Pharmacology Honours (B.Sc.) (76 credits)
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Program credit weight: 76
Program Description
The Honours program is designed as a preparation for graduate studies and research. In addition to the strong training provided by the Major program, it requires students to have direct research experience in a chosen area during their final year of study. Acceptance into the Honours program takes place in the Winter term of U2 and requires a CGPA of 3.50. Students who wish to enter the Honours program should follow the Major program; those who satisfactorily complete the first three terms with a CGPA of at least 3.50 and a mark of B+ or higher in core Pharmacology courses (PHAR 300 Drug Action., PHAR 301 Drugs and Disease., and PHAR 303 Principles of Toxicology.) are eligible for admission. Applications can be obtained from the office of the Department of Pharmacology in the McIntyre Medical Building or on the Departmental website.
Degree Requirements — B.Sc.
This program is offered as part of a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree.
To graduate, students must satisfy both their program requirements and their degree requirements.
- The program requirements (i.e., the specific courses that make up this program) are listed under the Course Tab (above).
- The degree requirements—including the mandatory Foundation program, appropriate degree structure, and any additional components—are outlined on the Degree Requirements page.
Students are responsible for ensuring that this program fits within the overall structure of their degree and that all degree requirements are met. Consult the Degree Planning Guide on the SOUSA website for additional guidance.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Courses (46 credits)
U1
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 200 | Molecular Biology. | 3 |
Molecular Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression. | ||
| BIOL 202 | Basic Genetics. | 3 |
Basic Genetics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences. | ||
| CHEM 212 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1. 1 | 4 |
Introductory Organic Chemistry 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A fundamental study of aliphatic compounds and saturated functional groups including modern concepts of bonding, reaction mechanisms, conformational analysis, spectroscopy, and stereochemistry. | ||
| CHEM 222 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2. 1 | 4 |
Introductory Organic Chemistry 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Modern spectroscopic techniques for structure determination. The chemistry of alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, and amines, with special attention to mechanistic aspects. Special topics. | ||
| PHAR 200 | Introduction to Pharmacology 1. | 1 |
Introduction to Pharmacology 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The objective of this course is to give U1 Pharmacology Major program students an appreciation of research in Pharmacology. The focus will be on contributions of this research to our understanding of how drugs work, strategies towards the discovery of new drugs, and/or on how use of current drugs may be improved based on this understanding. | ||
| PHAR 201 | Introduction to Pharmacology 2. | 1 |
Introduction to Pharmacology 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will be a continuation of PHAR 200, taught in the fall semester. The focus will be on contributions of this research to our understanding of how drugs work, strategies towards the discovery of new drugs, and/or on how use of current drugs may be improved based on this understanding. | ||
| PHGY 209 | Mammalian Physiology 1. | 3 |
Mammalian Physiology 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems. | ||
| PHGY 210 | Mammalian Physiology 2. | 3 |
Mammalian Physiology 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems. | ||
| PHGY 212 | Introductory Physiology Laboratory 1. | 1 |
Introductory Physiology Laboratory 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Exercises illustrating fundamental principles in physiology: Biological Signals Acquisitions, Blood, Immunology, Neurophysiology, Neuromuscular Physiology. | ||
| PHGY 213 | Introductory Physiology Laboratory 2. | 1 |
Introductory Physiology Laboratory 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Exercises illustrating fundamental principles in physiology: Central Nervous System, Cardiovascular, Respiration, Exercise Physiology, Molecular Endocrinology. | ||
- 1
Students who have taken the equivalent of CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1., CHEM 222 Introductory Organic Chemistry 2., and/or MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1. in CEGEP (as defined at : http://www.mcgill.ca/students/transfercredit/prospective/cegep) are exempt and may not take these courses at McGill. Students must replace these credits with appropriate complementary course credits to satisfy the total credit requirements for their degree.
U2
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 311 | Metabolic Biochemistry. | 3 |
Metabolic Biochemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The generation of metabolic energy in higher organisms with an emphasis on its regulation at the molecular, cellular and organ level. Chemical concepts and mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis are also emphasized. Included: selected topics in carbohydrate, lipid and nitrogen metabolism; complex lipids and biological membranes; hormonal signal transduction. | ||
| BIOL 301 | Cell and Molecular Laboratory. | 4 |
Cell and Molecular Laboratory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to biology research and communication with a focus on cell and molecular biology. Through conducting a series of project-based experiments and writing a final report, molecular and synthetic biology techniques such as gene cloning, manipulation, protein isolation and characterization and how research is conducted, analyzed and communicated will be addressed. In addition, an introduction to bioinformatics methods and their role in analysis will be provided. | ||
| PHAR 300 | Drug Action. | 3 |
Drug Action. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of pharmacology and toxicology. Frequently encountered drugs will be used as a focus to illustrate sites and mechanisms of action, distribution, metabolism, elimination and adverse side effects. | ||
| PHAR 301 | Drugs and Disease. | 3 |
Drugs and Disease. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course further explores the basic principles of pharmacology as illustrated by drugs used in the treatment of disease. Emphasis is placed on drugs used for diseases prevalent in North America. | ||
| PHAR 303 | Principles of Toxicology. | 3 |
Principles of Toxicology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamental mechanisms by which toxic compounds damage a biological system (organelle, cell, organ, organism, ecosystem). Detection and quantification of toxicity and risk/benefit analysis are considered. Selected agents of current risk to human health or the environment are evaluated in depth. | ||
U3
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHAR 598D1 | Honours Pharmacology Research Project. | 3 |
Honours Pharmacology Research Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Supervised Honours Research Project in Pharmacology. Students are expected to obtain hands-on research experience in their supervisor's laboratory. They are also required to submit a written report in the form of a scientific manuscript and present a ten minute seminar. | ||
| PHAR 598D2 | Honours Pharmacology Research Project. | 3 |
Honours Pharmacology Research Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See PHAR 598D1 for course description. | ||
Complementary Courses (30 credits)
3 credits, one of (highly recommended in Year 1):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT 212 | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function. | 3 |
Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introductory course describing the biochemistry and molecular biology of selected key functions of animal cells, including: gene expression; mitochondrial production of metabolic energy; cellular communication with the extra-cellular environment; and regulation of cell division. | ||
| BIOC 212 | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function. | 3 |
Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introductory course describing the biochemistry and molecular biology of selected key functions of animal cells, including: gene expression; mitochondrial production of metabolic energy; cellular communication with the extra-cellular environment; and regulation of cell division. | ||
| BIOL 201 | Cell Biology and Metabolism. | 3 |
Cell Biology and Metabolism. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle. | ||
3 credits, one of (usually in Year 2):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 203 | Survey of Physical Chemistry. | 3 |
Survey of Physical Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The fundamentals of thermodynamics and chemical kinetics with applications to biomolecular systems. Thermodynamic and kinetic control of biological processes. | ||
| CHEM 204 | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1. | 3 |
Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Similar to CHEM 223/CHEM 243. Emphasis on the use of biological examples to illustrate the principles of physical chemistry. The relevance of physical chemistry to biology is stressed. | ||
3 credits, one of (usually in Year 2):
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 373 | Biometry. | 3 |
Biometry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages. | ||
| MATH 203 | Principles of Statistics 1. 1 | 3 |
Principles of Statistics 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Examples of statistical data and the use of graphical means to summarize the data. Basic distributions arising in the natural and behavioural sciences. The logical meaning of a test of significance and a confidence interval. Tests of significance and confidence intervals in the one and two sample setting (means, variances and proportions). | ||
| PSYC 204 | Introduction to Psychological Statistics. | 3 |
Introduction to Psychological Statistics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance. | ||
- 1
Students who have taken the equivalent of CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1., CHEM 222 Introductory Organic Chemistry 2., and/or MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1. in CEGEP (as defined at : http://www.mcgill.ca/students/transfercredit/prospective/cegep) are exempt and may not take these courses at McGill. Students must replace these credits with appropriate complementary course credits to satisfy the total credit requirements for their degree.
12 credits selected from the following Pharmacology courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHAR 390 | Laboratory in Pharmacology. | 3 |
Laboratory in Pharmacology. Terms offered: Summer 2025 This course is a two-week all day practical laboratory course where students will have the opportunity to design their own experiments, write out the experimental lab reports and learn to trouble shoot on their own. | ||
| PHAR 503 | Drug Discovery and Development 1. 1 | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Chemistry, mechanisms of action, and steps in drug discovery and development. | ||
| PHAR 504 | Drug Discovery and Development 2. | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Nobel Prize-winning discoveries as a basis for drug development. | ||
| PHAR 505 | Structural Pharmacology. 1 | 3 |
Structural Pharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course will cover approaches widely used in the pharmaceuticals industry, such as drug target selection, structure determination and medicinal chemistry. The basics of structural biology will be taught in a very visual and interactive manner, with an emphasis on drug:target interactions and chemical principles relevant to drug design. By the end of the course, the students will become familiar with the structure-based drug discovery process and principles of molecular pharmacology. | ||
| PHAR 508 | Drug Discovery and Development 3. | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The design of biologically-relevant drug screens for molecular targets in a cell, tissue, and in vivo setting. Explore the use of stem cells and tissue-based disease models for the understanding of disease and for drug discovery. Situate modern pharmacology into broader medical and societal issues such as personalized medicine and the ethics associated with research. | ||
| PHAR 510 | New Advances in Antimicrobial. | 3 |
New Advances in Antimicrobial. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Overview on bacteria, insights into bacterial pathogenesis, an understanding of antibiotics, and new developments in antibacterial to beat antibiotic resistance. | ||
| PHAR 540 | Advances in Industrial Biotechnology . | 3 |
Advances in Industrial Biotechnology . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to emerging technologies and research advances in biotechnologies. Topics include semisynthetic production of drugs and drug candidates through large-scale fermentation, next generation synthesis of DNA and whole genes, green toxicology, single-molecule diagnostics, orphan-drug re-purposing, and next- generation genomic analyses in drug development. Translational research, issues of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and ethics are also covered. | ||
| PHAR 562 | Neuropharmacology. | 3 |
Neuropharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system. | ||
| PHAR 563 | Endocrine Pharmacology. | 3 |
Endocrine Pharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. | ||
| PHAR 565 | Epigenetic Drugs and Targets. | 3 |
Epigenetic Drugs and Targets. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course covers therapeutics targeting epigenetic mechanisms. Although only a handful of epigenetic drugs are in widespread use, further development of such agents is a very active area of research as it has the potential to directly target aberrant gene expression. This course will examine both the current use and potential of epigenetic drugs in treatment of cancer, neurological diseases, immune disorders, and cardiovascular disease. The concept of epigenetics as mediating gene-environment interaction will also be discussed. | ||
- 1
Students may take either PHAR 503 Drug Discovery and Development 1. or PHAR 505 Structural Pharmacology..
9 credits selected for the following science courses:
Committee approval is required to substitute a science course not in the list below.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANAT 321 | Circuitry of the Human Brain. | 3 |
Circuitry of the Human Brain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course explores the functional organization of the human brain and spinal cord. The course focuses on how neuronal systems are designed to subserve specific motor, sensory, and cognitive operations. | ||
| ANAT 322 | Neuroendocrinology. | 3 |
Neuroendocrinology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A lecture course describing brain-endocrine relationships. Emphasis on modern experimental evidence and conceptual developments within the field. | ||
| ANAT 365 | Cellular Trafficking. | 3 |
Cellular Trafficking. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course explores the fundamental mechanisms that govern the organizations of intracellular membranes, how vesicle generation is signaled, how the membranes curve and bud, and how vesicles know where to go and fuse. In addition to intracellular vesicles, the principles of mitochondrial dynamics and process of cellular autophagy are examined. Also, there is a focus on "Applied Cell Biology", with respect to how the exquisite regulation of cellular transport plays a central role in complex biological systems. A series of modules will take students through the mechanisms of cellular polarity, neurotransmission, metabolic cell biology, pathogen invasion, and more. The emphasis is on the morphological aspects of the processes, and on the major techniques that led to discovery. | ||
| ANAT 381 | Experimental Embryology. 1 | 3 |
Experimental Embryology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The basic processes of reproduction and embryonic development, such as molecular signaling; cell-cell interaction; differentiation; cell fate determination; genetic and epigenetic control of embryonic development. | ||
| ANAT 458 | Membranes and Cellular Signaling. 2 | 3 |
Membranes and Cellular Signaling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An integrated treatment of the properties of biological membranes and of intracellular signaling, including the major role that membranes play in transducing and integrating cellular regulatory signals. Biological membrane organization and dynamics; membrane transport; membrane receptors and their associated effectors; mechanisms of regulation of cell growth, morphology, differentiation and death. | ||
| BIEN 510 | Engineered Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications. | 3 |
Engineered Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of biomedical uses of nanotechnology. Emphasis on emerging nanotechnologies and biomedical applications including nanomaterials, nanoengineering, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, nano-based imaging and diagnostic systems, nanotoxicology and immunology, and translating nanomedicine into clinical investigation. | ||
| BIOC 312 | Biochemistry of Macromolecules. | 3 |
Biochemistry of Macromolecules. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Gene expression from the start of transcription to the synthesis of proteins, their modifications and degradation. Topics covered: purine and pyrimidine metabolism; transcription and its regulation; mRNA processing; translation; targeting of proteins to specific cellular sites; protein glycosylation; protein phosphorylation; protein turn-over; programmed cell death (apoptosis). | ||
| BIOC 450 | Protein Structure and Function. | 3 |
Protein Structure and Function. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of enzymes. Active site mapping and site-specific mutagenesis of enzymes. Enzyme kinetics and mechanisms of catalysis. Multienzyme complexes. | ||
| BIOC 454 | Nucleic Acids. | 3 |
Nucleic Acids. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. RNA processing, localization and stability. RNAi mechanisms, regulation and applications. Regulation of DNA replication. Genomics: human genome sequence, regulation and organization. DNA repair mechanisms. Special topics on transgenics, genetic diseases and cancer. | ||
| BIOC 458 | Membranes and Cellular Signaling. 2 | 3 |
Membranes and Cellular Signaling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An integrated treatment of the properties of biological membranes and of intracellular signaling, including the major role that membranes play in transducing and integrating cellular regulatory signals. Biological membrane organization and dynamics: membrane transport; membrane receptors and their associated effectors; mechanisms of regulation of cell growth, morphology, differentiation and death. | ||
| BIOC 470 | Lipids and Lipoproteins in Disease. 3 | 3 |
Lipids and Lipoproteins in Disease. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Structure, function and metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins as they relate to lipid storage diseases, obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimers disease and other neurological diseases. Transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms governing the synthesis and degradation of important enzymes, lipids, and lipid transport molecules; role of lipid mediators in signaling pathways and protein modification; assembly and dynamics of lipoproteins and biological membranes; genetic disruptions of lipid regulatory proteins such as cell surface receptors leading to human disease. | ||
| BIOL 300 | Molecular Biology of the Gene. | 3 |
Molecular Biology of the Gene. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction. | ||
| BIOL 303 | Developmental Biology. | 3 |
Developmental Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A consideration of the fundamental processes and principles operating during embryogenesis. Experimental analyses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels will be presented and discussed to provide an overall appreciation of developmental phenomena. | ||
| BIOL 306 | Neural Basis of Behaviour. | 3 |
Neural Basis of Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Neural mechanisms of animal behaviour; neuroethology; cellular neurophysiology, integrative networks within nervous systems; neural control of movement; processing of sensory information. | ||
| BIOL 314 | Molecular Biology of Cancer. | 3 |
Molecular Biology of Cancer. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The molecular basis of human cancers, including analyzing the events that promote the formation of oncogenes and inhibit tumour suppressor genes, the biochemical properties of the proteins encoded by these genes, and their functions. Current molecular targets for cancer therapy and the concepts and consequences of inheriting mutations in genes that predispose to cancer. | ||
| BIOT 505 | Selected Topics in Biotechnology. | 3 |
Selected Topics in Biotechnology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current methods and recent advances in biological, medical, agricultural and engineering aspects of biotechnology will be described and discussed. An extensive reading list will complement the lecture material. | ||
| CHEM 302 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3. | 3 |
Introductory Organic Chemistry 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics covered may include the following: Aromatic compounds, heterocyclic chemistry, sulfur and phosphorus chemistry, organosulfur and organophosphorus compounds, and biomolecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, polypeptides, DNA and RNA. | ||
| CHEM 334 | Advanced Materials. | 3 |
Advanced Materials. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of the physical and chemical structure-function relationships defining advanced materials, including an introduction to basic materials science and characterization. Topics include supramolecular polymers, self-healing materials, advanced surfaces and adhesives, bio-inspired materials, shape memory materials, sensors and actuators, and photonic materials. | ||
| CHEM 462 | Green Chemistry. 1 | 3 |
Green Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. New reactions and methods which can be used for the production of chemicals from renewable feedstocks; the use of new environmentally benign solvents, catalysts and reagents; organic reactions in aqueous media and in supercritical carbon dioxide; bio-catalysis and bio-processes. | ||
| CHEM 502 | Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry. | 3 |
Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will cover biologically relevant molecules, particularly nucleic acids, proteins, and their building blocks. In each case, synthesis and biological functions will be discussed. The topics include synthesis of oligonucleotides and peptides; chemistry of phosphates; enzyme structure and function; coenzymes, and enzyme catalysis; polyketides; antiviral and anticancer agents. | ||
| CHEM 503 | Drug Discovery. | 3 |
Drug Discovery. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to the overall drug discovery process. The main focus of the course will be on medicinal chemistry, synthesis and catalysis, as they relate to large-scale production of pharmaceutical agents. However, other aspects of drug discovery, including structural research (e.g. NMR, X-ray), biochemistry, drug metabolism and bioavailability will also be included. | ||
| CHEM 522 | Stereochemistry. | 3 |
Stereochemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Stereoisomers, their nomenclature and configuration. Conformational analysis, separation of stereoisomers, and stereocontrol in organic synthesis. | ||
| CHEM 552 | Physical Organic Chemistry. | 3 |
Physical Organic Chemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The correlation of theory with physical measurements on organic systems; an introduction to photochemistry; solvent and substituent effects on organic reaction rates, etc.; reaction mechanisms. | ||
| COMP 204 | Computer Programming for Life Sciences. | 3 |
Computer Programming for Life Sciences. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Computer Science (Sci): Computer programming in a high level language: variables, expressions, types, functions, conditionals, loops, objects and classes. Introduction to algorithms, modular software design, libraries, file input/output, debugging. Emphasis on applications in the life sciences. | ||
| EXMD 401 | Physiology and Biochemistry Endocrine Systems. | 3 |
Physiology and Biochemistry Endocrine Systems. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Offered in conjunction with the Department of Physiology. The course provides a basic knowledge of endocrine systems encompassing biosynthesis, metabolism and physiological actions of hormones. Specific topics covered are hormones of the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals, thyroids, parathyroids, pancreas, gut and the gonads. The role of hormones and growth factors in pregnancy and fetal development are also discussed. | ||
| EXMD 504 | Biology of Cancer. | 3 |
Biology of Cancer. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the biology of malignancy. A multidisciplinary approach dealing with the etiology of cancer, the biological properties of malignant cells, the host response to tumour cell growth and the principles of cancer therapy. | ||
| EXMD 509 | Gastrointestinal Physiology and Pathology. 3 | 3 |
Gastrointestinal Physiology and Pathology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Course deals with various aspects of gastrointestinal and hepatic function in health and altered physiological states. The principal focus is on the recent literature pertaining to cell and molecular mechanisms underlying the motility secretory process, absorption and secretion. The molecular biology of the hepatic viruses and various aspects of colonic neoplasia will also be considered. | ||
| HGEN 400 | Genetics in Medicine. 3 | 3 |
Genetics in Medicine. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Using clinical vignettes, this course will emphasize the principles, ethical and legal issues of human heredity in medical genetics in the context of nature and genetic diversity of the human population. | ||
| MIMM 387 | The Business of Science. | 3 |
The Business of Science. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The ability to select and manipulate genetic material has led to unprecedented interest in the industrial applications of procaryotic and eucaryotic cells. Beginning in the 1970s the introduction of and subsequent refinements to recombinant DNA technology and hybridoma technology transformed the horizons of the biopharmaceutical world. This course will highlight the important events that link basic research to clinical/commercial application of new drugs and chemicals. | ||
| MIMM 414 | Advanced Immunology. | 3 |
Advanced Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced course serving as a logical extension of MIMM 314. The course will integrate molecular, cellular and biochemical events involved in the ontogeny of the lymphoid system and its activation in the immune response. The course will provide the student with an up-to-date understanding of a rapidly moving field. | ||
| MIMM 466 | Viral Pathogenesis. 4 | 3 |
Viral Pathogenesis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the biological and molecular aspects of viral pathogenesis with emphasis on the human pathogenic viruses including the retroviruses HIV and HTLV-1; herpes viruses; papilloma viruses; hepatitis viruses; and new emerging human viral diseases. These viruses will be discussed in terms of virus multiplication, gene expression virus-induced cytopathic effects and host immune response to infection. | ||
| NEUR 310 | Cellular Neurobiology. | 3 |
Cellular Neurobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of the functional organization of nerve cells, signalling in the nervous system, and principles of neural development. Topics include cell polarity, neurotransmitters, neurotrophins, receptors and second messengers, cell lineage, guidance of axon outgrowth, and nerve regeneration. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of neurons at the molecular level. | ||
| PARA 410 | Environment and Infection. | 3 |
Environment and Infection. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Infectious pathogens of humans and animals and their impact on the global environment are considered. The central tenet is that infectious pathogens are environmental risk factors. The course considers their impact on the human condition and juxtaposes the impact of control and treatment measures and environmental change. | ||
| PATH 300 | Human Disease. | 3 |
Human Disease. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Provides a fundamental understanding of the diseases prevalent in North America, for upper level students in the biological sciences. Includes: general responses of cells and organ systems to injury; assessment of individual diseases by relating the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention to the primary biological abnormalities in each disorder. | ||
| PHAR 390 | Laboratory in Pharmacology. | 3 |
Laboratory in Pharmacology. Terms offered: Summer 2025 This course is a two-week all day practical laboratory course where students will have the opportunity to design their own experiments, write out the experimental lab reports and learn to trouble shoot on their own. | ||
| PHAR 503 | Drug Discovery and Development 1. 5 | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Chemistry, mechanisms of action, and steps in drug discovery and development. | ||
| PHAR 504 | Drug Discovery and Development 2. | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Nobel Prize-winning discoveries as a basis for drug development. | ||
| PHAR 505 | Structural Pharmacology. 5 | 3 |
Structural Pharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course will cover approaches widely used in the pharmaceuticals industry, such as drug target selection, structure determination and medicinal chemistry. The basics of structural biology will be taught in a very visual and interactive manner, with an emphasis on drug:target interactions and chemical principles relevant to drug design. By the end of the course, the students will become familiar with the structure-based drug discovery process and principles of molecular pharmacology. | ||
| PHAR 508 | Drug Discovery and Development 3. | 3 |
Drug Discovery and Development 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The design of biologically-relevant drug screens for molecular targets in a cell, tissue, and in vivo setting. Explore the use of stem cells and tissue-based disease models for the understanding of disease and for drug discovery. Situate modern pharmacology into broader medical and societal issues such as personalized medicine and the ethics associated with research. | ||
| PHAR 510 | New Advances in Antimicrobial. | 3 |
New Advances in Antimicrobial. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Overview on bacteria, insights into bacterial pathogenesis, an understanding of antibiotics, and new developments in antibacterial to beat antibiotic resistance. | ||
| PHAR 522D1 | Fundamentals of Disease Therapy. 6 | 3 |
Fundamentals of Disease Therapy. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Basic physiology and pathology, including a macro-level overview of normal physiology and pathophysiology of selected organs. | ||
| PHAR 522D2 | Fundamentals of Disease Therapy. 6 | 3 |
Fundamentals of Disease Therapy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 See course description in PHAR 522D1. | ||
| PHAR 524 | Clinical Mentorship. | 3 |
Clinical Mentorship. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Interaction with clinicians and clinician scientists in the field of medicine and health sciences, focusing on understanding disease from their perspective. | ||
| PHAR 540 | Advances in Industrial Biotechnology . | 3 |
Advances in Industrial Biotechnology . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to emerging technologies and research advances in biotechnologies. Topics include semisynthetic production of drugs and drug candidates through large-scale fermentation, next generation synthesis of DNA and whole genes, green toxicology, single-molecule diagnostics, orphan-drug re-purposing, and next- generation genomic analyses in drug development. Translational research, issues of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and ethics are also covered. | ||
| PHAR 562 | Neuropharmacology. | 3 |
Neuropharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system. | ||
| PHAR 563 | Endocrine Pharmacology. | 3 |
Endocrine Pharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders. | ||
| PHAR 565 | Epigenetic Drugs and Targets. | 3 |
Epigenetic Drugs and Targets. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course covers therapeutics targeting epigenetic mechanisms. Although only a handful of epigenetic drugs are in widespread use, further development of such agents is a very active area of research as it has the potential to directly target aberrant gene expression. This course will examine both the current use and potential of epigenetic drugs in treatment of cancer, neurological diseases, immune disorders, and cardiovascular disease. The concept of epigenetics as mediating gene-environment interaction will also be discussed. | ||
| PHGY 311 | Channels, Synapses and Hormones. | 3 |
Channels, Synapses and Hormones. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses on cellular communication in the nervous system and the endocrine system. | ||
| PHGY 312 | Respiratory, Renal, and Cardiovascular Physiology. | 3 |
Respiratory, Renal, and Cardiovascular Physiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of topics in renal, respiratory and cardiovascular functions explored beyond the introductory level. | ||
| PHGY 313 | Blood, Gastrointestinal, and Immune Systems Physiology. | 3 |
Blood, Gastrointestinal, and Immune Systems Physiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of topics in immunology, blood and fluids, and gastrointestinal physiology. | ||
| PHGY 314 | Integrative Neuroscience. | 3 |
Integrative Neuroscience. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of how single neurons and ensembles of neurons encode sensory information, generate movement, and control cognitive functions such as emotion, learning, and memory, during voluntary behaviours. | ||
| PHGY 425 | Analyzing Physiological Systems. 1 | 3 |
Analyzing Physiological Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to quantitative analysis of physiological data, both to the mode of thinking and to a set of tools that allows accurate predictions of biological systems. Examples will range from oscillating genetic networks to understanding higher brain function. Modelling and data analysis through examples and exercises will be emphasized. | ||
| PHGY 524 | Chronobiology. | 3 |
Chronobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the field of chronobiology. The aim is to provide basic instruction on different types of biological rhythms, with particular focus on circadian rhythms. | ||
| PPHS 501 | Population Health and Epidemiology. | 3 |
Population Health and Epidemiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course presents concepts and methods of epidemiology at the introductory level. The use of epidemiologic methods for population and public health research and practice will be illustrated. A review of selected population health questions such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the cardiovascular disease epidemic, cigarette smoking, or screening for disease will be presented. | ||
| PSYC 302 | Pain. | 3 |
Pain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to pain research and theory, with emphasis on the interactions of psychological, cultural and physiological factors in pain perception. The role of these factors in clinical pain and its management by pharmacological and non-pharmacological means will be discussed. | ||
| PSYC 305 | Statistics for Experimental Design. 3 | 3 |
Statistics for Experimental Design. Terms offered: Summer 2025 An introduction to the design and analysis of experiments, including analysis of variance, planned and post hoc tests and a comparison of anova to correlational analysis. | ||
| PSYC 311 | Human Cognition and the Brain. | 3 |
Human Cognition and the Brain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course is an introduction to the field studying how human cognitive processes, such as perception, attention, language, learning and memory, planning and organization, are related to brain processes. The material covered is primarily based on studies of the effects of different brain lesions on cognition and studies of brain activity in relation to cognitive processes with modern functional neuroimaging methods. | ||
| PSYC 317 | Genes and Behaviour. 3 | 3 |
Genes and Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Focuses on current techniques employed to study which genes influence behaviour, and how they do so. | ||
| PSYC 318 | Behavioural Neuroscience 2. 3 | 3 |
Behavioural Neuroscience 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The physiological bases of motivational states, with respect to feeding, drinking, sexual behaviour, drug use, and aggression. Physiological bases of learning and memory. | ||
| PSYT 301 | Issues in Drug Dependence. | 3 |
Issues in Drug Dependence. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The phenomenology and epidemiology of the use and abuse of alcohol, nicotine, opiates, stimulants, sedatives and psychotomimetic agents are discussed in relation to current theoretical and experimental issues. The perspective is multidisciplinary and the intention is to develop an understanding of the nature of the issues surrounding drug dependence. | ||
| PSYT 500 | Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders. | 3 |
Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current theories on the neurobiological basis of most well known mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, dementia). Methods and strategies in research on genetic, physiological and biochemical factors in mental illness will be discussed. Discussion will also focus on the rationale for present treatment approaches and on promising new approaches. | ||
| REDM 410 | Writing Research Articles. | 3 |
Writing Research Articles. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Students will learn about the scientific article, publishing in the sciences, and the benefits of writing for a wide audience. This course focuses on how to structure the Abstract, as well as the Introduction and Discussion section of the full manuscript, and on editing techniques. | ||
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Open to students who have the prerequisites
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Students may take either ANAT 458 Membranes and Cellular Signaling. or BIOC 458 Membranes and Cellular Signaling..
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Access to these courses is not guaranteed
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Access to these courses is not guaranteed. Open to students who have the prerequisites.
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Students may take either PHAR 503 Drug Discovery and Development 1. or PHAR 505 Structural Pharmacology..
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If chosen, PHAR 522D1 Fundamentals of Disease Therapy. and PHAR 522D2 Fundamentals of Disease Therapy. are taken together.