FARB2100 Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Science Course description

This course focuses on the characteristic properties of different types of active ingredients, formulations and routes of administration, as well as theory on and practical presentation of sterile pharmaceutical production.

The student may lack a maximum of one passed course from the first year of study. The partial exam in drug calculations in the course FARB1400 is exempt from the progression requirement.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the structure and function of biological barriers
• can explain the function of relevant ancillary substances in pharmaceutical preparations
• is capable of explaining factors that can limit the bioavailability of active ingredients and influence the biopharmaceutical properties of pharmaceuticals
• can explain the choice of active ingredients, formulation and route of administration in connection with pharmaceutical development
• can give grounds for how the durability and conditions for storage of pharmaceuticals are determined
• is capable of assessing the use of different pharmaceutical formulations based on a patient’s condition and needs

Skills

The student

• can discuss principles of pharmaceutical formulation based on information from summaries of product characteristics (SPC) and any other relevant pharmaceutical reference works
• masters basic skills in aseptic work technique and sterilisation procedures
• can assess whether a pharmaceutical batch is consistent with specific quality requirements
• can present an allocated relevant topic to fellow students

General competence

The student

• can apply knowledge to identify innovative formulations and critical stages of the development and production of pharmaceuticals
• can familiarise him/herself with the principles of formulation for new pharmaceuticals
• can assess possibilities for individual adaptation of pharmaceutical formulation to create the best possible health at the individual level
• has a conscious relationship to the choice of own formulation and routes of administration
• has an understanding of the role of the pharmacist in pharmaceutical development and production

Work and teaching methods include lectures, group work, question sessions and laboratory work. The lectures involve student activity and the material elucidated with the help of examples of clinical relevance. The laboratory work focuses on aseptic work technique. The flipped classroom method is used for parts of the course. Digital learning resources will be made available to students in advance, and the time they spend at the university will be used to work on assignments and group work.

The course Introduction to Social Sciences and Law aims to give students insight into how social processes, public administration, organisational conditions, legal bases and legal ideals can influence service providers and service recipients.

Sociology and social anthropology provide tools for analysing and understanding social contexts, as well as how individuals and society mutually influence each other. Introduction to state and municipal studies and organisational theory provides an introduction to the political, administrative and organisational framework that social educators work within. The law part of the course introduces the students to due process protection for service recipients through lawful and professional practice that respects the service recipients' integrity.

Admission to the programme

After completing the parts introduction to sociology and social anthropology (1), introduction to state and municipal studies and organisational theory (2) and introduction to the legal system, legal method and administrative law (3), the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

The student has knowledge of

• basic concepts in sociology and social anthropology (1)
• important perspectives in sociology and social anthropology (1)
• the effects of social relationships on individuals (1)
• how individuals can influence society (1)
• how social and cultural factors can affect the lives of people with disabilities in particular (1)
• how to analyse social inequality (1)
• politics and political processes (2)
• the relationship between the Storting, the government, public administration and citizens (2)
• local democracy, municipal organisation and the relationship between the state, county authorities and municipalities (2)
• different theoretical approaches to understanding organisations (2)
• the framework for social educators’ professional practice and (2) the division of tasks between different professional groups (2)
• the legal methods used in case processing and the exercise of authority in the social educator's service areas (3)
• the principles of due process protection that form the basis for general administrative law and how they are expressed in important legal provisions (3)
• the legal basis for the public health, social, and education and training services (3)

Skills

The student is capable of

• using the basic concepts in sociology and social anthropology to analyse social relationships and societal factors (1)
• explaining different key perspectives in sociology and social anthropology, as well as seeing different analyses of social and social factors in relation to these perspectives (1)
• explaining how stigmatisation can impact people's social relationships and lives (1)
• explaining how social, material and societal barriers can lead to disabilities (1)
• explaining potential effects of cultural differences on the work of social educators (1)
• explaining the basic organisational features of important political and administrative bodies (2)
• applying different theoretical approaches and perspectives in order to understand and analyse how organisations function and the dilemmas they face (2)
• making professional assessments of challenges in the public sector (2)
• explaining the legal status of people with disabilities in Norwegian society (3)

Competence

The student

• understands how social issues can affect individuals' possibilities and self-understanding (1)
• has insight into how society influences individuals, with particular emphasis on people with disabilities and the health and social care professions (1)
• has knowledge of the importance of cultural differences (1)
• has insight into organisational theory and an understanding of the basic complexity of organisations (2)
• has insight into how the public sector works (2)
• is capable of explaining the legal system and the legislative process (3)
• has insight into dilemmas relating to service provision, human rights and the legal status of people with disabilities (3)

The course’s three social science perspectives are presented through lectures, group work and self-study.

The organised teaching activities in the course conclude with a seminar that covers all three discipline areas.

The following required coursework must be approved before a student can receive a final assessment:

• Participating in preparation and implementation of seminar

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.