Aims and Fit of Module

The aim of this module is to offer students a grounding in organic chemistry and spectroscopy that is directly relevant to Pharmacology. There will be a particular emphasis on relating each topic studied to pharmacological examples.

Learning outcomes

A	Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the bonding and geometry of molecules
B	Discuss the nature of intermolecular interactions, states of matter and phase changes
C	Demonstrate an understanding of thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, and kinetics of chemical reactions
D	Demonstrate an understanding of the significant role of stereochemistry and conformation in a pharmacological setting
E	Demonstrate an understanding of an array of chemical reactions
F	Demonstrate an understanding of the chemical principles in both the synthesis and characterization of biologically relevant molecules
G	Discuss the classification, structure and properties of polymers

Method of teaching and learning

Course content will be delivered primarily via standard lectures, supported by Learning Mall Online (LMO) materials and other web-based resources. Handouts will be made available to students in classrooms and on LMO. Animations and/or videos will be shown for some of the topics. Review sessions will be arranged towards the end of the semester, and the students will have opportunities to self-assess their understanding of the course. Timely, relevant and specific, constructive and actionable feedback will be provided to students in class, on paper and/or in person for each assignment. 

Students will attend a 2-hour lecture and a 2-hour tutorial per week. Students will also be given guidance and opportunities to practice the various skills mentioned in the specifications. Self-study activities will be extensions or consolidations of work carried out in the lecture and tutorial. Assessment components of this module will include: 1) questions or tests in lectures or tutorials; 2) coursework to review the topics; 3) group discussion or report that summarizes the lecture topics; and 4) presentation of a critique of the teaching topics. The feedback will help improve the teaching quality and ensure the quality of summative assessment.