PHARMCOL 399 : Capstone: Integrated Pharmacology

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A capstone that applies fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology to the safe, effective and responsible use of drugs through investigation of a current area of pharmacological research. Emphasises experimental design, data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation, as the scientific basis for rational, evidence-based decision-making.

Course Overview

This student-led course uses the framework of an ethics application to explore how principles of pharmacology and toxicology inform the safe, effective and responsible use of drugs. Students discover how to apply their skills in experimental design, data collection, analysis and presentation with critical appraisal of the literature, as the scientific basis for rational, evidence-based decision-making. Students learn how to articulate their skills and knowledge to potential employers.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MEDSCI 204 and 30 points from MEDSCI 203, 205, 206, BIOSCI 203, and 30 points from MEDSCI 318-320 Restriction: MEDSCI 399

Course Contacts

Rachel Cameron (r.cameron@auckland.ac.nz) and Malcolm Tingle (m.tingle@auckland.ac.nz)

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply the concepts and theories in pharmacology across the sub-disciplines of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. (Capability 3)
  2. Evaluate the ethical issues surrounding pharmacological research and drug use, including the context of ethical oversight and drug use in New Zealand. (Capability 1 and 8)
  3. Evaluate existing knowledge critically and use an evidence-based approach to define problems in the context of pharmacology principles and in New Zealand populations. (Capability 1, 2 and 4)
  4. Apply methods used within the field of pharmacology to seek solutions to selected problems associated with drug development and use. (Capability 5)
  5. Demonstrate an ability to lead research work, by working individually and within a team, and display competence in the practical skills required to undertake pharmacological research. (Capability 7)
  6. Demonstrate the application of competence in numeracy and data handling, data presentation and literacy to analyse experimental data and generate reports appropriate to the discipline of pharmacology. (Capability 3 and 6)
  7. Communicate key pharmacological principles and data effectively and appropriately based on the target audience. (Capability 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Literature review (written assignment) 15% Individual Coursework
Experimental design 20% Individual Coursework
Visual display of data 25% Group Coursework
Integrated written assignment 30% Individual Coursework
MyCDES 10% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Literature review (written assignment)
Experimental design
Visual display of data
Integrated written assignment
MyCDES
To pass this course, you must achieve a minimum of 45% in each of the assessment types  AND  achieve a minimum of 50% of the available marks overall. Note: the Literature Review and Integrated Written Assignment are the same assessment type (written). You must achieve a minimum of 45% of the marks available for these assessments combined.
Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including workshops and labs, to receive credit for components of the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you will spend two hours per week in student-led interactive face-to-face workshops, and up to 24 hours in practical laboratories during the mid-semester break. You will expect to spend 6-8 hours per week locating, reading and thinking actively about the content, completing progress tasks and working on assignments. 

There will be a total of 48 hours of contact time and 102 hours of self-directed learning.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including workshops and labs, to receive credit for components of the course.
Learning activities, including workshops and labs, will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The Pharmacology Capstone course is designed to utilise the disciplinary knowledge and skills acquired in prerequisite courses. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

2021 was the first full offering of this course. Ever since, student evaluations of the course have been very favourable. Students appreciated the interactions with staff, and the sense of community fostered on campus. Also valued was the support of peers in group work activities, the course organisation, the assessment structure that emphasised the application of learning to real-life scenarios and the involvement of staff from Career Development and Employability Services (CDES). Students requested more support for assessments, which has been added to the weekly workshops successfully.

Other Information

Students are strongly encouraged to BYOD, e.g. a laptop or similar device; mobile phones will not be sufficient. Contact the course staff for information about long-term loan options if required.
Working individually, students will demonstrate competence in practical and data handling skills by executing student-designed experiments. Working in small groups, students will analyse and interpret their data for presentation in written, oral and visual formats. Group work will be used extensively in workshops.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

A class representative will be elected at the start of the semester and their contact details will be shared via Canvas. 

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

To apply for an extension, students need to contact the Course Director before the due date and may be required to supply documentation (e.g. doctor’s certificate/collaborating note from a counsellor). Please note that your application is a request only and it should not be assumed that an extension will be granted. Retrospective approval for an extension will be given only in exceptional circumstances.
Except where the Course Director has authorised an extension of time for the submission of student work, work handed in after the deadline will incur a late penalty of 5% for each 12-hour period (or part thereof) that the assessment is overdue. Submission of work is only complete when an electronic copy has been submitted through the appropriate platform (e.g. Turnitin or Canvas). Please retain your submission confirmation e-receipt / take a time-stamped screenshot as evidence of timely submission.  

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.