3 credits, selected from: BIOL 200. Molecular Biology.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial
- Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or equivalent
- Corequisite: CHEM 212 or equivalent, or CHEM 204
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Credits: 3
Offered by: Biology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial
- Prerequisite: BIOL 200.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ANAT 212 or BIOC 212
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BIOC 212. Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Biochemistry (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: BIOL 200
- Restrictions: A non-terminal course intended to be followed by BIOC 311; BIOC 312 in the U2 year. Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOL 201 or ANAT 212.
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3 credits, selected from: PHGY 209. Mammalian Physiology 1.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Physiology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems.
- 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.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Physiology (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems.
- 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
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12 credits, selected from:
PHAR 303. Principles of Toxicology.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- Winter
- Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or BIOC 212, PHGY 209 and PHGY 210
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PHAR 503. Drug Discovery and Development 1.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Chemistry, mechanisms of action, and steps in drug discovery and development.
- Fall
- Prerequisites: PHAR 301 or PHAR 303; or permission of instructor
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PHAR 504. Drug Discovery and Development 2.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Nobel Prize-winning discoveries as a basis for drug development.
- Winter
- Prerequisites: PHAR 301 or PHAR 303; or permission of instructor
- Restriction: U3 and graduate students. Students can register only with permission of coordinators.
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PHAR 505. Structural Pharmacology.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- Prerequisite(s): PHAR 301, BIOC 311 or with permission of instructor
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking PHAR 503.
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PHAR 508. Drug Discovery and Development 3.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- 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 510. New Advances in Antimicrobial.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Overview on bacteria, insights into bacterial pathogenesis, an understanding of antibiotics, and new developments in antibacterial to beat antibiotic resistance.
- Restrictions: Open to U3 students and above. Class capacity is first come first serve, after the first 15 students, the next 10 students priority will be given to MIMM and PHAR students. Not open to students who have taken or are taking MIMM 510.
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PHAR 540. Advances in Industrial Biotechnology
.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Introduction to emerging technologies and research advances in biotechnologies. Topics include semisynthetic production of drugs and drug candidates through large-scale fermentation, next generation synthesis of DNA and whole genes, green toxicology, single-molecule diagnostics, orphan-drug re-purposing, and next- generation genomic analyses in drug development. Translational research, issues of
entrepreneurship, sustainability, and ethics are also covered.
- Prerequisite: CHEM 222 (or equivalent) and BIOL 200 or CHEM 332
- Restriction: U3 Students or higher. Not open to students who have taken or are taking CHEM 540.
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PHAR 562. Neuropharmacology.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system.
- 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.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
This advanced course covers selected topics in pharmacology of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic disorders.
- 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.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Winter 2026
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Winter 2026 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
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.
- Prerequisite(s): PHAR 301.
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking HGEN 673.
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PHAR 599D1. Pharmacology Research Project.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025
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Fall 2025 in Visual Schedule Builder.
Description
Mechanisms involved in different pathologies and drug actions.
- Fall
- Minimum of 9 hours/week to be spent in the lab and/or library.
- Pre-/Co-requisite: PHAR 562 and PHAR 563.
- Restriction: U3 students with permission of instructors; students should consult instructors 3 - 4 weeks before registration.
- Please see regulations concerning Project Courses.
- Students must register for both PHAR 599D1 and PHAR 599D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both PHAR 599D1 and PHAR 599D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- PHAR 599D1 and PHAR 599D2 together are equivalent to PHAR 599
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PHAR 599D2. Pharmacology Research Project.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Faculty of Science)
Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026
- Winter
- Minimum of 9 hours per week to be spent in the lab and/or library.
- Prerequisite: PHAR 599D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both PHAR 599D1 and PHAR 599D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- PHAR 599D1 and PHAR 599D2 together are equivalent to PHAR 599
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Note:
Students may take either PHAR 503 or PHAR 505, but not both.
PHAR 599D1 and PHAR 599D2 are taken together.
Am I eligible? Yes, provided you meet the requirements and do not have scheduling conflicts with
your major. You absolutely require approval to graduate with the minor so it might be worth it to speak the coordinator in advance.
What are the pre-requisites? As stated in the course calendar or with special permission of the program coordinator.
What does the program prepare me for? What courses should I take? It depends on your interests. It will not guarantee a place in a pharmacy or medical school and it will not give you a degree in pharmacy i.e. you will not be able to work in a pharmacy. It can help prepare you for graduate training in pharmacology, professional schools or jobs in industry.
What about course overlap? The statement in the course calender is more of a guideline than a rule per se. If you are not sure, you can consult the program coordinator.
What courses should I take? Do I need to take the 599 course? If you have an interest in research, then definitely, yes, you should consider the 599 course. If you need research experience then take the 599 course. If you do not plan on continuing in research then you could consider other courses to obtain the desired number of credits.