this course is geared to students’ participation in the internship program and overall professional development in pharmaceutical sciences.
PHSC 5310. Cellular Physiology. (2 Hours)
Focuses in-depth on the major cellular physiological mechanisms, including physiology of the cell membrane, ion channels and transport phenomena, energy production, signal transduction, synapses, and physiological processes in the cytosol. Relates physiological information on the specific areas of pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and drug discovery/development. Offers students an opportunity to obtain an understanding of the principles of cellular physiology.
PHSC 5360. Anti-Infectives. (4 Hours)
Reviews the structure and physiology of bacteria, fungi, and viruses and surveys significant organisms of medical importance. Introduces specific antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral agents and classes of agents once a foundation of knowledge of the microorganisms that cause disease is established. Discusses concepts of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, antimicrobial resistance, pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial agents, and spectra of activity.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 4502 with a minimum grade of D-
PHSC 5400. Principles of Drug Design. (3 Hours)
Studies important aspects of drug discovery and development with a focus on drug design. Covers basic organic medicinal chemistry concepts and seeks to build students’ skills in lead compound discovery, structure-activity relationship studies, and lead optimization strategies. Topics include the fundamentals of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic agents relevant to the drug-structure optimization. These skills often help develop a strong foundation in the concepts that govern the multidisciplinary process of drug discovery. Uses lectures and peer-reviewed seminar presentations to help students to incrementally increase their knowledge required to identify new, marketable therapeutic agents. Requires organic or medicinal chemistry at the undergraduate level.
PHSC 5450. Contemporary Approaches to Drug Design. (3 Hours)
Introduces current and emerging trends and concepts in drug discovery in the context of targeted disease therapy and structure-based drug design. Reviews and discusses topics on target selection and validation, computational drug design tools, kinase inhibitors, proteolysis targeting chimeras and molecular glues, covalent drugs, cannabinoid receptors, RNA-targeting small molecule agents, and protein-protein interaction modulators. Exemplifies the applications of general medicinal chemistry and pharmacology principles to real-world drug discovery and development.
PHSC 5500. Repurposing Drugs for Cancer Immunotherapies. (2 Hours)
Offers a multidisciplinary course targeted to students interested in recent advances in biomedical research, clinical practice, and personalized medicine as related to cancer immunotherapies. Describes current promises and disappointments with cancer immunotherapies and recent FDA drug approvals for personalized cancer therapies. Explains the role of immunological and physiological negative regulators of antitumor and tumor biology as needed. Explains underlying principles of immunology, biochemistry, genetics, and preclinical and clinical studies when introducing new concepts. Assigned detailed study of specific areas and discussion of assigned papers are designed to complement classroom material.
PHSC 5555. Pharmaceutical Toxicology. (3 Hours)
Covers fundamental concepts of toxicology and technical methods in toxicology along with comprehensive analysis of both in-vitro and in-vivo toxicity in drug discovery and development. Through lectures given by experts in various fields in toxicology on several topics required for specialized work in research, industrial, and clinical settings, offers students an opportunity to become familiar with methods and analyses including in-vitro and in-vivo toxicity assessments and toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic models and analyses. Includes mechanistic basis of toxicity, methods of toxicological analysis, and case studies pertinent to topics. Requires undergraduate physiology or biochemistry.
PHSC 5560. Nanotoxicity. (3 Hours)
Studies nanotoxicity, the adverse health effects of nanoparticles. Due to their small size, nanoparticles easily cross biological barriers, entering body fluids and cells. Nanoparticles toxicity may cause chronic and acute pathologies. Offers students an opportunity to develop and understand the principles of nanotoxicity. Focuses on mechanisms of cellular and organ damage by nanoparticles. Discusses ports of nanoparticle entry and detrimental effects upon blood, CNS, lungs, and GI system. Stresses mechanisms of intracellular degradation of nanoparticles and toxic effects of nanoparticles upon human cells and major organ systems. Reviews mechanisms of cellular and organ damage including oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA, as well as toxic effects on nonmammalian cells.
PHSC 5619. Mass Spectrometry in Drug Development. (3 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to obtain a fundamental understanding of modern mass spectrometers, to conceptually operate these instruments, and the ability to prepare biological samples. Undoubtedly the most popular analytical method in science, mass spectrometry is utilized in fields ranging from subatomic physics to biology. Focuses on the analysis of proteins, with applications including biomarker discovery, tissue characterization, detection of blood doping, drug discovery, and the characterization of protein-based therapeutics. By the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to solve a particular chemistry- or biology-related problem by choosing the appropriate sample preparation methods and mass spectrometer.
PHSC 5976. Directed Study. (1-4 Hours)
Offers independent work under the direction of members of the department on a chosen topic. Course content depends on instructor. May be repeated without limit.
Prerequisite(s): PHSC 5100 with a minimum grade of C or PHSC 5100 with a minimum grade of C
PHSC 5984. Research. (1-4 Hours)
Offers students an opportunity to conduct research under faculty supervision. May be repeated up to nine times.