UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON
PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
ADC/ASC/FINAL1
PART 1: COURSE SUMMARY INFORMATION2
Awarding body
University of Brighton
School
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Faculty
Science and Engineering
Partner institution(s)
Course status
Final
Host Department
P&BS
Location of
Moulsecoomb Site
Study/campus
Professional,
Statutory and
Regulatory Body
Award and titles
Award
Title
Final award
BSc (Hons)
Pharmacological
Sciences
Intermediate award
Intermediate award
Intermediate award
Mode of study
Duration of study
Maximum
(standard)
registration period
Full-time
12 months
24 months
Sandwich
Part Time
Distance
Start date for
October 2006/7
programme
(month/session)
Course codes/categories
JACS code
UCAS code
QAA Subject Benchmark
CATS points for
120 CATS points
course
Admissions Agency
UCAS
GTTR
NMAS
Direct to School
Yes
Admissions criteria
Successful completion of years 1-3 of a Medicine degree (i.e. 360
CATS points with 180 at level 6).
Contacts: Dr. Mark Yeoman E-mail: m.s.yeoman@brighton.ac.uk; Tel:
642078
Course Leader (or
Dr. Mark S. Yeoman
Course Development
Leader)
1
2
Delete/cross through as appropriate
Information from Part 1 is entered onto the courses database
Admissions Tutor
Dr. Mark S. Yeoman
Examination and Assessment
External Examiner(s)
TBA (replacing James McLay)
Examination Board(s)
Pharmacology and Therapeutics AEB;
(AEB/CEB)
MPharm, OSPAP and Pharmacological
Sciences CEB
Approval/start dates
Start date
(month/session)
October 2009
Approval date
July 2006
May 2011
Validation
Programme
Specification
Review date
2013
May 2012
PART 2: COURSE DETAILS
AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Aims:
The aims of the programme are ;
 To provide the knowledge and understanding to
enable an appreciation of the rationale behind
drug development programmes, therapeutic regimes
and the consequences of drug therapy.
 To provide the skills to enable the successful
design, implementation, analysis and
presentation of a pharmacological research
project.
Learning
Knowledge and theory:
outcomes
By the end of this course students will be able to:

understand and explain the processes involved in
drug discovery and development.
Utilise their understanding of a complex body of
knowledge to;
 discuss the mechanisms of action of drugs used
in the prevention/treatment of common diseases.
 predict likely therapeutic uses of drugs
targeted at specific biological targets
 predict likely adverse effects of drugs with
known mechanisms of action.
Skills
By the end of this course students will be able to
:
 use critical thinking, interpretative, problemsolving, practical and analytical skills to
design and conduct laboratory and clinical
experiments to investigate mechanisms of drug
action and drug efficacy.
 use information technology effectively to gather,
integrate and communicate information relevant to
pharmacology and therapeutics.
 evaluate evidence to make reasoned predictions of
drug actions and uses based on preliminary
experimental data.
 ensure safe working in the laboratory.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
This is a one year intercalated degree with no intermediate
awards. Students will enter the one year programme having gained
360 CATS from a BSMS programme or equivalent.
An outline of the course is shown below detailing the
distribution of the modules between the two semesters.
PY425
PROJECT
40 CREDITS
SPECIAL TOPICS
PYM32
2 x 10 CREDITS
from SPECIAL
PYM01,
TOPICSand
PYM02, PYM03
20
CREDITS
CHM03
PY344
DRUG
DISCOVERY
10 CREDITS
PY347
GENERAL
PHARMACOLO
GY
10CREDITS
PY345
DRUG
PROFILING
10 CREDITS
PY346
PY344
RESEARCH
DRUG
METHODS
DISCOVERY
10
10 CREDITS
CREDITS
SPECIAL TOPICS
2 x 10 CREDITS
from PYM04-PYM09,
2
CHM04OPTION
and BYM32
20 CREDITS
SEMESTER 1
Research Methods (10 CATS points): This module provides the
students with knowledge of pharmacological research methods,
including experimental design, data analysis and coursework
covering a variety of standard pharmacological research
techniques. Specifically this module will develop critical
thinking, interpretative, problem-solving and analytical skills
through specific assignments.
Drug Profiling (10 CATS points): This module provides the
students with a chance to study, in depth, a contemporary
pharmacological therapy. This module will build on students
understanding of a complex body of information and enable the
students to discuss the mechanisms of action of drugs used in the
prevention/treatment of common diseases, predict likely
therapeutic uses of drugs targeted at specific biological targets
and predict likely adverse effects of drugs with known mechanisms
of action.
Project (40 CATS points); Students will begin their project in
Semester 1 and complete it in Semester 2. The module will develop
a range of practical, critical thinking, analytical,
interpretative and problem solving skills. It will also enable
the students to use information technology effectively to gather,
integrate and communicate information relevant to the
pharmacological sciences.
Special Topics; students will choose 1 x 10 CATS point module from
each of group A and B.
Group A: Psychopharmacology (PYM02), Medicinal Plants and Their
Uses (CHM03)
Group B: Ion Channel Pharmacology (PYM03) or Current Topics in
Infection (PYM01)
Other options will be made available from the list below subject
to timetabling restrictions:
These modules will provide the students with knowledge that is at
the current boundaries of academic knowledge and add to the
complex body of information they have already assimilated. In
addition these modules will help develop critical thinking and
analytical skills.
SEMESTER 2
 Project (40 CATS points) continuation and completion of project
 General Pharmacology (10 CATS points); this module consists
of a mixture of formal lectures and independent study
designed to cover the pharmacology of the cardiovascular
system and CNS. By the end of the module the students will
be able to describe the mechanisms of action of key drug
classes and also explain the mechanisms of adverse drug
reactions and side effects.
 Special Topics; students will take 2 x 10 credit option
choosing 1 x 10 credit options from EACH of the two
groups detailed below:
1. New Medicinal Products (CHM04) or Specialised Clinical
Practice (PYM04) or Diabetes Mellitus (PYM05) or
Pharmaceutical Care of Surgical Patients (PYM09).
3.
Oxidative Stress (PYM06) or Biomedical Implants and
cell-based strategies (BYM32) or Pharmacogenomics (PYM07)
or Pharmacological Aspects of Neuronal Ageing (PYM08).
The two 10 CATS points Special Topics modules will provide
information at the current boundaries of academic knowledge.
These two modules will improve the students critical thinking
and their analytical, interpretative and problem-solving
skills.
This course is not accredited by a PSB, however, the syllabus
was designed around the indicative syllabus published by the
British Pharmacological Society.
Module
codes
Level 6
PY425
PY346
PY345
PY344
PY347
Level 7
PYM01
PYM02
PYM03
CHM03
PYM04
PYM05
PYM06
PYM07
PYM08
PYM09
BYM32
Status
*
Module Title
Credit
M
C
C
C
C
Project
Research Methodology
Drug Profiling
Drug Discovery
General Pharmacology
40
10
10
10
10
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Current Topics in Infection
Psychopharmacology
Ion channel Pharmacology
Medicinal Plants
Specialised Clinical Practice
Diabetes Mellitus
Oxidative Stress and Disease
Pharmacogenomics
Pharmacology of Neuronal
Ageing
Pharmaceutical Care of
Surgical Patients
Biomedical Implants
2 x 10
*M = Mandatory
C = Compulsory O = Optional
2 x 10
LEARNING, TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT
Learning
This 1 year course consists of approximately 400
and
student contact hours and 530 hours of
teaching
guided/directed study. There is also 270 hours for
the preparation and undertaking of assessments
associated with the course. N.B. allocation of
hours will vary depending on which options are
taken.
Lectures
Practical
Workshops
PYM0103/05/07/08
/CHM03/04
26
Directed
study
Seminars
Experiential
Guided study
Assessment
preparation
PYM04/09
PYM06
16
20
6
6
4
52
22
PY344
Lectures
Workshops
52
22
52
22
PY347
PY425
40
6
208
PY345
32
Practical
Assessment
PY346
20
Directed
study
Seminars
Experiential
24
Guided study
Assessment
preparation
38
22
38
78
8
8
22
98
88
22
104
44
Within the course, there are a variety of teaching
methods employed including formal lectures,
workshops where students learn through hands-on
experience, directed study where a student is given
a particular piece of work to complete
independently, seminars where a group of students
and a staff member discuss a topic, experiential
learning, where a student is placed in a setting
outside the University to gain an insight into
various aspects of drug discovery and development,
guided study where a student is directed towards
module-specific texts to read and finally
assessment where the student prepares for and
undertakes various assessments to demonstrate the
learning outcomes of each module have been met.
Overall of the total 120 CATS points, 70 CATS
points will be assessed by coursework (including
the 40 credit project) and the remaining 50 CATS
points by examination.
Students will be accredited with 360 CATS (APEL) on
entry, of which 180 CATS are at level 6.





Lecture material, which will provide the
knowledge and theory skills detailed earlier,
will be assessed by an end of module written
examination.
Laboratory sessions will provide both practical
and problem-solving skills and will be assessed
by continuous assessment methods including full
written laboratory reports and short MCQ
assessments. In addition, the project will be
assessed by means of a viva voce examination,
which will test both oral skills, knowledge and
problem-solving skills.
An extended essay assessment for the Drug
Profiling module will test both analytical and
written communication skills.
A project outline/grant application will form
the assessment for the Research Methodology
module.
The drug discovery module will be assessed by
means of a written report and a group-based
presentation.
At the end of semester 1 students will be expected
to have handed in::
1x 3000 word project proposal and given a
presentation (PY346).
1 x 3000 word extended essay detailing the
pharmacology and therapeutics of a contemporary
therapy (PY345).
In addition students will sit 2 x 2hr examinations
in their Special Topics options.
At the end of Semester 2 students will be expected
to have handed in:
1 x project report, given a 10 minute presentation
on their project and attended a 20 minute viva voce
examination (PY425).
1 x 1hr written examination (PY347)
1 x 3000 word extended essay on drug discovery and
contributed to a group presentation on the drug
discovery process (PY344).
In addition students will sit 2 x 2hr examinations
in their Special Topics options.
REGULATIONS
Regulations
The course regulations are in accordance with the
University's General Examination and Assessment
Regulations (available from the school office or
the Registry).
In addition, the following course-specific
regulations apply:

Candidates must have studied all compulsory
modules and must have achieved 120 credits to
be awarded a BSc in Pharmacological Sciences.
In order to receive a degree with honours
students must have passed the mandatory 40
credit project module.

The pass mark for all modules, unless
otherwise stated is 40%.

Students must study at least 2 x 10 credit
modules from PYM01-09 to be awarded a BSc
(Hons) Pharmacological Sciences

Students can study up to 40 Level 7 credits
for the award of a BSc (Hons) Pharmacological
Sciences.
PROFESSIONAL AND STATUORY BODY DETAILS (optional)
There is no PSB for the practice of pharmacology, nor a QAA
benchmark statement. The programme, however, has drawn on the
indicative syllabus as laid down by the British Pharmacological
Society.
LEARNING SUPPORT
Central support: all students benefit from:
University induction week
Student Handbook
Course Handbook
Extensive library facilities
Computer pool rooms
E-mail address
Welfare service
Personal tutor for advice and guidance
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
More detailed information about the course can be found in a
range of documents, including
Student Handbook
Student Intranet
University Student Handbook
General Examination and Assessment Regulations for Taught
Courses
QUALITY INDICATORS
This section details external indicators of the quality of the
provision
QAA Subject Review outcome and
date
National student awards
Professional accreditation:
[full details of professional
accreditation can be found
under course structure]
23 out of 24 (1999)
None
None
RESEARCH INFORMED TEACHING
The BSc Pharmacological Sciences course will encourage the
relationship between research and teaching which is considered
to be of “increasing significance for the future academic
shape and culture of the university” as highlighted in the
Research-Informed Teaching document which was presented at a
recent Academic Standards Committee meeting. Specifically,
this course will address the 4 main approaches are
requirements for the strategic implementation of researchinformed teaching:
(1) Ensuring a research-based curriculum by inclusion of
modules covering research methodology and making the research
project a major aspect of the course,
(2) Utilising current staff research in the curriculum by
providing teaching from research-active members of academic
staff, especially in the “Special Topic” modules the content
of which is often based around the research interests of
academic staff,
(3) Using pedagogic research to inform teaching methods by
making use of the extensive body of University of Brighton and
externally available higher educational research publications
and other information,
(4) Developing students as researchers by offering several
modules covering research methodology followed by an extensive
research project. Small group tutorials in the form of PBL
sessions will also be used to disseminate research.
To summarise, this course will be taught by research active
members of staff, and the research project will be associated
with one of our research strengths, and supervised by research
active members of the research groups, with help from our
postdoctoral fellows. Furthermore, a number of the options
modules, such as Ion Channel Pharmacology, Oxidative stress,
Biomaterials and Medical Genetics are specifically built
around the expert research groups within the School. In time,
it is envisaged that the list of Master’s options will be
expanded to include other research areas such as the cellular
basis of ageing and wound healing.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The University’s Sustainable Development Policy has been taken
into account during the course development, both in terms of the
curriculum and in the way the course will be delivered.
The guiding principle as described in the UK Government
Sustainable Development Strategy (2005) of using sound science
responsibly, is clearly very relevant to this particular degree,
and elements of most modules will subscribe to this principle.
As examples, module PY346 (Research Methodology) asks the
student to consider what science is, and how it is distinguished
from other academic disciplines, and then attempts to challenge
conventional views of the definitions of science. It asks the
student to consider the ethical issues associated with their
science, in particular their own project area, and also expects
them to understand and comply with the Human Tissues Act and the
Research Code of Conduct. It also expects students to understand
the importance of good experimental design and analysis, and the
reporting (and reading) of research in an unbiased and nonprejudiced way. An interpretation of the University’s view of
sustainable development as applied to the whole course may be
summarised as ‘fitness for purpose’. That is, will the course
provide the student with an education which will meet the needs,
both personal and vocational, of that student into the future?
This BSc addresses this need in a number of ways. Primarily, it
teaches underlying principles of pharmacology, so that these may
be applied to the changing landscape of medicines that are
available for doctors to prescribe in the future. Specific
examples can be found in modules, for example, where very recent
diagnostic, or potentially diagnostic, techniques are presented
to the student along with their fundamental principles so that
these can be understood and used appropriately when the students
qualify as doctors.
A second aspect of ‘fitness for purpose’ is the idea that the
students have core modules to study, but are able to choose from
a series of options so as to tailor their own degree to their
own particular future needs (or, indeed, interests).
In terms of vocation, the graduates studying this degree are
intercalating medical students who will go onto to become the
next generation of doctors. As stated above, the degree is
designed to equip the student with the higher level skills and
knowledge in pharmacology to enable them to become better
prescribers when they qualify.