What is Biochemistry and Pharmacolgy?

This Joint Honours Degree course, offered by the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, combines the study of Biochemistry with Pharmacology.

Biochemistry is the study of the composition, metabolism and function of biological systems at the molecular level. Biochemistry, and the related field Molecular Biology, provide important advances into understanding the molecular basis of life, and how alteration or disruption of these molecular pathways leads to disease processes.
Pharmacology is the study of how chemicals affect the functions of the body in health and disease. As a discipline it underpins the development of new or improved medicines within the pharmaceutical industry and the therapeutic management of disease within the health care sector.

Structure

Years 1 and 2 of all the Joint Honours Degrees follow a Common Core Structure

Year 1: Bioscience (Cellular Structure and Function, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Microbial and Plant Bioscience, Introductory Physiology); Chemistry; Mathematics or Physics or Biophysics. Students also choose electives from classes offered by any department of the University, subject to timetabling

Year 2: Bioscience (Introductory Medical Microbiology, Parasitology, Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, Cell and Molecular Biology, Practical Bioscience); Basic and Clinical Immunology; Organic Chemistry; Physiological Basis of Drug Action.The common curriculum in years 1 and 2 of the Joint Honours Degrees, the Biomedical Science Degree and the Biological Science Degree means that students can defer their final choice of degree until almost the end of year 2.
The specialist classes in Pharmacology and Biochemistry topics are covered in Years 3 and 4. Students also undertake a substantial research project in Biochemistry or Pharmacology in Year 4 and present a dissertation of their work

Year 3: Students study Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Proteins and Enzymes, Pharmacology of Synaptic Transmission, Drug Receptor Interactions, Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Central Nervous Systems and their Treatment, and practical classes on Methods in Biosciences and Pharmacology. There is also a laboratory-based experimental project in Pharmacology

Year 4: Classes in Genes and Cancer, Glycobiology, Pharmacokinetics, Molecular Neuroscience, Oxidative Stress, Advanced Aspects of Molecular, Cardiovascular, Neuropharmacology and further study of major disease states. Students develop their interpretative, communication and practical skills by carrying out a project and presenting a dissertation on their work.



Career Opportunities
There are many rewarding opportunities in the UK and abroad in research in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and in hospitals (in clinical chemistry), blood transfusion laboratories, the food and beverage industries, universities, government research institutes, research councils, charity-funded research, environmental centres, the scientific civil service, and teaching at all levels. Positions in management, marketing, sales and administration, particularly in multinational organisations, are also open to graduates. Many graduates take specialised research degrees at MPhil or PhD level.


In addition, the combination of Pharmacology with Biochemistry enables graduates to direct their career choices into a specialist Biomedical Science area. For instance there are many different employment opportunities for pharmacologists in the agro-food, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.


Biochemistry and Pharmacology 08/09 (BSc Hons)

Full-time, Admission Code : CB72
Our current entry requirement are available here or after each course description in our Prospectus