Course details

Summary

Extend your knowledge in your specialist area at postgraduate level with our honours programme.

The Bachelor of Science (Honours) programme involves one year of full-time study, or two years of part-time study, after you have completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Science.

Pharmacology

Modern pharmacology developed from the concept that particular chemicals are biologically active and can be used to modify, cure or prevent illness. In practice, this requires a detailed understanding of both how the body functions (physiologically and biochemically) and the problems which can occur (functional disturbances and pathology). By determining cellular and chemical abnormalities of the disease state, it is at least theoretically possible to design molecules to correct problems that arise. Toxicology is closely related to Pharmacology but specializes in the study of harmful effects of drugs and other chemicals on biological systems.

Requirements:

45 points: PHARMCOL 788 Dissertation

And

75 points from MEDSCI 701 or 702, MEDSCI 715–723 Or

60 points from MEDSCI 701 or 702, MEDSCI 715–723 and a further 15 points, subject to approval by the Head of Department, from 700 level courses in a related subject

Career opportunities

The subjects of Pharmacology and Toxicology are of great practical and commercial relevance in view of the widespread use and abuse of medicines, drugs and chemicals in modern society. Their future expansion appears assured as there remain many illnesses (AIDS, cancer, even the common cold) for which satisfactory cures have not yet been devised. In addition, industrial, chemical and pharmaceutical developments, environmental contamination, and illicit drug use will continue to present significant health hazards to the general population.

With an MSc in Pharmacology you could teach or conduct research in higher education institutions, work in the pharmaceutical industry, research and develop new medicines, conduct clinical research, work in regulatory and marketing divisions of industry, or develop chemicals. Other fields may include safety aspects of chemicals (used in food processing and agricultural industries) and the assessment of the safety of medicines, employment in hospitals, careers in medical editing, abstracting and publishing, and environmental toxicology.

Further study options

• Master of Information Technology
• Master of Energy
• Master of Science
• Master of Speech Language Therapy Practice
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Bachelor of Science (Honours) other subjects:

Applied Mathematics, Bioinformatics, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Exercise Sciences, Food Science, Geography, Geology, Geophysics, Logic and Computation, Mathematics, Medical Physics and Image Technology, Medical Statistics, Medicinal Chemistry, Photonics, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, Statistics.

Entry criteria

The prerequisite is a BSc degree with at least 60 points from MEDSCI 303–307 and at least 90 points at Stage III.

English language requirements:IELTS 6.5; TOEFL (iBT) 90; TOEFL (paper-based) 575; CAE or CPE 176; PTE 58; MELAB 85.