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Overview

Course Prescription

A capstone that applies fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology to the safe, effective and responsible use of drugs through investigation of a current area of pharmacological research. Emphasises experimental design, data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation as the scientific basis for rational, evidence-based decision-making.

Course Overview

This student-led course uses the framework of an ethics application to explore how principles of pharmacology and toxicology inform the safe, effective and responsible use of drugs. Students discover how to apply their skills in experimental design, data collection, analysis and presentation with critical appraisal of the literature, as the scientific basis for rational, evidence-based decision-making. Students learn how to articulate their skills and knowledge to potential employers.

Course Contacts

Rachel Cameron (r.cameron@auckland.ac.nz) and Malcolm Tingle (m.tingle@auckland.ac.nz)

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course. Students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you will spend two hours per week in student-led interactive face-to-face workshops, and up to 24 hours in practical laboratories during the mid-semester break. You will expect to spend 6-8 hours per week locating, reading and thinking actively about the content, completing progress tasks and working on assignments. 

There will be a total of 48 hours of contact time and 102 hours of self-directed learning.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Advice on Course Limits

This is a limited entry course: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. In cases where the courses is taught under two separate codes (e.g. concurrently taught courses, general education courses) the course limit specified is the total across both versions of the course. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities, including workshops and labs, to receive credit for components of the course.
Learning activities, including workshops and labs, will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

The Pharmacology Capstone course is designed to utilise the disciplinary knowledge and skills acquired in prerequisite courses. 

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Students are strongly encouraged to BYOD, e.g. a laptop or similar device; mobile phones will not be sufficient. Contact the course staff for information about long-term loan options if required.Working individually, students will demonstrate competence in practical and data handling skills by executing student-designed experiments. Working in small groups, students will analyse and interpret their data for presentation in written, oral and visual formats. Group work will be used extensively in workshops.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

To pass this course, you must achieve a minimum of 45% in each of the assessment types  AND  achieve a minimum of 50% of the available marks overall. Note: the Literature Review and Integrated Written Assignment are the same assessment type (written). You must achieve a minimum of 45% of the marks available for these assessments combined. Attendance is required at scheduled activities including workshops and labs to receive credit for components of the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

2021 was the first full offering of this course. Ever since, student evaluations of the course have been very favourable. Students appreciated the interactions with staff, and the sense of community fostered on campus. Also valued was the support of peers in group work activities, the course organisation, the assessment structure that emphasised the application of learning to real-life scenarios and the involvement of staff from Career Development and Employability Services (CDES). Students requested more support for assessments, which has been added to the weekly workshops successfully.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Additional Information on Class Representatives

A class representative will be elected at the start of the semester and their contact details will be shared via Canvas. 

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

To apply for an extension, students need to contact the Course Director before the due date and may be required to supply documentation (e.g. doctor’s certificate/collaborating note from a counsellor). Please note that your application is a request only and it should not be assumed that an extension will be granted. Retrospective approval for an extension will be given only in exceptional circumstances. Except where the Course Director has authorised an extension of time for the submission of student work, work handed in after the deadline will incur a late penalty of 5% for each 12-hour period (or part thereof) that the assessment is overdue. Submission of work is only complete when an electronic copy has been submitted through the appropriate platform (e.g. Turnitin or Canvas). Please retain your submission confirmation e-receipt / take a time-stamped screenshot as evidence of timely submission.  

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.