BIOL C200: Pharmacology

Course Outline of Record
Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	12/05/2025
Top Code	040100 - Biology, General
Units	3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3)
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	108
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S), Pass/No Pass (B)

Course Description

This course, designed for students entering professional health care programs, covers the basic principles of pharmacology; classification of drugs, methods, and routes of administration, distribution, absorption, excretion; desired and toxic effects; indication and contraindication for use. PREREQUISITE: BIOL C225. ADVISORY: CHEM C110 or CHEM C180; eligibility for ENGL C1000. Transfer Credit: CSU. C-ID: HIT 107 X.C-ID: HIT 107 X.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

Describe in detail basic principles of pharmacology including pharmacokinetics.
Examine in detail scientific classifications of drugs and analyze the basis for rational therapeutics.
Identify typical drugs applied to common pathologies, body system disorders, and clinical procedures.

Course Objectives

1. Describe general concepts of how medical drugs work
2. Describe the principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
3. Describe the classification of medical drugs
4. Determine which drug classes work best for pathological conditions
5. Identify the most common medical drugs used for the most common pathological conditions
6. Define drug abbreviations
7. Given a drug name, identify its drug category and disease or conditions it is used to treat or prevent
8. Given a drug category, identify several common drugs within that category

Lecture Content

Principles of Pharmacology
1. Rational therapeutics
2. Routes of drug administration
3. Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and clearance
4. Drug actions at the cellular, organism and population levels
5. Tolerance, dependence and withdrawal
6. Patient profile in relation to drug choices
Peripheral Nervous System
1. Sympathomimetics – 1) Action and function of neurotransmitters; 2) Drug classifications and agonistic/antagonistic actions; 3) Reversal of drug actions
2. Cholinomimetics – 1) Action and function of neurotransmitters; 2) Drug classifications and agonistic/antagonistic actions; 3) Reversal of drug actions
3. Neuromuscular agents – 1) Neuromuscular transmission and blockade; 2) Reversal of blockade
4. Local anesthetics
Central Nervous System
1. Brain neurotransmitters (excitatory and inhibitory; and receptors)
2. Anxiolytics
3. Anti-depressants (clinical depression and bi-polar disease)
4. Neuroleptics/Anti-psychotics (schizophrenia and psychosis)
5. Anticonvulsants
6. Psychomotor stimulants, anti-emetics, opioids
7. General anesthesia agents and strategy (“Balanced Anesthesia”)
Cardiovascular Drugs
1. Heart failure drugs
2. Anti-hypertensives
3. Anti-anginal agents
4. Anti-arrhythmic agents
5. Lipid lowering drugs
6. Anticoagulants, anti-thrombotics and thrombolytics
7. Hematopoietic agents
Respiratory Drugs
1. Obstructive lung disease
2. Respiratory distress syndrome
Gastrointestinal Agents
1. Anti-ulcer drugs, gastro-esophageal disease drugs
2. Anti-diahrreals and drugs used to treat constipation
Anti-infective Agents and Treatment Strategies
1. Basic strategies of antimicrobial therapy and antibiotics
2. Classes of anti-bacterial drugs
3. Anti–mycobacteria agents
4. Anti-viral agents
5. Anti-fungal agents
6. Anti- protozoan and helminth agents
7. Vaccines
Anti-cancer Agents and Treatment Strategies
1. Classic principles of cancer chemotherapy
2. Classifications of classical anti-cancer agents
3. Newer anti-cancer agents and strategies
Anti-inflammatory and Immunologic Agents
1. Non-steroidal inflammatory agents
2. Anti-histamines
3. Corticosteroids
4. Immunomodulating agents
Endocrinologic Agents
1. Overview of hormonal agents
2. Drugs used to treat Type I and Type II diabetes
3. Contraceptives
4. Other specific agent applications as appropriate
Drug Development
1. Commercial pharmaceutical development
2. Clinical involvement in drug development (research, institutional review boards, clinical trials, post-market surveillance, ethics)
Government regulation
1. Drug schedules
2. Prescription legal requirements

Method(s) of Instruction

Lecture (02)
DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture, discussions, PowerPoints, videos

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments including textbook and internet sources

Writing Assignments

Essay and short answer

Out-of-class Assignments

Assignments regarding pharmaceutical package inserts

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Short Quizzes
Written Assignments
Essay Examinations
Objective Examinations
Report
Projects (Individual/Group)
Problem Solving Exercises
Oral Presentations

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Comparing and contrasting different drug categories and their mechanisms of action.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Essays, short answers to questions.

Resources Subscreen

Textbook: Olson, J.. Clinical Pharmacology Made Ridiculously Simple, 6th ed. ISBN-13 978-1935660705. MedMaster Inc (2024).
Textbook: Rosow, Standaert, and Strichartz. Principles of Pharmacology (OCW). MIT OpenCourseWare (2025).

Eligible Discipline(s)

Biological sciences: Master’s degree in any biological science OR bachelor’s degree in any biological science AND master’s degree in biochemistry, biophysics, or marine science OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.
Chemistry: Master’s degree in chemistry OR bachelor’s degree in chemistry or biochemistry AND master’s degree in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical physics, physics, molecular biology, or geochemistry OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.

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