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CORE PRINCIPLES OF PHARMACOLOGY:
A SELF-STUDY GUIDE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
Rationale for this document.
Students admitted to the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Pharmacology at the
University of Toronto come from diverse academic backgrounds. While all our incoming graduate
students normally have solid background preparation in biochemistry and physiology, the amount of
exposure to pharmacology that students have had at the undergraduate level varies considerably.
Regardless of academic background, it is essential that ALL Pharmacology graduate students achieve a
solid understanding of the core principles of pharmacology. This document has been prepared to assist
students with achieving this goal.
How to make use of this document.
During the first year in the Pharmacology graduate program,
normally while taking the Graduate Pharmacology PCL1002Y course, students should conduct a self-
assessment of their mastery of the core principles of pharmacology listed in this document. During the
first year and on an on-going basis throughout the program, students should undertake self-directed study
as needed to achieve a solid understanding of these principles. The resources outlined in this document
should help students accomplish this essential task.
How mastery of the principles will be evaluated.
A primary opportunity to evaluate students’
knowledge of pharmacological principles arises in the Graduate Pharmacology PCL1002Y course.
Students are expected to display a solid understanding of these principles in the oral presentations of
research paper critiques, in the grant-writing exercise, and especially on the exams in this course. Each
exam in PCL1002Y will test knowledge of course content as well as basic principles. Beyond this course,
there are multiple opportunities for the evaluation of students’ mastery of the core principles throughout
the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs.
Resources to be used in concert with this document.
To assist you with mastering the basic principles
of our discipline, you are also welcome (although not required) to make use of various courses offered at
the undergraduate level. The courses that are particularly relevant with respect to basic principles of
pharmacology and toxicology are the following:
• PCL201H: Introduction to Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetic Principles
• PCL302H: Pharmacodynamic Principles
• PCL362H: Introductory Toxicology
• PCL469H/470H: Systems Pharmacology I & II (graduate equivalent is PCL1001Y)
If you wish to attend lectures in these courses and/or access the on-line course materials, please contact
the relevant course coordinators for permission.
The catalogue of core principles below includes a listing of relevant chapters from our currently
recommended textbook, the 15th edition of Katzung’s “Basic & Clinical Pharmacology”. Studying these
chapters will assist you in mastering the material. This book is generally available in the University of
Toronto Bookstore and in the University of Toronto Library system (books and/or electronic online
resources). It can also be purchased from several online retailers. The full bibliographic information for
this book is as follows:
• Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 15th Edition. Edited by BG Katzung & TW Vanderah. McGraw-Hill,
New York (2021). ISBN: 978-1-260-45231-0
