CHEMISTRY 416, MECHANISMS OF DRUG ACTION
Spring, 2008 - TTH 9:30-10:45 A.M.
Dr. Loretta Jackson-Hayes
Office - 210 Kennedy Hall
Office hours – W, 4:00-5:00; R, 11:00-12:00
Phone - 843-3510, Email - jacksonhayesl@rhodes.edu
Text: Lange Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 10th edition
COUSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides an introduction to Pharmacology which is the
study of chemicals that produce change in function of biological systems and the mechanisms by
which these chemicals act. We will focus on the main classes of drugs and how they affect their
target systems. We will also survey some of the more popular contemporary drugs. The course
is designed to provide students who plan to pursue medical, health professional, or biomedical
research careers a foundation for their professional or graduate coursework and research.
However, it is appropriate for any student who has an interest in the subject matter.
PREREQUISITES: Chemistry 211-211L, Chemistry 212-212L, Biology 130-131 and Biology
140-141
OBJECTIVES
During the semester you should focus on improving in the following areas:
1. Learning terminology, classifications, and methods used in the study of Pharmacology
2. Learning the names and mechanisms of action of drugs of different classes
3. Developing the ability to understand, interpret and critique scientific data
4. Learning the skills and points of view of professionals in this field
EVALUATION: During the semester, there will be three exams. The third exam, the final
exam, will be comprehensive and will cover the entire semester’s work. Quizzes will be given
each week. Each student will also give a 10 minute presentation on a “hot topic” in
Pharmacology. Topics can include but are not limited to new drugs that are on the market or
undergoing clinical trial, new experimental techniques or current research that can be used to
design new drugs. The presentations will count as one quiz grade.
The course grade will be arrived at according to the following scale:
A --- 90%,
B --- 80%,
C --- 70%,
D --- 60%,
F --- below 60%,
of the total number of points available.
Plus and minus assignments will be made within these ranges.
POLICIES: Extra credit will be awarded for attending Chemistry Departmental Seminars and
pertinent seminars sponsored by other departments. All bonus points (extra credit) will be added
to your semester point total (not the percentage) when final grades are calculated.
