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Undergraduate Handbook

MAJOR AND HONOURS IN PHARMACOLOGY

The Major and Honours in Pharmacology have been designed specifically to provide students with training in subjects necessary to understand the principles and practices of pharmacology. Initially, students take introductory-level courses in mammalian physiology (including labs), molecular biology, and organic chemistry to ensure the requisite foundation for subsequent studies in pharmacology. Next, students are required to take a number of intermediate-level courses in three fundamental areas of pharmacology research: Drug Action, Drugs and Disease, and Principles of Toxicology. Students must also complete complementary courses in metabolic biochemistry and genetics, as well as a laboratory course in cell and molecular biology. In their final year, students must take advanced courses in Drug Design and Development; Neuropharmacology; Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Cancer Pharmacology and Pharmacology Research Topics. In the Major program, students may have the opportunity to enroll in a research project course, allowing them to focus their studies on a topic of pharmacology of greatest personal interest. This is a required component of the Honours program. Through the three year curriculum, students will also choose from a defined list of complementary courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, anatomy and cell biology, biotechnology, experimental medicine, microbiology and immunology, neuroscience, physiology, and psychology. This program gives students a comprehensive education in pharmacology, enabling them to pursue future careers in biomedical or environmental sciences or professional programs in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary sciences.

For more information about the Major and Honours program contact:
Chantal Grignon, Student Affairs Coordinator (undergraduate)

Honours Application Form

Briefly, students are admitted after completing a CEGEP Diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) with the following prerequisites:

• Biology – NYA (OOUK)
• Chemistry – NYA, NYB, (OOUL, OOUM)
• Mathematics – NYA, NYB, NYC (OOUN, OOUP, OOUQ)
• Physics – NYA, NYB, NYC (OOUR, OOUS, OOUT)
• General Biology II (OOXU)

Or after having completed a Freshman Science Year (UO) at McGill, or an equivalent, with the following prerequisites:

• BIOL 112
• CHEM 110
• CHEM 120
• MATH 139
• MATH 141
• PHYS 101
• PHYS 102

B.Sc. Major in Pharmacology (65 credits)

Students must complete an additional 15 credits from the following list of introductory-, intermediate-, advanced-level courses, allowing them to obtain more specialized training in the sub-discipline of pharmacology of their choice.

Committee approval is required to substitute an upper level science course not appearing in the above list.

B.Sc. Honours in Pharmacology (74 credits)

The U1 and U2 (required and complimentary) courses for the Honours program are identical to those in the Major program. Students who have satisfactorily completed the first three terms of the major program with a CGPA of at least 3.50 and a mark of B+ or higher in core Pharmacology courses are eligible for admission into the Honours program. In addition to completion of the requirements of the Major program, students in the Honours program are required to take a 6-credit Research Projects in Pharmacology course and an additional 3 credit course chosen from the list of advanced level complementary courses (for a total of 9 credits in this category). Thus, in Year 3, students in the Honours program take 18 credits in advanced-level pharmacology: