Pharmaceutics

These courses provide an opportunity for students to work with individual faculty mentors on research projects of variable scope that are intended to lead to a publication, an abstract or poster. All special projects/research require the approval of the appropriate department chair and Dean.

These courses provide an opportunity for students to work with individual faculty mentors on research projects of variable scope that are intended to lead to a publication, an abstract or poster. All special projects/research require the approval of the appropriate department chair and Dean.

The Mental Health First Aid elective teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges (specifically in adults). This certificate program includes the typical signs and symptoms of both mental health and substance-use challenges, methods to engage with individuals in crisis, and mechanisms to connect these individuals to the appropriate type of help. More expanded discussions of trauma, substance-use and self-care are provided.

This elective course provides an in-depth review of neuropharmacology of substances of abuse including stimulants, depressants and inhalants, ethanol, opioids, hallucinogens, marijuana, anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. In addition, an overview of drug use, drug use as a social problem, drug products and their regulations, the nervous system, the mechanism of action of drugs, preventing substance abuse and substance abuse and dependence will also be covered.

The use of forensic toxicology in the battle against the increased abuse of licit and illicit drugs is an important field of study. This course will introduce the main areas of forensic sciences and especially the involvement of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses in discovering and preventing the abuse of drugs.

The course will provide an overview to the FDA regulatory processes regarding the evaluation and development of drug, biologics and device products. Through interactive lecture format, course work and discussions, participants of this course gain the basic understanding, and become familiar with the current principles of regulatory affairs. Topics include the historical development of U.S. drug laws, overview of drug, biologics, and device development process and the FDA, pharmaceutical industry-FDA functions and interactions through approval and monitoring processes, policy-guided science, and some examples of the development of U.S. drug/device laws, shaping history, leading into the present state of regulation.

This course is an introduction into clinical toxicology and the effects of natural products and chemicals on the human body. This course emphasizes the chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of specific chemicals and classes of compounds. Students will be presented with the mechanisms and then invited to present case studies and discuss the clinical features of management and prognosis.

This course is designed to expand students’ knowledge of research in basic cardiovascular sciences. The novel experimental pre-clinical/translational concepts related to cardiac and vascular pathophysiology and potential drug target(s), along with proposed mechanism of action, if applicable, are covered. The course focuses on analysis of complex pathologic mechanism(s), including dysregulated signaling, inflammation, oxidative stress and myocardial remodeling, underlying arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia and heart failure, as well as evaluation of new/promising pharmacological intervention(s). The format of the course includes lectures and active participation in research article-based discussions, to produce student-developed evaluation and conclusions, in combined format of oral presentation and written summary of each discussed/presented topic information.

Winter Quarter Only. This 5 week course will introduce students to concepts in teaching and learning through discussion and hands on teaching experiences. Students will learn to teach in a laboratory setting in a small group environment. Weekly self-reflection activities will help students focus on their strengths, weaknesses, and development as an educator over the course of the quarter.

Fall Quarter only. This 10 week course will introduce students to concepts in teaching and learning through discussion and hands on teaching experiences. Students will learn to teach in a laboratory setting in a small group environment. Weekly self-reflection activities will help students focus on their strengths, weaknesses, and development as an educator over the course of the quarter.

​​​This course introduces the fundamental pharmaceutical and clinical calculations essential for the safe and effective preparation and dispensing of medications. Students will learn to apply arithmetic and algebraic principles to perform pharmacy calculations including calculating patient-specific doses, determining quantities for compounding, and verifying prescription accuracy. Emphasis is placed on precision, professional responsibility, and the application of calculation methods across a variety of pharmacy practice settings.​ 

​​This course covers the fundamental concepts related to the preparation of extemporaneously compounded non-sterile dosage forms.  Students will gain competency in their preparation through review of pharmacy calculations, application of pharmaceutical sciences concepts, development and implementation of compounding protocols, and application of legal and professional requirements for the labeling and documentation of compounded products. 

​This course covers the fundamental concepts related to the clinical preparation and administration of sterile products. Relevant topics will include formulation, compatibility considerations, sterility assurance, aseptic technique, packaging, calculations, and therapeutic issues. Students will review relevant references including USP Chapters <797> and <800>. Laboratory sessions will focus on building skills in the use of basic compounding equipment and aseptic technique to prepare parenteral drug products. 

​​This course will discuss biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetic parameters. Topics covered include but are not limited to: mathematical descriptions of time course of drug absorption, distribution, and elimination; physicochemical properties of drugs and relevant physiologic factors that affect drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion; relationship between drug concentration and clinical responses; pharmacokinetic variability caused by differences in body weight, age, sex, genetic factors, diseases, and drug interactions.