This course provides a comprehensive overview of the drug discovery, development, and delivery process within the U.S. healthcare system, exploring the roles of vested stakeholders (e.g. patients, pharmaceutical industry, providers, insurers, society, etc.) during a drug’s “bench to bedside” development. Additionally, the course discusses post-approval issues with respect to access, social impact, and safety.

This course presents an overview of basic principles underlying drug action.

• 3 credit hours
• Autumn only

This class introduces students to diverse careers in the field of pharmaceutical and health sciences. Students will be strategically grouped based on their career interests, and will work closely with their instructor and peers to gain knowledge on various career paths. Through this class, students will engage with guest speakers and will come away with a sense of their options and a critical understanding of career and professional development.

• 0.5 credit hours
• Autumn only, second session

Introduces students to diverse careers in the field of pharmaceutical and health sciences. Students will be taken through multiple professional development initiatives, and will work closely with their instructor and peers to gain knowledge on various career paths. Through this class, students will engage with guest speakers and will come away with a plan of how to pursue their future goals.

• 0.5 credit hours
• Spring semester only, first session course
• Prerequisite: PHR 2100, Junior standing

This course investigates a given drug by assessing its historical use, clinical properties and risks, role in American culture, and other issues surrounding its use and abuse in the United States. Students will engage in activities that will teach them to appropriately analyze various sources of information and effectively communicate key messages using a variety of platforms.

• 3 credit hours
• Prerequisite: ENG 1110 or equivalent; fulfills a GE second writing course
• Both online and in-person sections are available.

This course provides an overview of effects, regulation, and mechanism of action of addicting drugs with an introduction to function of the nervous system and how this function is altered by drugs.

• 3 credit hours

This course introduces the science behind common drugstore products, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications and drug-cosmetics, including how these products work, potential non-drug alternatives, and various drug-related issues involving their use.

• 3 credit hours
• Spring semester only  
• Distance-learning course (100% online)

Humans have been experimenting with chemicals for therapeutic use and taking mind-altering substances for thousands of years. In this course we investigate the genetic evidence of past human drug use, the genetic revelations and techniques involved in therapeutic drug use addiction behavior today, and the role of genetics in the future of therapeutics.

• 3 credit hours
• Counts as a GE Cultures and Ideas

This course provides a survey of the profession of pharmacy, dealing with its history, educational requirements, organization, regulation, and contemporary developments.

• 2 credit hours
• Autumn semester only 

This course will provide students with the unique opportunity to learn directly from patient speakers (and caregivers if available) about the impact disease states and therapy have on them. In addition to listening to these first-hand accounts, students will be able to thoughtfully engage and meaningfully reflect each week to develop their understanding and empathy for the patient experience.

• 2 credit hours

This elective is designed to differentiate investigation-focused pharmaceutical research compared to skills-focused laboratory course work and introduce students to exciting topics of active research in the field in a highly approachable way. 2 credit hours

This course will serve as an introduction to pharmaceutical and associated healthcare sciences. Topics covered include the history of medicine, drug discovery and development, natural products, and pertinent public health crises.  Topics will be presented through connections made to fantasy narratives, such as Harry Potter. Previous knowledge of the magical worlds utilized is not necessary for success in this class.

• 3 credit hours

This course covers basic information on natural products that have exerted an effect on human health to be utilized as a foundation in solving simulated practical cases.

• 2 credit hours
• Pre-requisites: Chemistry 1110, 1210, 1250, 1610, 1910H, Biology 1101, 1113 or 1114, or permission of instructor

This course provides an overview of promising new strategies and technologies in disease treatment.

• 2 credit hours
• Spring semester only

In this course, we analyze America’s drug-taking culture through examining its past, present, and future. Students will identify factors that fuel it, discuss its influence on a patient’s medication experience, and evaluate its role in a current public health crisis – America’s opiate epidemic. The course will conclude with discussing ideas that promote a culture of health.

• 3 credit hours
• Distance-Learning course (100% online)
• Fulfills GE Cultures & Ideas course

In this course we discuss the ongoing quest for a cure for cancer, including recent investigations in how cancer is treated, prevented, and detected. Like in many quests, cancer has proven an evasive and adaptable villain and our heroic cancer patients, advocates, researchers, and healthcare providers face additional obstacles in the form of cancer health disparities.

• 3 credit hours

This course will develop core competencies in dealing with ethical issues in healthcare and research settings amidst a biologically, socially, and culturally diverse patient population. This will include a discussion of the ethical responsibilities and professional conduct of the pharmaceutical industry, including clinical drug trials and studies, research, and marketing and promotion. This course will also provide a discussion of basic principles of business ethics and proper ethical conduct in other healthcare industries.

• 2 credit hours

This course is designed to provide knowledge about medication therapies and treatment guidelines for common illnesses affecting patients.

• 2 credit hours, Spring Only

How should we navigate questions of identity in the world of cognitive and mood enhancing drugs? Where do we draw the line on “smart drugs” for intellectual endeavors or the use of performance enhancing drugs in athletics pursuits? More broadly, we will debate whether and how as a society we might enact particular restraints on our pursuit of human enhancements.

• 3 credit hours
• Fulfills GE Cultures & Ideas course

The goal of the Health Citizenship: Advocacy and Change-making elective is to build a foundation of knowledge of historical and current state and federal issues that impact healthcare and cultivate skills to become effective changemakers to improve the healthcare system. Students will participate in distance learning and discussion activities to evaluate opportunities for improvement for healthcare. By the end of the elective, students will have developed enhanced knowledge, communication and relationship skills to leverage their role to advance patient care.

• 3 credit hours
• Distance-learning course (100% online)

This course examines the history and biology of vaccines. We explore the discovery and development of vaccines, along with the political and cultural controversies that have surrounded them for centuries.

• 3 credit hours
• Fulfills GE History course

The first course in a two-course series covers principles governing the design, synthesis, delivery, action, and use of drugs in disease treatment. Model disease pathophysiology and treatment will be investigated, discussing how biological differences can be targeted for therapeutic gain.

• 5 credit hours
• Spring semester only
• Prerequisite: PHR 3200 or PHR 4100 or BIOCHEM 4511 or BIOCHEM5614†, EEOB 2520†

†concurrent enrollment acceptable

The second course in a two-course series covers principles governing the design, synthesis, delivery, action, and use of drugs in disease treatment. Model disease pathophysiology and treatment will be investigated, discussing how biological differences can be targeted for therapeutic gain.

• 5 credit hours
• Autumn semester only
• Prerequisite: PHR 4000, EEOB 2520

Laboratory and library work designed to give the qualified student an opportunity to complete an original investigation or pursue an interest in a special problem.

• Credit hours vary

A course designed to use problem-based learning to promote understanding of biomedicinal concepts. Case studies will be assigned, allowing students to apply biochemical principles and communicate with their colleagues in the course.

• 1 credit hour
• Spring semester only
• Prerequisite: PHR 3200 or PHR 4100 or permission of instructor

An elementary course designed to introduce the student to the topic of pharmacokinetics. The application of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetic principles as they relate to drug absorption, distribution and elimination will be discussed.

• 2 credit hours
• Spring semester only
• Prerequisite: MATH 1151

Overviews the production of biopharmaceutical (recombinant biologic) products including therapeutic proteins and antibodies.

• 2 credit hours
• Autumn only
• Prerequisite: PHR 3200 or PHR4100 or BIOCHEM 4511 or BIOCHEM5614†

†concurrent enrollment acceptable

Focuses on the pharmacology of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs constitute a large and diverse family of proteins whose importance is underscored by the fact that at least one third of the currently marketed drugs target these proteins.

• 2 credit hour
• Spring only

This course is designed for pharmaceutical science majors, neuroscience majors, or non-majors with a basic knowledge of biology. This course will serve as an introduction to principles of pharmacological therapy of neurologic and psychiatric diseases.

• 3 credit hours
• Autumn only
• Prerequisite: NEUROSC 3000 or PHR 3200 or PHR 4100 or BIOCHEM 4511 or BIOCHEM 5613 or instructor permission

Exploration of current research topics in pharmacology through discussions of recently published pharmacology papers.

• 1 credit hour (repeatable up to 3 times for minor credit)
• Prerequisite: PHR4000 or PHR4400, or PHR4460; instructor permission required

Laboratory experience in isolation, synthesis, and evaluation of pharmaceutically relevant compounds.

• 2 credit hours
• Prerequisite: CHEM 2520/2920H, PHR 3200†, BIOCHEM 5813

†concurrent enrollment acceptable

Examination of the laboratory instrumentation and methods used in the drug discovery process

• 3 credit hours
• Prerequisite: PHR 3200,PHR 4000 and PHR 4600 or permission of instructor

Course credit earned by conducting research while enrolled as an undergraduate student.

• 1-18 credit hours
• Repeatable to a maximum of 60 credit hours or 12 completions
• Course is graded S/U

This course overviews principles underlying drug action, including an investigation of current treatments for a variety of common diseases. In addition, this course will implement activities that emphasize the ethical aspects and implications of a variety of drug therapies.

• 3 credit hours
• Prerequisite: Not open to students with credit for PHR 2010, Pharmcol 5600 or HTHRHSC 5510
• Graduate level (permission of instructor required), Summer Only
• Distance-Learning course (100% online)

Introduction to economic evaluation of pharmaceutical interventions and pharmacy services, including evaluating costs and health outcomes, using results to inform resource allocation, interpretation and evaluation of pharmacoeconomics literature, and decision analysis in health care.

• 3 credit hours
• Prerequisite: Junior standing (not open to students with credit for NURSING 7402)
• Distance-learning course (100% online)

In this course, we analyze the anti-vaccine movement through examining its past, present and future. Students will identify contributing factors, discuss the psychology behind the movement, and evaluate its role in personal and public health. The course will also include discussions regarding evidence-based approaches to effectively communicate the benefits of vaccines.

• 3 credit hours

Evolution and development of the profession of pharmacy from antiquity to the present, with emphasis on its Anglo-American development since the 18th century.

• 3 credit hours
• Autumn only

Covers basic information on the effects of dietary factors on pharmaconutrition to be utilized as a foundation in solving patient-related cases in pharmacy practice.

• 3 credit hours
• Autumn only
• Prerequisite: Undergraduate standing, enrollment in the PharmD program, or permission of instructor

Introduction to conducting research in clinical pharmacy including research design issues and ethical considerations. Faculty conducting research in various populations will discuss their research, followed by class discussion.

• 2 credit hours
• Autumn only
• Prerequisite: PHR 4000
• Course is graded S/U

Seminar on global pharmaceutical issues and international practices of pharmacy.

• 2 credit hours
• Prerequisite: Junior Standing or higher
• Course is graded S/U

Explore the meaning of success and leadership, attributes of successful leaders, and what can be done to be a successful leader.

• 1.5 credit hours
• Autumn only
• Prerequisite: instructor permission
• Course is graded S/U

The conceptual basis and content of pharmaceutical ethics; significance of codified ethics, inter-professionally considered; individual and group analysis of ethical issues; methods of encouraging compliance.

• 1.5 credit hours
• Spring semester only
• Prerequisite: Sophomore standing

This lecture- and discussion-based course provides instruction, debate and exploration relating to the impact of chemical dependency on healthcare professionals, including the concepts of addiction, individuals at risk, intervention, withdrawal, emotions, recovery networks, regulatory actions and returning to practice.

• 3 credit hours