Pharmacology

Description

The content of the B.Sc. (Hons) Pharmacology course has been guided by the Core Curriculum for B.Sc. Pharmacology Programmes published by the British Pharmacological Society. This states that “The aim of the degree is to develop, within the context of pharmacology, the appropriate knowledge, skills, attitude and understanding to pursue a productive and satisfying career.” Graduates in pharmacology can enter a wide range of different careers e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry (drug discovery, drug safety, clinical trials, marketing drugs, regulatory affairs, patents, IT services), in University (research and/or teaching) or in other professions requiring graduate entry. As well as knowledge and understanding of pharmacology theory, the programme is designed to produce graduates with laboratory and other skills. Pharmacology is a practical subject and the programme reflects this by giving high priority to technical skills and awareness. This is achieved by an emphasis on laboratory experience at all stages. Students are introduced to isolated organ bath techniques in the level 2 Physiology B module. The Level 3 Pharmacology modules introduce the student to a variety of isolated tissue preparations
using “state of the art” Powerlab recording equipment, cell culture techniques, radioligand binding in addition to pharmacokinetic laboratory simulations. The modules also make use of appropriate PharmaCALogy software developed by the British Pharmacological Society.

The programme also recognizes that related disciplines (e.g.biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, genetics, physiology and statistics) are essential in a pharmacology programme. Consequently the other techniques used by pharmacologists are taught in Levels 2 and 3 e.g. immunocytochemistry, Western blotting, and Polymerase Chain Reaction.

In Level 4, all Pharmacology students undertake a Molecular Biology Workshop and a practical project normally in Pharmacology or in a related discipline e.g. molecular biology. The ability to critically analyse data, often when presented as a scientific paper, is a key attribute for a working scientist. This ability is developed by progressive exercises in data handling and analysis which culminate in the Honours data analysis assessments. In these, students are assessed on their ability to read a scientific paper or clinical study data and interpret its findings.

Why Choose This Programme?

Pharmacologists are responsible for the development of a wide range of drugs that are available for the management of human disease. Aspirin is a painkiller, but it is also used in the management of cardiovascular disease.
How does it work? How do inhalers relieve asthma attacks? What is a heart attack? How are drugs developed to prevent or minimise the effects of a heart attack?
The Pharmacology degree at Glasgow Caledonian has been developed from the long established and respected Applied Biosciences degree. The content of this programme has been designed to follow the guidelines set out by the British Pharmacological Society, the lead body for Pharmacology professionals. Our Pharmacology lecturing staff combine a depth of teaching experience with knowledge gained from cutting-edge research to provide you with an excellent learning environment and a broad education in Pharmacology. Moreover, this degree encompasses a large proportion of practical work, which ensures that our graduates develop the laboratory skills sought by employers.
A distinctive and important feature of our Pharmacology degree is that all students who successfully complete each year of the programme are eligible to proceed to the Honours degree, should they wish to, without further selection. The open door policy operated by staff, is aimed at creating a friendly learning environment where support is always available.

Career Opportunities

Completing our degree will give you a surprisingly broad range of career opportunities. Successful graduates can look forward to a fascinating career in teaching and research within an academic environment, hospitals and government laboratories or in the pharmaceutical industry, where the door is open to many lucrative career paths. In Scotland, the expansion of job opportunities in the health-related industries and biotechnology sector are currently outstripping the number of people graduating with degrees in these areas (Source: Scottish Enterprise). Graduate pharmacologists can take other career paths such as teaching, management and the Forensic Science Service. Another option is to continue your studies to PhD level, opening up even more lucrative career opportunities. Our School of Life Sciences has a well established and respected PhD programme.

Employment Details

This programme of study will furnish our students with the graduate attributes that will enhance their employment prospects, such as critical thinking and analytical capacities, self-confidence, creativity, project management and presentation skills. These attributes go beyond the professional knowledge and skills providing our graduates with a wide range of expertise, leading to a broad range of career options.
On graduation, or students could work as a pharmacologist or bio-scientist in a range of areas; from industry, as part of a research teamor in pharmaceutical development, biological product research or conducting research in government, health service and university laboratories. Laboratory based employment is also available in public health laboratories, hospital laboratories and in environmental management.
Other graduates have also found careers in coordinating clinical drugs trials and in scientific publishing. This degree can also lead to further postgraduate study or graduate entry into medicine or dentistry.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline As soon as possible Tuition fee

Contact us

Not specified Start date September 2015 Duration full-time 48 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode On Campus Educational variant Full-time Intensity Flexible

Course Content

Year 1
Trimester 1 2
Chemistry
Mathematics & Statistics of Experimentation
Trimester 1
Cell Structure & Function
Physiology A
Practical Skills for Biosciences 1
Trimester 2
Cells & Biomolecules
Introductory Genetics
Practical Skills for Biosciences 2
Year 2
Trimester 1
Cellular Metabolism & Regulation
Introduction to Microbiology
Physiology B
Trimester 2
Fundamental Cell Biology
Immunology
Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences
The Microbial World
Year 3
Trimester 1
Essential Molecular Biology
Fundamentals of Drug Action
Systematic & Cellular Pathology
Trimester 2
Pharmacology of Chemical Mediators
Cellular Signalling & Trafficking
Human Development & Aging
Year 4
Trimester 1 2
Honours Projects & Molecular Biology Workshops
Trimester 1
Biology of Disease
Pharmacology Special Topics
Trimester 2
Pathophysiology & Therapeutics
Toxicology

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods are designed to produce graduates with a balanced knowledge and understanding of all branches of the subject and to allow our students to become enquiring, independent learners exhibiting high levels of professionalism.
Half of our assessment is practically based, providing hands-on laboratory skills and experience of data handling and presentation which not only makes our programme distinctive but also attractive to employers seeking to find graduates with the necessary skills and competencies in the global marketplace.

Teaching Methods

We adopt a wide range of learning and teaching methods to ensure not only that our students will gain the necessary knowledge and understanding of food bioscience but also develop their intellectual and personal skills.
Our programmes take a flexible approach, combining larger scale interactive lectures with small group sessions examining case studies and honing data analysis and presentation skills. Laboratory based practical classes are central to our teaching, allowing our students to gain exposure to the rigour and demands of scientific investigation.
Our Level 2 students have the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in our international exchange programme at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
Our students focus on developing core laboratory skills as the basis of practical work in their initial two years, leading to more advanced practical laboratory skills training by Level Three. In their final year, our students undertake a specialist molecular biology workshop in addition to an individual lab based project. All of our laboratory work takes place in our recently refurbished suite of teaching and research laboratories.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 60(Grade C)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test. More About IELTS

Requirements

• Higher: BBBC
• A-Level: BCC
• ILC: BBC/BCCC at Higher grade
• Essential Subjects: Higher Chemistry and Maths (S) - Credit/Intermediate grade 2.
• Recommended Subjects: Biology (or Human Biology), English, Mathematics at Higher Grade.
• Additional Requirements: Applicants are invited for interview to one of our Biorama evenings (applicants living further than a 50 mile radius from the university can make alternative arrangements). Visit our website for more details.

In addition to meeting the qualification requirements, international students where English is not the first language require an IELTS score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Glasgow Caledonian University.

Accreditation

There is no professional accreditation for degrees in pharmacology but the content of this programme has been designed to follow the guidelines set out by the British Pharmacological Society. Honours student are encouraged to engage with the society www.bps.ac.uk. and undergraduate membership is available to students working on a pharmacological topic until the completion of their degree.