This aim of this programme is to educate and train students in the discipline of Pharmacology to pursue careers in scientific research, the pharmaceutical sector, education and related professional degrees. We value students who are expert, independent, critical thinkers, motivated to acquire and develop a deep-understanding of drugs, their mechanisms and applications.  We aim to provide a learning environment combining state of the art laboratories and research facilities and multifaceted teaching methodologies that encourage questioning and investigational skills with an integrative approach to problem solving. Our graduates will exemplify academic integrity, with excellence in laboratory skills and core competencies in research.

1 - Develop a critical knowledge of pharmacological principles, drugs, their mechanism of action, experimental and therapeutic uses.
2 - Apply new and emerging modalities including gene and cell therapies for therapeutic benefit.
3 - Effectively and accurately communicate the science of pharmacology to the scientific and wider communities verbally and in writing.
4 - Understand the research method and apply new practical skills and knowledge of experimental methods in pharmacology.
5 - Critically analyse scientific process of increasing complexity and use evidence based approaches to interrogate pharmacological problems.
6 - Apply and integrate contemporary, multidisciplinary knowledge to the investigation of pharmacology.
7 - Understand and comply with current policies on the rights of research subjects, copyright, ethics, malpractice, data ownership and use of animals.
8 - Appreciate how scientific hypotheses and research outcomes result in novel therapeutics.
9 - Interpret, analyse and organise scientific data accurately and precisely.
10 - Integrate theoretical, experimental and clinical pharmacology to promote the discipline of pharmacology in its fullest diversity and to foster basic research and the development of theory.

Approved Additional Standards for Continuation in undergraduate degree programmes in Science (all majors):

Students who return failing grades in a semester amounting to 15 credits, or more, will be identified under the UCD Continuation and Readmission Policy. Students whose rate of progression and performance over two academic sessions (2 years) is deemed unacceptable will be referred to the Academic Council Committee on Student Conduct and Capacity for exclusion from the programme.

As Stages 3 and 4 have the most dynamic components of the programme, and the material studied previously may no longer be relevant, a student who has been away from the programme for a significant period should be required to register again to Stage 3. The upper limit for completion of Stages 3 and 4 should be six years, if they choose to do 120 credits with 20 in each year.

Pharmacologists study the nature, actions and uses of drugs. This degree starts you on the road to a highly active field of research.

Pharmacology deals with the study of drugs and their action on living systems. A drug is any substance that is given to a human or animal with the intention of changing the state of its body function: to relieve pain, treat cancer, eliminate infection or improve health. A science-based pharmacologist is concerned with investigating how drugs act at different biological levels, ranging from cells and genes up to tissues and even human populations.

Pharmacology is also concerned with the use of drugs as investigative tools to obtain a better understanding of cellular and physiological processes in both health and disease. Toxicology is an important component of the discipline of Pharmacology. This is the study of the harmful effects of chemicals, including drugs, pesticides and toxins, on living organisms.

As a discipline, therefore, Pharmacology underpins many of the medical advances that have led to improvements in the quality of life for us all.

STAGE 1
Stage 1 of the BSc Pharmacology degree includes core modules in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Since drugs are chemicals, and since the cellular processes that they modify are chemical / biochemical in nature, the pharmacologist requires some knowledge of Chemistry, Biology and Physiology, as well as Mathematics and Statistics.

With the exception of Mathematics, it is not necessary for you to have studied these subjects before coming to UCD; the modules studied in Stage 1 will ensure that all students have sufficient understanding of the relevant basic sciences to master the discipline of Pharmacology.

STAGE 2
In Stage 2 you begin your studies in Pharmacology in depth. Topics covered include pharmacodynamics (how drugs work at a molecular level), pharmacokinetics (what the body does to drugs), the effects of drugs on the different body systems, endocrine and immune pharmacology, genetics and biotechnology. In addition, you will also have an opportunity to take other modules in related biomedical sciences such as Biochemistry, Microbiology or Physiology, or in Chemistry.

STAGE 3
Areas studied in Stage 3 include chemotherapy, toxicology, drug treatment of endocrine and neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, advanced CNS pharmacology and molecular pharmacology.

STAGE 4
As you progress to Stage 4, the modules you study are increasingly based on 'hot topics', introducing you to the many exciting developments taking place the field of Pharmacology and related disciplines.

Topics include:
- Receptor-based cell signalling
- Developmental biology/pharmacology
- Ophthalmological pharmacology
- Cancer biology and pharmacology
- Advanced neuropharmacology
- Drug discovery

In addition to these courses, you also gain direct research experience by undertaking a laboratory-based research project.

PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
A limited number of opportunities exist for you in Stages 2 and 3 to gain additional laboratory experience during the summer holiday period; funded schemes are organised by public and private bodies, e.g. The Irish Health Research Board and The Wellcome Trust (UK). In addition, occasional opportunities arise within individual research groups.

You may apply to study abroad for either a semester or a year through the Erasmus programme or on a non-EU exchange.

UCD has over 200 Erasmus partners in Europe and an increasing number of non-EU exchange agreements with universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.
Please visit the Erasmus section by clicking on the International Office link at the top of this page.

Pharmacology graduates pursue careers in many different fields. Career opportunities include:
- Research in institutes, universities or the pharmaceutical industry
- Management
- Product development, registration or marketing within the pharmaceutical industry
- Regulatory agencies involving drug information / registration
- Publishing and science journalism
- Teaching

Dr K. M. O'Boyle UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: +353 1 716 6744/6760 Email: koboyle@ucd.ie Web: www.ucd.ie/horizons

Students take eight core modules and at least two optional modules. Additional option modules can be selected form the list below or alternatively, students can select 10 credits from elective modules.
If you are interested in doing an Internship as part of Stage 4, you must indicate your interest now (in Stage 3). See full details www.ucd.ie/science/careers/internships/students/

Students take a total of 60 credits of modules (core and options) from within the Stage 4 Pharmacology programme.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 3 Core Modules
BMOL30040	Receptor-mediated cell signalling	Autumn	5
PHAR30010	Chemotherapeutic Agents	Autumn	5
PHAR30080	Pharmacology of Neurodegenerative and Psychiatric Illness	Autumn	5
STAT20070	Data Modelling for Science	Autumn	5
PHAR30020	Endocrine, Renal and Reproductive Pharmacology	Spring	5
PHAR30030	Toxicology	Spring	5
PHAR30040	Development and advanced pharmacology of the nervous system	Spring	5
PHAR30050	Experimental and therapeutic strategies in molecular pharmacology	Spring	5
Stage 3 Core Modules
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN2OF:
BMOL30030	Regulation of Gene Expression	Autumn	5
GENE30010	Genetics and Recombinant DNA	Autumn	5
MEIN30240	Bioinformatics	Autumn	5
PHYS30010	Cardiovascular Physiology	Autumn	5
BMOL30020	Molecular basis of disease	Spring	5
NEUR30070	Higher Cortical Function	Spring	5
PHYS30040	Endocrine Physiology	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN2OF:
Stage 4 Core Modules
PHAR40030	Advanced cardiovascular pharmacology: mechanisms and pharmacotherapy in atherothrombotic disease	Autumn	5
PHAR40070	Advanced Neuropharmacology:Cognition, Neurodegeneration and Psychiatric Disorders	Autumn	5
BMOL40050	Advanced Cancer Biology and Pharmacology	Spring	5
GENE40030	Advanced Mechanisms of Gene Regulation	Spring	5
PHAR40040	Emerging therapies: Cloning, gene therapy and stem cells	Spring	5
PHAR40050	Drug Discovery and Development I	Spring	5
PHAR40060	Advanced Renal Pharmacology: disease development and treatment	Spring	5
Stage 4 Core Modules
Stage 4 Options - A)1 OF: Students taking BMOL40090 (Research Project Erasmus) OR BMOL40200 (Industry Research Project) are exempt from Autumn core modules in their respective disciplines. These students should select additional option modules to a total of 60 credits.
BMOL40090	Research Project (Erasmus)	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	25
BMOL40200	Industry Research Project	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	25
PHAR40020	Pharmacology Research Project	2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)	20
BMOL40100	Biomolecular Sci Research Proj	Autumn	15
Stage 4 Options - A)1 OF: Students taking BMOL40090 (Research Project Erasmus) OR BMOL40200 (Industry Research Project) are exempt from Autumn core modules in their respective disciplines. These students should select additional option modules to a total of 60 credits.
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN1OF: Students taking BMOL40100 should select two modules from Set B. Students taking PHAR40020 should select one module from Set B
NEUR40080	Molecular and Cellular Biology of Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies	Autumn	5
BIOC40060	Advanced Neurochemistry	Spring	5
BIOC40220	Hot topics in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Spring	5
BMOL40340	Regenerative therapeutics	Spring	5
GENE40050	Human Genetics & Disease	Spring	5
MICR40040	Microbial Pathogenicity	Spring	5
NEUR40030	Modulation of Synaptic Signalling	Spring	5
PHAR40160	Drug Discovery and Development II	Spring	5