Syllabus
Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals
BIOL 1070: Introduction to Pharmacology (Fall 2023)
Credits - 3
Description
The course introduces the basic concepts of pharmacology and drug usage for allied health professions. It introduces students to the fundamentals of pharmacology, examining the effects of drugs on the human body systems and the effects of those biological systems on drugs. It explores disorders associated with various body systems and the drugs used for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of those disorders. The course topics are presented through readings, instructor led video lessons and an assortment of interactive activities including discussion forums. Students will be assessed throughout the course with worksheets, quizzes and case studies, as well as both a cumulative midterm and final exam.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Outcomes
In lecture courses, students should be able to:
- Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
- Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
- Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.
Course Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze the fundamentals of pharmacology
- Identify and discuss the pharmacokinetic process
- Examine the effects of drugs on human anatomy and physiology
- Explain the pharmacological benefits and risks of drug therapy
- Identify commonly used drugs by trade names, generic names, and primary classification
- Apply basic concepts of drug dosing
SELF-PACED DESIGN
On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.
Assignments
Mini Projects (2)
Mini projects are used to expose students to a broad range of resources on the course subject matter. Medications are a part of our daily lives and this assignment will help you explore them. Using the 2020 Top 100 Drug List provided, you will create your own study aid for the top 100 drugs to use to study for your medication list quizzes. The goal is to be creative as well as useful. Some suggestions include manually creating flashcards using colored index cards for each medication quiz list or creating a digital study aid using Quizlet or other digital study aids, for example. In the Drug Ad assignment you will explore how we are exposed to pharmacology in our everyday lives. We will do this by identifying and analyzing drug advertisements. This may include advertising on the television, online, in newspapers or magazines, on billboards, or the radio.
Quizzes (6)
Medication quizzes (4) will consist of questions on the brand name, generic name, and primary drug classification.Top 100 drugs questions may also be included on weekly review quizzes, the midterm exam, and the proctored final exam. Therefore, it is suggested that you divide your study guide into 4 sets of 25 drugs each to study and prepare for medication list quizzes as follows: Drug number 1-25 is Medication quiz list 1 Drug number 26-50 is Medication quiz list 2 Drug number 51-75 is Medication quiz list 3 Drug number 76-100 is Medication quiz list 4. Medication quizzes are closed book/notes and no resources are allowed for the quiz.
Lesson review quizzes (2) will assess your understanding of all course content covered at various points throughout the course. You will have 45 minutes to complete the quiz once started. You will not be able to go back to change answers once submitted. The quiz will automatically submit at the end of the allotted time. Review quizzes are closed book/notes and no resources are allowed for the quiz.
Case Studies (2)
Case studies will require you to research a particular subject matter to effectively and accurately answer the questions regarding each patient’s case. The respiratory case study and GI case study essay questions will assess your critical thinking skills. Assessment and grading will also take into account college level writing skills, neatness, and whether or not assignments are submitted on time. Citations are not required for case studies unless you are directly quoting text from a source.
Discussion Board Participation (4)
Discussion forum participation is mandatory. The goal of the discussion board is to provide opportunities to interact with your fellow students in an engaging and informative platform throughout an online course. There are a total of four throughout the course. For credit to be awarded, discussion board posts must consist of your answer to the forum subject or scenario and a minimum of two comments to other student’s posts. Grading is all or nothing.
Project
Projects are used to assess students research and critical thinking skills. This video project will provide students the opportunity for a fun, creative, and engaging opportunity to explore the importance of learning and maintaining knowledge of pharmacology for work in health care careers. To complete the assignment you must select one of the 3 options provided and complete and submit a video presentation.
Exams (2 Proctored)
The midterm exam will be used to assess understanding and retention of the course content covered in the first half of the course. This exam will be proctored. Students will have to register with the proctoring service to schedule the exam. The exam will be 50 questions, timed, with one hour to complete it. The exam is closed book/notes and no resources are allowed to be used during the exam.
The final exam will be used to assess understanding and retention of all course content covered presented throughout the entire course. This exam will also be proctored. Students will have to use their account with the proctoring service to schedule the exam. The exam will be 100 questions, timed, with one hour to complete it. The exam is closed book/notes and no resources are allowed to be used during the exam.
Both exams must be taken through ProctorU. See UNE’s ProctorU page for information about signing up and scheduling your exam. The official UNE webcam is required.
Proctored exams are closed for review. You will not be able to review them at any time. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Practice Proctored Exam
There is a highly recommended Practice Proctored Exam available to all students. The first attempt is free. This exam does not cover course material and is not included in your overall course grade. It prepares test takers for what the testing environment will be like, what forms of identification are needed, and provides a chance to test your external webcam with a live proctor. This is a great way to become familiar with and prepare for your exam!
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment Category | Grade | Percentage of Final Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Projects | 160 points | 16% |
| Quizzes | 6 @ 50 points each | 30% |
| Case Studies | 2 @ 50 points each | 10% |
| Discussions | 4 @ 10 points each | 4% |
| Video Project | 100 points | 10% |
| Exams | 300 points | 30% |
| Total | 1000 points | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Week |
Topic |
Readings/Resources |
Assignments |
|
1 |
Overview of Pharmacology |
PP part 1 and part 2 Ch 1&4 Brenner |
Discussion Board 1 Study Aid Project Pharmacology Pioneers Practice Activity Drug approval video Kahoot game |
|
2 |
Pharmacokinetic Process |
Ch 2-5 Stinger Ch 2-2 Brenner |
ROA Worksheet Medication List 1 (1-25) Pharmacokinetic Video Agonist/Antagonist Video Drug delivery by indication review worksheet Kahoot game |
|
3 |
Anatomy and Physiology Review |
A&P PP presentation Ch 1 Openstax A&P 3D Videos |
A&P Quizlet Practice Activity Drug Ad Assignment Kahoot game |
|
4 |
A&P and Drug Therapy |
PP Anatomical Drug Classification Ch 2-3 Openstax A&P Continue 3D Videos |
Continue A&P Quizlet Practice Activity Kahoot Game Medication Quiz 1 |
|
5 |
Cardiovascular Drug Therapy |
CV lecture video Ch 11-15 Stinger Ch 10-15 Brenner CV videos |
DIscussion Board 2 Review Quiz 1 Medication list 2 Kahoot game |
|
6 |
Topical Drug Therapy |
Integumentary Lecture VIdeo Ch 60-61 Harrison’s MoM |
Topical Drug Practice Activity Kahoot game |
|
7 |
Musculoskeletal Drug Therapy |
Musculoskeletal Lecture Video Ch 43-44 Stringer Ch 29 and 30 Brenner Pain Killers Video Midterm Review |
DMARDS Practice Activity Medication quiz 2 |
|
8 |
CNS Drug Therapy |
Read topic summary Ch 16-20 Stringer Ch 16-20 Brenne Neurology videos Medication list 3 |
Midterm Exam Career Video Project |
|
9 |
The Immune System and Antibiotic Drug Therapy |
Immune System Lecture Video Pt 1 Ch 25-34 Stringer Ch 37-44 Brenner Bacterial resistance video |
Discussion Board 3 Antibiotic Practice Activity Kahoot game |
|
10 |
Antifungal Drugs, Antiviral Drugs and Antiretroviral Drugs |
Immune System Lecture Video Pt 2 Ch 25-34 Stringer Ch 37-44 Brenner CDC Vaccines by Age |
Medication quiz 3 Antiviral Practice Activity Kahoot game |
|
11 |
Renal And Respiratory Drug Therapy |
Renal/Respiratory Lecture Video Ch 40-41 Stringer Ch 26-27 Brenner Asthma inhaler videos |
Renal/Respiratory Practice Activities Respiratory Case study Kahoot game |
|
12 |
Reproductive and Gastrointestinal Drug Therapy |
Reproductive/GI lecture video Ch 37 and 42 Stringer Ch 28 and 34 Brenner Sildenafil video Medication list 4 |
PPI vs H2 Blocker Quizlet Review quiz 2 GI Case study essay Kahoot game |
|
13 |
Endocrine and Diabetes Drug Therapy |
Endocrine lecture video Ch 36-39 and Ch 45 Stinger Ch 31-36 Brenner |
Diabetes Practice Activities Kahoot game |
|
14 |
Opioids Biologics, Anesthetics and Cancer |
Multisystem Lecture Video Ch 21-24, 35 and 46 Stringer Ch 21-25 and 45 Brenner MAb video Anti-cancer drug resistance video |
Discussion Board 4 Medication quiz 4 MAbs Practice Activity Kahoot game |
|
15 |
Pharmacology Essentials |
Pharmacology Essentials Lecture Video Final Exam Review |
Calculations Practice Activities |
|
16 |
Course Wrap Up |
Review all previous reading and resources |
Final Exam |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you - they will monitor course progression and provide assistance or guidance when needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, course materials, billing, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Submit your student support request.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
Student Lounge
The Student Lounge Discussion Forum is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.
Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.
Policies
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see your course for full details, access, testing requirements, and guidelines.
Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Exam Attempts Policy
Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade.
All students are encouraged to use a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.
Course Discussions
Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.
To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.
Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.
Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.
- Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
- Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework
Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.
In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.
Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.
Unauthorized Use
Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.
Citing AI Use
If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools.
Instructor responsibility
Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE Online’s Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester.
Student responsibility
Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.