PM0FP: Foundation Pharmacology: Core Concepts and Practice

Module code: PM0FP

Module provider: Pharmacy; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Silvia Amadesi, email: s.amadesi@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 22 April 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to introduce students to core concepts and develop basic skills in pharmacology. 

The purpose is to provide a foundation and understanding on core pharmacology concepts, laboratory practical and data analysis skills, numeracy and communication required for further study on pharmacology-based programmes.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Carry out simple laboratory procedures, perform calculations, record data accurately and use basic numerical and graphical methods to present data 
2. Start locating and use scientific information resources for pharmacology and start appreciating its role in scientific research 
3. Outline key pharmacological terminology and major processes of drug pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and research
4. Reflect on personal learning needs, skills development and progress for future study and careers.

Module content

• Role of pharmacologists in science and drug development for human diseases
• Basic principles of Preventing (e.g. Lifestyle choices, vaccination), Detecting (e.g. diagnosis; screening) and Treating (e.g. drug therapy) diseases
• Carry out laboratory procedures, accurately record observations, analyse, interpret and present data from practical work 
• Pharmacological calculations including use of basic numerical and graphical methods to present and interpret data and  Experimental Design in pharmacology. 
• Principle of Pharmacodynamics (pharmacological concepts: agonist, antagonist, receptors, drug potency and efficacy) and Pharmacokinetics (drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) 
• Data literacy and use of evidence from health organization e.g. WHO to understand trends in illness and their treatments.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars will introduce students to the core content and principles of pharmacology and scientific research.

Practical classes and workshops, supported by completion of self-scheduled teaching and learning activities, engagement with discussion boards and use of simulations will introduce students to laboratory work (e.g. calculation and dilutions, pipetting, preparing simple solutions and following safety rules), experimental design for pharmacology research (e.g. Types of Experiment, Experimental unit and Blinding), data gathering, analysing and presentation.

Tutorials will be provided to guide and support on coursework, professional attitudes, reflection on personal development and career in the field of pharmacology.

Group working and in-class discussions embedded in practical and workshops activities, will introduce students to principles of effective teamwork and communication skills.

Study hours

At least 21 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass the module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

To support learning towards skill development and summative assessment, formative feedback will be provided on all the teaching and learning activities delivered in a written or oral format (e.g., instant feedback in practical classes or in post-activity debriefing workshops with in class discussion).

Reassessment

Additional costs