Academic Calendar

Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ph.D.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 6  credit hours in 7000 level courses is mandatory for the Ph.D. program. All students must successfully complete PHAC 7136 General Pharmacology and PHAC 7222 Molecular Pharmacology 2. Students transferring from the Pharmacology and Therapeutics M.Sc. program must complete at least 15 total credit hours during their combined time in the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, including PHAC 7136 and PHAC 7222.

Expected Time to Graduate: 3 – 5 years

Progression Chart

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1Hours
GRAD 7300 Research Integrity Tutorial 0
GRAD 7500 Academic Integrity Tutorial 0
PHAC 7136 General Pharmacology 3
CRSE 7XXXApproved coursework at the 7000 level 1 3
 Hours6
Year 2
PHAC 7222 Molecular Pharmacology 2 3
COURSE 7XXXApproved coursework at the 7000 level 2 0-6
Thesis Proposal 3  
GRAD 8010 Doctoral Candidacy Examination 0
 Hours3-9
Years 3-4
GRAD 8000 Doctoral Thesis 0
 Hours0
 Total Hours9-15
1

Electives must be selected at the 7000 level from any department/program in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences in consultation with the advisor. Elective courses from outside the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (at the 7000 level or higher) may be approved by the Department Head.

2

Electives must be selected at the 7000 level from any department/program in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences in consultation with the advisor. Elective courses from outside the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (at the 7000 level or higher) may be approved by the Department Head.

3

A written thesis proposal is to be provided to the Advisory Committee at least two weeks prior to the proposal presentation date. The Candidacy Exam and Thesis Proposal must not be more than four weeks apart. 

Notes:

  • Students are expected to attend all departmental seminars, M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis defences, student research presentations and any discussion sessions with visitors to the Department.
  • For details about additional requirements, consult the program's supplementary regulations.

Registration Information

Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.

Prior to registration, all new and returning students must meet with their advisor and Pharmacology Director of Graduate Studies to determine their program of study.

All course additions and withdrawals (registration revisions) must be approved in the same manner. 

Regulations

Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.

Supplementary Regulations

Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations. 

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.

All students must successfully complete:

  • GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
  • GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;

unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.

General Regulations

All students must:

  • maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
  • meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
  • meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Pharmacology

PHAC 7042  Cardiovascular Regulation and Drug Action 2  1.5 cr  
The normal homeostatic regulation of the cardiovascular system, its modification by drugs, and the sites and characteristics of drug actions affecting the cardiovascular system.
PHAC 7062  Drug Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion A  1.5 cr  
The mechanisms by which the body handles the absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs and the impact this has on biological response.
PHAC 7064  Drug Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion B  1.5 cr  
The mechanisms influencing the absorption, distribution and elimination of drugs from the body and their impact on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: PHAC 7062 or its equivalent.
PHAC 7110  Topics in Pharmacology  6 cr  
(Formerly 089.711) Short research projects on various properties and effects of newer drugs. Presentation of oral and written reports by graduate students on research conducted. Open only to graduate students in Pharmacology.
PHAC 7136  General Pharmacology  3 cr  
General pharmacological principles including pharmacodynamics of the more important groups of drugs, the factors which control and modify their effects, and the basis for rational selection and administration of drugs in the treatment of common diseases.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: permission of department.
PHAC 7162  Neuropharmacology  1.5 cr  
A broad sample at the graduate level of the pathophysiology, pharmacological treatments, and current research related to common neurological disorders. These will be didactic lectures followed by discussion of current topics in neuropathology and neuropharmacology.
PHAC 7164  Pharmacology Grant Writing Course  1.5 cr  
The objective of this course is to teach students how to formulate, write, and present a professional research grant on the subject of their pharmacology graduate research. Students will be required to write and present a research grant under the close supervision of the course director.
PHAC 7180  Recent Advances in Pharmacology  3 cr  
Lectures given by staff, followed by group discussions on current research, new developments in drugs and re-evaluation of currently employed drugs, their mechanism of action, etc. Three hours per week both terms. Open only to graduate students in Pharmacology.
PHAC 7190  Pharmacokinetics of Drug Disposition  3 cr  
Lectures and problem-solving sessions directed at appropriate modelling of the disposition of drugs in the body.
PHAC 7212  Clinical Trial A  1.5 cr  
Evaluate the essential elements of clinical trials as the basis for determining the potential value of interventions advocated for the treatment of diseases in humans. Topics include designing a study question, types of clinical trial designs, methods for randomization, sample size calculations, and ethics. The format will include assigned readings, lectures, discussion and assignment preparation.
PHAC 7214  Clinical Trial B  1.5 cr  
Evaluate the essential elements of clinical trials as the basis for determining the potential value of interventions advocated for the treatment of diseases in humans. Topics include recruitment, baseline assessment, reporting morbidity and mortality, data collection, and survival analysis. While it is suggested that PHAC 7212 is taken before PHAC 7214 since there is a natural progression of information, it is not required that both courses are taken.
PHAC 7222  Molecular Pharmacology 2  3 cr  
Lectures, seminars and selected readings on the mechanism of action of therapeutic and recreational drugs. This course covers 6 major themes: G-protein coupled receptors; Ion channels; Transporters; Lipid signaling; Tyrosine kinase receptors and tyrosine kinase-associated receptors.
PHAC 7230  Fundamental in Pharmacology for Health Care I  3 cr  
This course will build on foundational knowledge of human physiology and examine basic pharmacokinetic (drug metabolism) and pharmacodynamic (drug action) principles of specific drug classes related to the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular system (edema, hypertension, arrhythmia, angina, blood clotting, heart failure, hyperlipidemia), diabetes, thyroid, inflammation and pain. Remaining major drug classes will be covered in PHAC 7240. Students may take one or both courses. Taking both courses must be done in the same academic year (Sept to April) or with permission from the Department Head. Course delivery will involve lectures followed by clinical case-based tutorials.
PHAC 7240  Fundamentals in Pharmacology for Health Care II  3 cr  
This course will build on foundational knowledge of human physiology and examine basic pharmacokinetic (drug metabolism) and pharmacodynamic (drug action) principles of specific drug classes related to the central nervous system (depression, psychosis, anxiety, epilepsy, movement disorders (e.g. Parkinson's)), infection (bacterial, viral, fungal), cancer, asthma, allergy, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal system, reproduction and special topics (pregnancy, geriatrics, drugs of abuse). Remaining major drug classes will be covered in PHAC 7230. Students may take one or both courses. Taking both courses must be done in the same academic year (Sept to April) or with permission from the Department Head. Course delivery will involve lectures followed by clinical case-based tutorials.