SOLUS is Queen’s Student On-Line University System. You’ll have access to a SOLUS account once you become a Queen’s student. You’ll use SOLUS to register for courses, add and drop courses, update your contact information, view financial and academic information, and pay your tuition.
Introductory Pharmacology
PHAR 100/3.0
Topics covered include central nervous system stimulants and depressants, narcotics, alcohol, contraceptives, environmental toxicants, mechanism of drug action and disposition, antibiotics, drugs used in sports, over-the-counter drugs, food additives, and vitamins.
Learning Outcomes
After completing PHAR 100, students will be able to:
- Discuss the pharmacological principles of drug abuse to advocate for healthy and appropriate drug use.
- Describe the mechanism of action and physiological effects of classes of drugs to be able to summarize the reason(s) for their use and abuse in society.
- Apply learned knowledge of the essential elements of a phase 3 clinical trial to design a hypothetical clinical trial for a new drug to treat a specific disease or condition.
- Effectively discuss and apply relevant pharmacological principles within a group to successfully complete collaborative assignments
Description
PHAR 100, Introductory Pharmacology, is designed as a general interest course that introduces the subjects of pharmacology and toxicology, with emphasis on common drugs used and abused by society. Pharmacology is broadly defined as the effect of drugs and chemicals on living organisms, while toxicology is the study of the deleterious effects of drugs and chemicals on living organisms. No prior knowledge of physiology is required to understand the drug action described in this course. This 12-week course consists of six modules, which student will work through online. Students will participate in two activities throughout the course that will encourage communication and teamwork, as well as ensure concepts have been understood and can be applied to real life scenarios. In addition, students will be required to submit one individual assignment, answering assigned questions about the course material. At the end of the course, students will have a basic understanding of pharmacology and toxicology.
Terms
Summer 21: May - July
Course Dates:
May 10 - July 30, 2021
Exam Dates:
August 3 - 10
Evaluation
10% - Phase III Clinical Trial Poster
20% - Individual Assignment
20% - Herbal and Dietary Supplements Report
10% - Midterm
40% - Final Proctored Exam
Note: students must pass the final exam to pass the course.
** Evaluation Subject to Change **
Instructor
Professor William Racz (raczw@queensu.ca) and Professor Jeanne Mulder (jeanne.mulder@queensu.ca)
Textbooks and Materials
Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Required Texts
- PHAR 100 course notes via modules posted online.
Optional Textbook
- Primer of Drug Action, 12th Robert Julien et al., Worth Publishers, 2010
Time Commitment
To complete the readings, assignments, and course activities, students can expect to spend on average, about 10 - 12 hours per week on the course.
Fall 2021
Course Dates:
Sept. 7 - Dec. 3, 2021
Exam Dates:
Dec. 8 - 22, 2021
Evaluation
10% - Phase III Clinical Trial Poster
20% - Herbal and Dietary Supplements Report
20% - Individual Assignment
10% - Midterm
40% - Final Proctored Exam
Note: students must pass the final exam to pass the course.
** Evaluation Subject to Change *
Instructor
Professor William Racz (raczw@queensu.ca) and Professor Jeanne Mulder (jeanne.mulder@queensu.ca)
Instructor message
Dr. Racz obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan. After three years of practice, he returned to university and obtained a Master’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry and a doctorate in Pharmacology from the University of Alberta. He is currently Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University. His interest in educating physicians, nursing science and life science students, and the public in the area of pharmacology and drug use spans almost four decades. His research interests include heavy metal toxicity and drug induced liver injury. He is a past president of the Society of Toxicology of Canada, a consultant to the Committee for The Evaluation of Drugs, Ministry of Health, Ontario and has served on several expert panels.
Dr. Mulder obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences, and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Queen’s University. Dr. Mulder is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor and Research Associate in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen’s University. Her current research interests include environmental toxicants and drug-induced lung and liver toxicities, including cancer. She has been involved with the online version of PHAR100 for over five years and is enthusiastic about teaching pharmacology and toxicology.
Textbooks and Materials
Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Required Texts
- PHAR 100 course notes via modules posted online.
Optional Textbook
- Primer of Drug Action, 12th Robert Julien et al., Worth Publishers, 2010
Time Commitment
To complete the readings, assignments, and course activities, students can expect to spend on average, about 9 - 10 hours per week on the course.
Winter 2022
Course Dates:
Jan. 10 - April 8, 2022
Exam Dates:
April 14 - 30, 2022
Evaluation
10% - Phase III Clinical Trial Poster
20% - Herbal and Dietary Supplements Report
20% - Individual Assignment
10% - Midterm
40% - Final Proctored Exam
Note: students must pass the final exam to pass the course.
** Evaluation Subject to Change *
Instructor
Professor William Racz (raczw@queensu.ca) and Professor Jeanne Mulder (jeanne.mulder@queensu.ca)
Textbooks and Materials
Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Required Texts
- PHAR 100 course notes via modules posted online.
Optional Textbook
- Primer of Drug Action, 12th Robert Julien et al., Worth Publishers, 2010
Time Commitment
To complete the readings, assignments, and course activities, students can expect to spend on average, about 10 - 12 hours per week on the course.
Course Resources
About SOLUS
About OnQ
onQ is Queen's online learning platform. You'll log into onQ to access your course. All materials related to your course—notes, readings, videos, recordings, discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, groupwork, tutorials, and help—will be on the onQ site.
About Credit Units
Queen’s courses are weighted in credit units. A typical one-term course is worth 3.0 units, and a typical two-term course is worth 6.0 units. You combine these units to create your degree. A general (three-year) BA or BSc requires a total of 90 credit units.
Computer Requirements
To take an online course, you’ll need a high speed internet connection as well as a microphone and speakers to be able to watch videos, hear sounds, and participate in interactive online activities. A webcam is recommended but not necessary.
System Requirements:
Computer Specifications
- Windows 8.1 or newer
- OSX 10.13 (High Sierra) or newer
- Dual Core 2 GHz processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Soundcard
- USB Headset
- Webcam
Supported Browsers
- Chrome (preferred - latest version)
- Firefox (latest version)
- Safari is not recommended as it causes several known issues in onQ
- Edge is not recommended as it causes several known issues in onQ
Internet Connection
- Wired high speed access: Cable or better
- Wifi is not recommended
Java
- Latest version
Media Player
- Flash (latest version)
Adobe Reader
- Latest Version
Dates/Deadlines
The deadlines for new applications to Queen’s Arts and Science Online courses are in our Upcoming Application Dates section.
Grading Scheme
The information below is intended for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Academic Regulations in other Faculties may differ.
| Letter Grade | Grade Point |
| A+ | 4.30 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.70 |
| C+ | 2.30 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.70 |
| D+ | 1.30 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.70 |
| F | 0.00 |
GPA Calculators
Have your SOLUS grade report handy and then follow the link to the Arts and Science GPA calculators.
How does this affect my academics?
See the GPA and Academic Standing page.
Follow the link above for an explanation of how the GPA system affects such things as the Dean’s Honour List, requirements to graduate, and academic progression.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Grading Scheme
Please follow this link to the FAQ's
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees vary depending when you start, your year, faculty, and program. Fees for Summer Term 2018 first-year Distance Career Arts & Science Domestic students are as follows: for a 3.0-unit course, $685.90; for a 6.0-unit course, $1371.80 See also Tuition and Fees.
Campus Bookstore
All textbooks can be purchased at Queen’s Campus Bookstore.
Non-Queen’s Students
All Queen’s Arts and Science Online courses are open to students at other universities. Before applying as a visiting student, request a Letter of Permission from your home university that states that you have permission to take the course and apply it to your degree. See also Apply.
Academic Integrity
Please see Queen’s policy statement on academic integrity for information on how to complete an online course honestly.
