Course coordinator
Associate Professor Karin Borges
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Biomedical Sciences School
Principles of Pharmacology is designed to introduce students to fundamental concepts in drug action and drug disposition at the molecular and cellular level. Topics include the binding of drugs to receptors, receptor activation and inhibition, effect of drugs on cell signalling, drug absorption and metabolism, genetic determinants of drug action and drug toxicity. Along with basic concepts of pharmacology, students are introduced to experimental approaches to study drug effects.
BIOM2402 is designed to provide an opportunity for students to learn about the mechanisms of drug action.ﾠBasic topics covered include how we measure drug activity, types of drug activity, how drugs are distributed through the body, and why drugs affect different people differently as well as some Indigenous perspectives of Pharmacology. We then will look at a variety of physiological models for the pharmacological actions of drugs, including the cardiac system, various hormonal systems, and the autonomic and central nervous systems.ﾠThe practical components provide the students with the experience of generating and analyzing their own data, as well as working on their writing quality.
Possible careers for students to apply this knowledge are vast, including scientific research, medicine, and pharmacy, among others. BIOM2402 is a prerequisite for theﾠthird year course, BIOM3401, in which the basic concepts learned in BIOM2402 are built upon in more intricate physiological systems. For students interested in research techniques and current research problems being worked on within Pharmacology, BIOM3402, offered in second semester, third year, is a good extension course.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
BIOL2200 or BIOC2000
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CHEM1100, CHEM1222, CHEM1022 or CHEM1020
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
BIOM2041
Course contact
School enquiries
Student and Academic Administration Team
The SBMS Student and Academic Administration Team is located on Level 1 of the Sir William Macgregor Building (64-130)
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Karin Borges
Associate Professor Lisa Kaminskas
Dr Lachlan Rash
Dr Mary-Louise Roy Manchadi
Professor Trent Woodruff
Laboratory coordinator
Ms Maleeha Waqar
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
All students should understand and appreciate:
(i) what distinguishes pharmacology as a scientific discipline
(ii) the general principles and key concepts underlying how drugs exert their effects on biological systems
(iii) how the action of drugs can be described and measured at various levels of biological organisation - molecule to whole organism, and in populations
(iv) the roles of drugs in bioscience research and therapeutic applications
(v) that there is vast Indigenous knowledge and use of pharmacology
(vi) that adverse reactions to, and toxicological effects of drugs are major areas of research and application.
All students should be able to:
(vi) work safely, skillfully and effectively in laboratories
(vii) work scientifically to collect and manage quality data
(viii) appropriately and effectively communicate their understandings of concepts and experimental data.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
explain the principles, main concepts, and relevant facts of certain areas of pharmacology, including some Indigenous perspectives
LO2.
apply in-depth knowledge of relevant theories, concepts, and facts to critically discuss principles of pharmacology
LO3.
analyse quantitative and qualitative data to solve some problems related to basic pharmacology
LO4.
evaluate alternative solutions to more complex pharmacological problems or issues which have associated ethical and social dimensions
LO5.
design experiments to investigate a pharmacological question which are scientifically reasoned and appropriately communicated
LO6.
use calculations and manual skills needed in a research environment
LO7.
work both independently and when required, in team-based, collegial situations such that problems are completed in a scholarly and timely manner
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Pre-practical quiz
|
9% 3% per practical (3 practicals in total) |
PRA1 4th, 18th Aug, 1st Sept 2025 13:00 PRA2 5th, 19th Aug, 2nd Sept 2025 13:00 PRA3 8th, 22th Aug, 5th Sept 2025 13:00 PRA4 11th, 25th Aug, 8th Sept 2025 13:00 PRA5 12th, 26th Aug, 9th Sept 2025 13:00 PRA6 11th, 29th Aug, 12th Sept 2025 13:00 The quizzes are held at the beginning of each practical. Please ensure that you arrive on time. |
| Examination |
In-Semester Theory Exam
|
30% |
In-semester Saturday 6/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Will be held on either the 6/09/25, 13/09/25 or 20/09/25 (personal timetables to be released on 7/08/25). |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Ileum Pharmacology Report | 26% |
6/10/2025 - 17/10/2025
Reports due: PRA1 7th October 2025 13:00 PRA2 7th October 2025 13:00 PRA3 10th October 2025 13:00 PRA4 13th October 2025 13:00 PRA5 14th October 2025 13:00 PRA6 17th October 2025 13:00 |
| Examination |
End-of-Semester Theory Examination
|
35% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Pre-practical quiz
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 9% 3% per practical (3 practicals in total)
- Due date
PRA1 4th, 18th Aug, 1st Sept 2025 13:00
PRA2 5th, 19th Aug, 2nd Sept 2025 13:00
PRA3 8th, 22th Aug, 5th Sept 2025 13:00
PRA4 11th, 25th Aug, 8th Sept 2025 13:00
PRA5 12th, 26th Aug, 9th Sept 2025 13:00
PRA6 11th, 29th Aug, 12th Sept 2025 13:00
The quizzes are held at the beginning of each practical. Please ensure that you arrive on time.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L06, L07
Task description
If you are unable to attend your practical group, please email the lab coordinator.
Details of the quiz format and marking criteria will be provided on Blackboard during the semester.
We recommend that you do not use the Blackboard Phone App nor a wireless network connection when completing this Blackboard assessment. Both are unstable and could affect your ability to complete your Blackboard assessment, by for example:
- you may lose connectivity and lose the work you have completed;
- your submission could indicate you have completed your assessment task, but nothing has been delivered into BlackBoard.
Please ensure that you only use a reliable internet connection.
Students are required to bring their own device to complete these quizzes in class prior to the practical lesson.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.
Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.
Late submission
No late submissions permitted.
In-Semester Theory Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
In-semester Saturday
6/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Will be held on either the 6/09/25, 13/09/25 or 20/09/25 (personal timetables to be released on 7/08/25).
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
- The in-semester Saturday exam will be held on either 6/09/25, 13/09/25 or 20/09/25.
- Students will receive their personal exam timetable from Examinations on or after the Thursday of Week 2. The Deferred In-Semester exam will be scheduled on Saturday, 11/10/25.
- Examination consisting of multiple choice questions and short answer questions, covering the modules by A/Prof Kaminskas, Borges, Rash and Dr. Perkins in the first 5 weeks of semester.
- Further information about the exam will be provided on Blackboard.
- Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams.
- This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | A ruler |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Ileum Pharmacology Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 26%
- Due date
6/10/2025 - 17/10/2025
Reports due:
PRA1 7th October 2025 13:00
PRA2 7th October 2025 13:00
PRA3 10th October 2025 13:00
PRA4 13th October 2025 13:00
PRA5 14th October 2025 13:00
PRA6 17th October 2025 13:00
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L05, L06, L07
Task description
- Compulsory written laboratory report (introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, references) detailing experimental results and interpretation as discussed in the practical sessions and detailed in the Practical Notebook. It includes a picture or a scan of the hand-drawn graphs from the Virtual Ileum practical. These are individually written reports.
- Further details of the assessment format and marking criteria will be provided on Blackboard during the semester.
- This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet available on the School's website (under Undergraduate - Assessment), to Turnitin by the submission deadline. You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date. You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.
Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.
If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specified penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.
End-of-Semester Theory Examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
- Examination consisting of multiple choice questions and short answer questions, covering all material covered during the semester with an emphasis of material taught after Week 5.
- Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams.
- Further information about the exam will be provided on Blackboard.
- This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
You must obtain a PASS mark on the end of semester theory exam in order to pass the course.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | A ruler |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 0% - 29%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 30% - 44%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 45% - 49%. OR A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 50% or greater, but less than a pass in any of the assessment hurdles outlined below in "Additional Course Grading Information". |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 50% - 64%, AND successful completion of assessment hurdles as outlined below in "Additional Course Grading Information". |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 65% - 74%, AND successful completion of assessment hurdles as outlined below in "Additional Course Grading Information". |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 75% - 84%, AND successful completion of assessment hurdles as outlined below in "Additional Course Grading Information". |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 85% - 100%, AND successful completion of assessment hurdles as outlined below in "Additional Course Grading Information". |
Additional course grading information
To pass this course you must meet ALL the following hurdle requirements:
- You must obtain a PASS mark on the End of Semester Theory Exam to pass the course.
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course and does NOT successfully complete the hurdles, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
The supplementary assessment may be in the form of an exam (written or oral), a written submission or another assessment as determined by the Course Coordinator. It may be made up of multiple components and will allow students to meet any outstanding Learning Outcomes. The final grade awarded will be based on the results of the supplementary assessment only and a passing grade will be awarded only if a student passes the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Refer to the SBMS Assessment Guidelines for School specific assessment information.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Clean white laboratory coat, safety glasses and fully enclosed shoes. Students will not be permitted in the laboratory without these items. Each student must have their UQ Student Identification Card visibly displayed above the waist. While public health directions no longer require face masks to be worn, they are recommended when you cannot physically distance, you are a vulnerable person or caring for vulnerable people. Please note that cloth masks are not acceptable in laboratory classes in the School of Biomedical Sciences. PPE and identification card holders can be purchased from the School Locker. | own item needed |
Recommended
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| University Learning Resources | Access to required and recommended resources, plus past central exam papers, is available at the UQ Library website (http://www.library.uq.edu.au/lr/BIOM2402). The University offers a range of resources and services to support student learning. Details are available on the myUQ website (https://my.uq.edu.au/). |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures Lectures (Lecture Series): Each week there will be an equivalent of one-three hours of lectures during which important and current concepts in Principles Pharmacology will be discussed. These lectures will either be delivered in person and recorded for later viewing, or may be pre-recorded lectures. Topics covered include:
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 3 |
Practical |
Virtual Ileum The Virtual Ileum practicals involve a lot of computer work and calculations - please bring a calculator and you are welcome to work on a personal laptop if you have one. A practical lab manual will be provided on Blackboard during semester. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L06, L07 |
Multiple weeks From Week 4 To Week 7 |
Practical |
Organ Bath The Organ Bath practicals involve a lot of computer work and calculations - please bring a calculator and you are welcome to work on a personal laptop if you have one. A practical lab manual will be provided on Blackboard during semester. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L06, L07 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: