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Program Requirements
The Minor Pharmacology is intended for students registered in a complementary B.Sc. program who are interested in a focused introduction to specialized topics in pharmacology to prepare them for professional schools, graduate education, or entry into jobs in industry or research institutes. Students should declare their intent to enter the Minor in Pharmacology at the beginning of their U2 year. They must consult with, and obtain the approval of, the Coordinator for the Minor Program in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. (Please contact the coordinator: Dr. Terry Hébert; terence.hebert [at] mcgill.ca; 514-398-1398).
All courses in the Minor program must be passed with a minimum grade C or better. Generally, no more than 6 credits of overlap are permitted between the Minor and the primary program.
Required Courses (12 credits)
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PHAR 300 Drug Action (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Principles of pharmacology and toxicology. Frequently encountered drugs will be used as a focus to illustrate sites and mechanisms of action, distribution, metabolism, elimination and adverse side effects.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Zorychta, Edith; Hales, Barbara F (Fall)
- Fall
- Prerequisites: BIOL 200, PHYG 209, PHYG 210 and one of BIOL 201 or ANAT/BIOC 212 or permission of instructor.
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PHAR 301 Drugs and Disease (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : This course further explores the basic principles of pharmacology as illustrated by drugs used in the treatment of disease. Emphasis is placed on drugs used for diseases prevalent in North America.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Hales, Barbara F; Clarke, Paul; Bowie, Derek (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: PHAR 300 or permission of instructor.
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PHAR 562 General Pharmacology 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular aspects and the nervous system; topics include molecular mechanisms of drug-action, cellular targets and rationale for therapeutics.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Almazan, Guillermina (Fall)
- Fall
- Prerequisite: PHAR 301.
- Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
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PHAR 563 General Pharmacology 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Selected topics in pharmacology of the endocrine, metabolic, and cardiovascular systems. Additional topics include: pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics, chronopharmacology, molecular structure in pharmacology, epigenetic targets in cancer chemotherapy, and stem cell therapies.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Bernard, Daniel (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: PHAR 301.
- Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits selected as follows:
3 credits, one of:
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BIOC 212 Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function (3 credits)
Overview
Biochemistry : An introductory course describing the biochemistry and molecular biology of selected key functions of animal cells, including: gene expression; mitochondrial production of metabolic energy; cellular communication with the extra-cellular environment; and regulation of cell division.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Duchaine, Thomas; Pause, Arnim; Reinhardt, Dieter (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: BIOL 200
- Restrictions: A non-terminal course intended to be followed by BIOC 311; BIOC 312 in the U2 year. Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOL 201 or ANAT 212.
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BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Roy, Richard D W; Brown, Gregory G; Fagotto, Francesco; Zetka, Monique (Fall)
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial
- Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or equivalent
- Corequisite: CHEM 212 or equivalent
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BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Levine, Robert; Hewitt, Kathryn; Brouhard, Gary (Winter)
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial
- Prerequisite: BIOL 200.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ANAT 212 or BIOC 212
3 credits, one of:
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PHGY 209 Mammalian Physiology 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Wechsler, Ann; Gold, Phil; Cook, Erik (Fall)
- Fall
- 3 hours lectures weekly
- Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisites: BIOL 200, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 211 or PHGY 201 or students who are taking and who have taken NSCI 200.
- Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
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PHGY 210 Mammalian Physiology 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: White, John H; Wechsler, Ann; Lauzon, Anne-Marie (Winter)
- Winter
- 3 hours lectures weekly
- Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisite: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOC 212, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 202.
- Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
- Although PHGY 210 may be taken without the prior passing of PHGY 209, students should note that they may have some initial difficulties because of lack of familiarity with some basic concepts introduced in PHGY 209
6 credits, chosen from:
* PHAR 504 can be taken with PHAR 503 only.
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PHAR 303 Principles of Toxicology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Fundamental mechanisms by which toxic compounds damage a biological system (organelle, cell, organ, organism, ecosystem). Detection and quantification of toxicity and risk/benefit analysis are considered. Selected agents of current risk to human health or the environment are evaluated in depth.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Robaire, Bernard; Hales, Barbara F; Zorychta, Edith (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or BIOC 212, PHGY 209 and PHGY 210
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PHAR 503 Drug Design and Development 1 (3 credits) *
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Chemistry, mechanisms of action and steps in drug development.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Miller, Gregory (Fall)
- Fall
- Prerequisites: PHAR 301 and PHAR 303; or permission of instructor.
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PHAR 504 Drug Design and Development 2 (3 credits) *
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Possible untoward effects and reasons for drug (dis)approval.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Maysinger, Dusica; Miller, Gregory (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisites: PHAR 503, or permission of coordinator
- Restriction: U3 and graduate students. Students can register only with permission of coordinators.
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PHAR 558 Pharmacology Selected Topics (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Changing nature of selected drug targets in light of advances in studying proteins in their native cellular milieu, in the context of intact tissues, organs and whole animals, highlighting several conceptual advances in pharmacological theory with bearing on how drug targets are viewed and characterized.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Hebert, Terence; McKinney, R. Anne (Winter)
- Prerequisite: PHAR 562 or permission of the instructor.
- Corequisite: PHAR 563 or permission of the instructor.
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PHAR 599 Pharmacology Research Project (6 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Mechanisms involved in different pathologies and drug actions.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: McKinney, R. Anne; Maysinger, Dusica (Fall) Maysinger, Dusica; McKinney, R. Anne (Winter) Maysinger, Dusica; McKinney, R. Anne (Summer)
- Minimum of 18 hours/week to be spent in the lab and/or library.
- Pre-/Co-requisite: PHAR 562 and PHAR 563.
- Restrictions: U3 students with permission of instructors; students should consult instructors 3 - 4 weeks before registration.