VET TECH 2025RW - Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Therapeutics II

Roseworthy Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Therapeutics II will provide Veterinary Technology students with knowledge of why pharmacology and pharmacy management are important in animal industry. The course will cover general pharmacology, routes and techniques of drug administration and dose rate calculation, major drug classes commonly used in animals, their action and how they are used to promote animal health, well-being and productivity. Pharmacy management and inventory control, regulations and scheduling of medicines pertaining to the use of veterinary and human drugs in Australia, issues of correct use of medicines, drug resistance, drug withholding periods and export slaughter intervals will also be discussed.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code VET TECH 2025RW
    Course Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Therapeutics II
    Coordinating Unit School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s Roseworthy Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 7 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites VET TECH 1020RW, VET TECH 1025RW, VET TECH 2035RW, VET TECH 2015RW and ANIML SC 2540RW
    Incompatible VET SC 7006RW
    Restrictions Available to Bachelor of Veterinary Technology students only
    Course Description Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Therapeutics II will provide Veterinary Technology students with knowledge of why pharmacology and pharmacy management are important in animal industry. The course will cover general pharmacology, routes and techniques of drug administration and dose rate calculation, major drug classes commonly used in animals, their action and how they are used to promote animal health, well-being and productivity. Pharmacy management and inventory control, regulations and scheduling of medicines pertaining to the use of veterinary and human drugs in Australia, issues of correct use of medicines, drug resistance, drug withholding periods and export slaughter intervals will also be discussed.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Suong Ngo

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
    1 Describe the importance of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug administration, including drug dose rate calculation.
    2 Identify the major drug classes commonly used in animals, their action, issues of correct use of medicines and antibiotic resistance.
    3 Explain how the major drug classes are used to promote animal health, well-being and productivity.
    4 Describe and apply regulations relating to the use of veterinary and human medicines in Australia, use of medicines in competing animals and withholding periods, export slaughter intervals for food producing animals.
    5 Apply knowledge of pharmacy management and inventory control in a pharmacy setting and demonstrate appropriate, safe handlings of dangerous therapeutic agents/chemicals.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1, 2, 3 4, 5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    1, 2, 3

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Online Learning
    MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be delivered via lectures and tutorial/practical sessions involving group work, discussion and presentations/report writing. Practical/tutorial sessions will cover various topics relevant to the lectures. Students will be allocated an exercise and work in groups. Students will present and discuss their results with other students and a tutor.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required, including both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures, tutorials/practicals), and non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).
    Learning Activities Summary
    Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Therapeutics II will be delivered via three main activities comprised 36 lectures plus 12 tutorials and/or practicals. The specific topics to be covered in lectures, tutorials and/or practicals include:

    • Principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and drug administration, different routes and techniques for drug delivery.
    • Drug formulation, dose rate calculation.
    • Drug regulations, scheduling of medicines in Australia, use of medicines in competing animals and withholding periods, export slaughter intervals for food producing animals, general drug rules.
    • APVMA roles, registration, drug discovery and development, restricted vs unrestricted medicines, adverse drug reactions, ADR monitoring and reporting.
    • Major drug classes commonly used in animals and their action, covering: analgesics and anti-inflammatory medicines; anti-infective medicines; antiparasitic medicines; renal and urinary tract medicines; gastrointestinal system drugs; cardiovascular system drugs; anxiolytic and CNS medicines; hormonal, endocrine and reproductive medicines; ophthalmic, otic and skin disorder medicines; blood-modifying agents, antineoplastic medicines; immunosuppressant and immunologic medicines.
    • Introduction to Pharmacy management and inventory control.
    • Medicines storage, stock management, record keeping, animal prescription only medicines, controlled medicines, safe handling of toxic therapeutic agents and dangerous substances.
    • Issues of antibody resistance, mechanisms underlying resistance, approaches to minimise resistance.
    • Applying the acquired knowledge and critical thinking skills, communication and team-work skills to maintain good clinical practice within the scope of a veterinary technologist.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Compulsory practical and tutorial attendance. Attendance in each class session will be marked.

    In the case of missed classes, students should advise the Course Coordinator and seek advice on how to catch up on missed content.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Hurdle?
    Yes/No
    Learning Outcome Due
    Drug Administration Test Summative 10% No 1, 2, 5 Week 5
    Mid Semester Test Summative 30% No 2, 3, 4 Week 6
    Final Exam Summative 60% Yes 2, 3, 5 Examination period
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessment Task % needed to meet hurdle requirement
    Is additional assessment available if hurdle isn't met?
    Type of additional assessment if available
    Attendance at and participation in the practical classes is compulsory Completion of all practicals Students missing two or more practical classes will fail the course unless they can provide signed medical certificates in line with University policy. Remedial practicals will be offered where reasonably possible. In many cases, practical classes require the time consuming creation of resources and may be impractical to reproduce for small student groups. If one or two classes are missed students will be required to complete alternate activities, devised by the course coordinator, in order to achieve and demonstrate the skills involved in the missed class.
    Final Exam 50% Yes Students that do not meet this minimum requirement will be offered an additional examination. This examination may take the form of an oral or written paper, at the discretion of the course co-ordinator, based on the deficiencies identified.
    Assessment Detail
    Drug Administration Test (10%)
    A drug administration test will be given (around week 5) to provide students feedback on their progress in the course. The session will assess the material related to drug formulation, dose rate calculations, different routes and techniques for drug delivery topics.

    Mid Semester Test (30%)
    A mid semester test will be given (around week 6) to provide students with a benchmark for their progress in  the course. The test will assess the materials covered in lectures, tutorials, and practical classes up to week 5.

    Final Exam (60%)
    Students will sit an end of semester written examination over 3 hours during the official examination period, on the materials given in lectures and tutorial/practical classes throughout the whole course. The students’ knowledge of fundamental concepts developed from the course will be assessed along with their ability to synthesise/apply these concepts to the appropriate/safe use, administration and handling of veterinary medicines and related agents in current and future clinical veterinary practice. The format of the exam will include a mixture of short answers and MCQs.

    Hurdle
    To pass this course, students must obtain a minimum of 50% in the end of semester written examination.  Students that do not meet
    this minimum requirement will be offered an additional examination. This examination may take the form of an oral or written paper, at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, based on the deficiencies identified.
    Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted, then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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