Note: This is the 2018–2019 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
The Minor Pharmacology is intended for students registered in a complementary B.Sc. program who are interested in a focused introduction to specialized topics in pharmacology to prepare them for professional schools, graduate education, or entry into jobs in industry or research institutes.
Students should declare their intent to enter the Minor in Pharmacology at the beginning of their U2 year. They must consult with, and obtain the approval of, the Coordinator for the Minor Program in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Please contact the Student Affairs Coordinator: Chantal Grignon (undergradstudies.pharmacology [at] mcgill.ca; 514-398-3622).
All courses in the Minor program must be passed with a minimum grade C or better. Generally, no more than 6 credits of overlap are permitted between the Minor and the primary program.
Required Courses (6 credits)
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PHAR 300 Drug Action (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : 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.
Terms: Fall 2018
Instructors: Zorychta, Edith; Hales, Barbara F (Fall)
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PHAR 301 Drugs and Disease (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : 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.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Hales, Barbara F; Clarke, Paul; Bowie, Derek; Castagner, Bastien (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: PHAR 300
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
18 credits selected as follows:
3 credits from:
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BIOC 212 Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function (3 credits)
Overview
Biochemistry : 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.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Pause, Arnim; Denis, Maxime; Bouchard, Maxime; Young, Jason; Reinhardt, Dieter; Duchaine, Thomas (Winter)
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BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : 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.
Terms: Fall 2018
Instructors: Zetka, Monique; Hastings, Kenneth E M; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo; Lasko, Paul; Hendricks, Shelton (Fall)
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BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : 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.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary (Winter)
3 credits from:
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PHGY 209 Mammalian Physiology 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems.
Terms: Fall 2018
Instructors: Vollrath, Melissa; Gold, Phil; Wechsler, Ann; Ragsdale, David S; Shrier, Alvin; Cook, Erik (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures weekly
Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisites: BIOL 200, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 211 or students who are taking and who have taken NSCI 200.
Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
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PHGY 210 Mammalian Physiology 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Vollrath, Melissa; Campeau, Lysanne; Takano, Tomoko; Guevara, Michael R; Lauzon, Anne-Marie; White, John H (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lectures weekly
Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisite: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOC 212, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
Although PHGY 210 may be taken without the prior passing of PHGY 209, students should note that they may have some initial difficulties because of lack of familiarity with some basic concepts introduced in PHGY 209
3 credits from:
- PHAR 503 Drug Discovery and Development 1 (3 credits)
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PHAR 505 Structural Pharmacology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : 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.
Terms: Fall 2018
Instructors: Trempe, Jean Francois; Castagner, Bastien (Fall)
3 credits from:
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PHAR 562 Neuropharmacology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system.
Terms: Fall 2018
Instructors: Bowie, Derek; Trempe, Jean Francois; Clarke, Paul; McKinney, R. Anne; Stone, Laura; Multhaup, Gerhard; Munter, Lisa (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisite: PHAR 301 or with permission of instructor.
Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
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PHAR 563 Endocrine Pharmacology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Bernard, Daniel (Winter)
Prerequisite: PHAR 301 or permission of the instructor(s)
Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
Course material will be presented in the form of lectures and student-led presentations.
6 credits from:
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PHAR 303 Principles of Toxicology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : 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.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Robaire, Bernard; Hales, Barbara F; Zorychta, Edith; Baglole, Carolyn; McKeague, Maureen (Winter)
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PHAR 504 Drug Discovery and Development 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Nobel Prize-winning discoveries as a basis for drug development.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Maysinger, Dusica; Castagner, Bastien (Winter)
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PHAR 508 Drug Discovery and Development 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : 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.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Hebert, Terence; Trempe, Jean Francois; Clarke, Paul; Bernard, Daniel (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): PHAR 301 (PHAR 503 or PHAR 505 are also highly recommended)
Restriction(s): Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology.
Not open to students who have taken PHAR 558.
Assessment modalities- in class presentations and discussion, take-home exams and writing exercises.
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PHAR 562 Neuropharmacology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system.
Terms: Fall 2018
Instructors: Bowie, Derek; Trempe, Jean Francois; Clarke, Paul; McKinney, R. Anne; Stone, Laura; Multhaup, Gerhard; Munter, Lisa (Fall)
Fall
Prerequisite: PHAR 301 or with permission of instructor.
Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
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PHAR 563 Endocrine Pharmacology (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Bernard, Daniel (Winter)
Prerequisite: PHAR 301 or permission of the instructor(s)
Restriction: Open to U3 students in the minor, major or honours program in Pharmacology, or with permission of instructor.
Course material will be presented in the form of lectures and student-led presentations.
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PHAR 565 Epigenetic Drugs and Targets (3 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : 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.
Terms: Winter 2019
Instructors: Tanny, Jason; Trasler, Jacquetta M; Szyf, Moshe (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): PHAR 301.
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PHAR 599 Pharmacology Research Project (6 credits)
Overview
Pharmacology and Therapeutics : Mechanisms involved in different pathologies and drug actions.
Terms: Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Summer 2019
Instructors: McKinney, R. Anne; Maysinger, Dusica (Fall) Maysinger, Dusica; McKinney, R. Anne (Winter) Maysinger, Dusica; McKinney, R. Anne (Summer)
Faculty of Science—2018-2019 (last updated Aug. 22, 2018) (disclaimer)
