STAGE 1
There are three terms for every stage and students will take up to four modules per term. These include:
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE MODULES
Pharmaceutical Science 1 and 2
These modules provide an understanding of Physical and Organic Chemistry necessary to underpin the study of drugs and drug action.
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
This module focuses on the principles of pharmaceutical microbiology and outlines the properties of microbes that are relevant to pharmaceutical science. Topics include organism taxonomy, bacterial cell structure and function, microbial growth and metabolism, action of antibiotics, pure culture techniques, pharmaceutical fermentation and the spoilage of pharmaceutical products. Virus structure, function and cultivation, together with examples of bacterial, human and animal viruses, and their pathogenicity and growth cycles will also be covered.
The Human Body in Health
The aim of this module is to integrate the structure, physiology, pathology and pathophysiology of selected systems of the human body in the normal disease-free state.
Human Cells and Systems
This module presents the fundamental structure and function of mammalian cells, together with aspects of the organisation, growth, regeneration and degeneration of human tissues and organs. The module will also stimulate an understanding of the relationship between DNA structure and function, inheritance and human disease.
Assessing the Quality of Medicines
This module provides an introduction to the analysis of drug and other pharmaceutical substances, primarily by spectroscopic, electrophoretic and chromatographic methods.
The Human Body: Physiology and Pathology
This module aims to build upon the module ‘The Human Body in Health’ by instilling an understanding of the structure, physiology, pathophysiology and pathology of selected systems of the human body, and by introducing some of the underlying pathological mechanisms leading to major disease states, together with current tests for their diagnosis.
MANAGEMENT MODULES
Business Economics
An introduction to key economic concepts, principles and policy instruments in the context of recent events. The emphasis will be on topics which are of particular importance to decision makers in business. For example: consumer and product behaviour in markets, perfect competition and monopoly, oligopoly and strategy, economic issues related to labour markets and to the boundaries of the firm, and the government regulation of competition and business.
Foundations of Accounting
This module provides an insight into the nature, significance and limitations of accounting. Students will develop an understanding of the role of accounting in organisations, and of the preparation and interpretation of financial statements in order to appreciate the significance and limitations of accounting.
Foundations of Marketing
This module is an introduction to the concepts and principles of marketing and their application. You will also acquire an ability to evaluate a company’s marketing effectiveness and the skills necessary for effective project management, research, analysis and evaluation.
Foundations of Production / Operations Management (POM)
This module introduces you to the role of production / operations management within an organisation, and the concept of a product or service in the context of delivery system design. The principal issues of concern for operations management are explored (e.g. capacity management, process organisation, technology, operations planning, quality assurance and safety).
STAGE 2
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE MODULES
Principles of Drug Action
In this module, students are introduced to pharmacology in a theoretical context. The general principles and concepts underlying the interaction of drug molecules with target macromolecules, and the consequences of such interactions at the level of the cell, organ and whole body are examined so that an appreciation of the factors that may influence the body’s responses to drugs is promoted.
Pharmaceutics 1
This module presents the physiochemical principles of the design, formulation and performance of pharmaceutical dosages, with respect to aqueous and non-aqueous liquids, suspensions, emulsions and semisolids.
Enzymes and Metabolism
The aim of this module is to introduce the concepts of enzyme action, the interaction of drugs with enzymes, and the processes of metabolism.
Physiological Regulation and Control
This module will provide students with an understanding of the structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS) and the endocrine system, and how they can be disrupted in pathophysiological conditions. The main classes of drugs used to treat such conditions will be introduced and the links between the biomedical sciences and new developments in the pharmaceutical industry will be explored.
Respiratory, Renal and Cardiovascular Systems
This module develops an appreciation of the anatomy and functions of the human respiratory, renal and cardiovascular systems and the interactions between them. It introduces a broad understanding of the major disease processes affecting these systems, the diagnostic tests available, the sites at which established therapeutic agents act and the application of such agents in these disease states.
Statistics and Experimental Design
Upon successfully completing this module, students will be able to demonstrate considerable written communication and analytical skills, and will have been equipped with higher levels of numerical and computational competence. To this end, the module introduces students to the basic principles of descriptive data and comparative analyses (parametric and non-parametric). The need to exercise robust planning processes in the design and execution of original experimental studies is discussed and the application of appropriate statistical tests for a range of biological data exemplified. Students will thereby learn how to evaluate and critically appraise published data, construct a plan/rationale to support a proposal for an original area of research and write thorough and convincing scientific reports.
MANAGEMENT MODULES
Resource Planning
Themes introduced in the Foundations of POM module, such as quality and capacity management, will be extended and the application of operations management in both manufacturing and service environments will be explored.
Marketing Research: Strategic Implications
Research problems, objectives and information needs; Writing a research proposal; Research methods; Implementing qualitative and quantitative research; Data preparation and analysis; Statistics for decision making; Presenting results for marketing decisions; Evaluating research. These are the topic areas that will be explored in this module to develop the students’ marketing tool kit.
Marketing Management and Strategy
This module builds on the Foundations of Marketing module. Students will be trained in the full range of marketing management and strategy frameworks and the role of integrated marketing communications. Using case studies, students will begin to apply marketing management and strategic concepts to practical business situations.
Management of Service Operations
An introduction to the modelling of business problems through operational research methods. The module includes: service package / product characteristics, service strategy, service distribution and location, service process design (including blueprinting and benchmarking), service layout, productivity measurement in services, customer satisfaction and the service quality link.
STAGE 3
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE MODULES
Common Diseases and Their Treatment
This module aims to enhance your knowledge of acute and chronic diseases, their aetiology, natural history, clinical features and management. The module also aims to stimulate you into thinking about the rational selection of pharmacotherapeutic agents.
Gastrointestinal System
This module introduces the anatomy and functions of the human gastrointestinal system and describes its relationship with other body systems in order to recommend and critically evaluate therapy.
Immunity and Infections
This module describes some of the common infectious diseases of humans with the intent of providing a critical understanding of the nature and role of the immune system and vaccination in health and disease.
Clinical Data Management
This module examines how data on the efficacy of drugs is collated and evaluated. Students will be introduced to the functions and stages of Clinical Data Management. Preparation for a clinical trial will be discussed, including consultations on trial protocol (study design, treatment and number of patients / centres), generation of random codes and data collecting tools. Preparations for data processing will be studied in terms of the setting up of databases, data handling documentation and data entry methods. Data processing functions will be explored (coding, data entry and data validation). Statistical analysis and reporting will also be discussed, including the production of a clinical trial analysis plan, definition of analysis populations, production of clinical trial reports and safety summaries. Cataloguing, secure storage and archiving are also included in the curriculum.
Drug Regulations and Quality Assurance
This module reviews the managerial, technical and current regulatory control issues (FDA, MCA, EMEA) relating to drug manufacture and control. Participants will also be introduced to the essential principles of quality assurance in drug manufacture as applied to the industrial and health service environments. Quality Assurance systems, principles of global QA and AC, GMP, the EU Guide to GMP and the “Orange Guide” for pharmaceutical manufacturers are also covered.
Project Management for Pharmaceutical Development
In this module, students develop an understanding of project management within the pharmaceutical industry, from drug discovery to market launch. Participants will be able to assess the roles of functional and project management in the pharmaceutical industry and analyse the financial implications of drug development and the need to minimise the huge costs involved (through efficient project management) and, through case study, plan and schedule laboratory, material and human resources.
MANAGEMENT MODULES
Understanding Strategic Management
This module aims to develop the relevant knowledge, understanding and analytical abilities required of students to enable them to undertake an indepth strategic analysis of a company or organisation of their choice. These skill sets include the assessment of a company’s internal resources and future options, the use of appropriate performance measures (overall strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats), an evaluation of future options for the company and strategy implementation.
POM for World Class Operations
This module explores the issues, concepts and techniques for resource planning and schedulling, and for materials and inventory management for operations in both manufacturing and service environments. Additionally, a knowledge and understanding of the “World Class Operations” concept, its essential characteristics and components, and its practical implementation is developed.
Electronic Commerce
This module aims to develop an understanding of the management implications needed for making informed operational and strategic decisions about electronic commerce and its business exploitation.
Dissertation
Students are required to produce a dissertation based on a course-related investigation, and to present the results in an authoritative manner. The dissertation will be an ordered, critical display of knowledge in an area of scientific relevance demonstrating evidence of reasoned argument (5,000 - 6,000 words). Students will be guided by their supervisor and referred to appropriate agencies, texts, research papers and other documents in the chosen area.