Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Medicines, Drugs and Poisons

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ONPS2164	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2014, Sem 2 2014
ONPS2164	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 1 2015
ONPS2164	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Internet	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 2 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 2 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 2 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2016
ONPS2164	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	173H School of Health and Biomed	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022
ONPS2164	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	173H School of Health and Biomed	Internet	Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021

Course Coordinator: Dr. Durga Dharmadana

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0040

Course Coordinator Email: durga.dharmadana@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora West Campus

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course gives an introduction to studying medicines, drugs and poisons. The course considers legal and illegal medicines and drugs used in society, toxic substances in the workplace, environment and homes, and venoms and toxins.

Areas include:

1. Introduction and definitions of medicines, drugs and poisons
2. How the body handles medicines, drugs and poisons
3. How medicines, drugs and poisons produce their effects in the body
4. How medicines, drugs and poisons interact with the nervous system
5. How drugs are developed
6. Drugs and medicines in society; drug abuse and dependence
7. Introduction to toxicology; venoms and toxins.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course is a University Student Elective available to undergraduate students across a range of programs and disciplines.

It also contributes to the following program level outcomes for BP311 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and BH095 Chem Eng/Pharm Sci double degree: 

• Exhibiting depth and breadth of scientific knowledge (PLO 1)
• Critically analyse and solve scientific problems (PLO 2)
• Communication and Team work (PLO 3)

 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Develop a broad and coherent body of knowledge in pharmacology and toxicology to support a basic understanding of how drugs are developed and evaluated, how they are handled by the body and how they produce their actions and effects in the body.
2. Adapt this knowledge and the basic concepts involved to problem solve.
3. Develop written skills to effectively communicate this knowledge and the basic concepts.

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment activities are conducted throughout the semester so that you can review and evaluate your progress and ability to demonstrate that you adequately understand the material presented.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: In semester assessments
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 2: Written assignments
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 3: End of Semester Online Assessments (open book)
Weighting 2 x 25%
This assessment supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.