Pharmacology & Molecular Genetics

Course detail Description

Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their effects on the human body, while genetics is the study of the structure and function of genes and genomes – the genome is the entire genetic material of an organism – in order to understand how they determine inherited characteristics.

Genomics is a powerful tool in the study of human genetic variation: the small differences in alleles between individuals can affect their characteristics and health. It is closely related to the term ‘pharmacogenetics’ which is the study of variation of a drug’s effectiveness and toxicity between individuals in relation to variation in their genome. Genomics also comes into play in the term ‘toxicogenomics’ in which changes in gene expression are investigated as a means of classifying and understanding the harm produced by toxic substances.

This joint honours course combines two important disciplines and will enable you to contribute to these rapidly growing fields, or to pursue career opportunities in biomedicine and medicine.

This course forms part of the suite of ‘Common Year 1’ courses within the School of Bioscience Education. These comprise Anatomy, Developmental & Human Biology; Biochemistry; Biomedical Science; Medical Physiology; Molecular Genetics; Neuroscience; Pharmacology; Pharmacology & Molecular Genetics. Once you have successfully completed Year 1, you can choose to switch to any other courses within this suite.

In Year 2 you can choose to study abroad at one of our partner institutions, or apply to transfer to a four-year MSci programme with a professional placement year in industry or academia.

Teaching

Teaching on this course takes place in lectures, seminars and tutorials and through practical laboratory work. The rest of your time will be spent on self-study, including reading, research and writing assignments.

Course Stage

Percentage of Time in Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities

Percentage of Time in Guided Independent Study

Percentage of Time on Placements

Year 1

25%

75%

-

Year 2

30%

70%

-

Year 3

23%

77%

-

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

Course Stage

Percentage of Assessment by Written Exams

Percentage of Assessment by Practical Exams

Percentage of Assessment by Coursework

Year 1

78%

5%

17%

Year 2

48%

6%

46%

Year 3

66%

5%

29%

Study abroad

You will also have the opportunity to study abroad for your second year at one of our partner universities, which currently include:

• The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden

• The University of Melbourne, Australia

• National University of Singapore

• The University of California

• The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

This is a competitive process and you may be required to fulfil additional entry requirements for this option.

Regulating body

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Location

This course is primarily taught at our King’s College London Guy’s and Waterloo Campuses, both on the South Bank of the Thames, putting you at the heart of everything London has to offer in terms of academic resources and also close to its social and entertainment attractions.

Read more

Structure

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3
• Year 4

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 360 credits.

This is a three-year course based on a combination of required and optional modules. Each year you will study modules to a total of 120 credits. There are options to switch to any other course in the Bioscience suite after year one. You can also choose to study abroad during Year 2 or apply to transfer onto a four-year MSci programme with a professional placement year in industry or academia.

In Year 1, you are required to take:

• Biochemistry (15 credits)

• Chemistry for the Biosciences (15 credits)

• Genetics & Molecular Biology (15 credits)

• Cell Biology & Neuroscience (15 credits)

• Fundamentals of Physiology & Anatomy (30 credits)

• Fundamentals of Pharmacology (15 credits)

• Skills for the Biosciences (15 credits)

There are no optional modules for this course in Year 1.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Year 2

You can also choose to study abroad for your second year at one of our partner universities, or apply to transfer onto a four-year MSci programme with a professional placement year in industry or academia. See the course description for more information.

You are required to take:

• Drug Discovery & Development (15 credits)

• Drugs & Disease B (30 credits)

• Gene Cloning & Expression A/B (30 credits)

• Human & Molecular Genetics A (15 credits)

• Research Skills in Pharmacology (30 credits)

There are no optional modules for this course for Year 2

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Year 3 Required Modules

You are required to take:

• Advanced Molecular Genetics (15 credits)

• Molecular Genetics of Model Organisms (15 credits)

You are also required to take one of the following modules:

• Cellular Basis of Drug Dependence (30 credits)

• Cell & Molecular Pharmacology (30 credits)

You are also required to conduct one of the following research projects:

• Extended Research Project in Molecular Science (45 credits)

• Pharmacology Research Project (30 credits)

• Extended Pharmacology Research Project (45 credits)

• Project Design in Pharmacology (30 credits)

• Extended Research Project in Molecular Genetics (45 credits)

• Molecular Genetics Library Project A (15 credits)

• Molecular Genetics Library Project B (15 credits)

During year two, you can apply to transfer to the four-year MSci with Professional Placement Year. If successful, placement may be in the UK or overseas, usually in a pharmaceutical company, a government research establishment or academic research institute.

Year 3 of MSci

If you transfer, you are required to undertake the following modules by distance learning. There are no optional modules in Year 3 of MSci.

• Workplace Skills Assessment & Review (15 credits)

• Workplace Project Report (15 credits)

• Dissertation (60 credits)

• Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relations (30 credits)

Upon returning to King’s, students who successfully complete their placement year complete Year 4 at Masters level.

In addition, you must take sufficient credits to bring your total for the year to 120, from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:

• Drug Safety & Toxicology (30 credits)

• Biomedical Diagnostics (15 credits)

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology (15 credits)

• Experimental Cardiovascular Pharmacology (30 credits)

• Pharmacology of Inflammation (15 credits)

• Experimental Pharmacology of Inflammation (30 credits)

• Forensic Genetics and Toxicology (15 credits)

• Pharmacology of Neurological & Psychiatric Disorders (15 credits)

• Biology of Cancer (30 credits)

• Molecular Biology Practical Project (30 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Year 4

Upon returning to King’s, students who successfully complete their placement year complete Year 4 at Masters level.

Year 4 of MSci

Analysis & Communication in Pharmacology (advanced) (15 credits)

Year 4 of MSci

You are also required to take sufficient credits to bring your total for the year to 120, from optional modules, which may typically include:

• Cell and Molecular Pharmacology (advanced) (30 credits)

• Experimental Cardiovascular Pharmacology (advanced) (30 credits)

• Experimental Pharmacology of Inflammation (advanced) (30 credits)

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology (advanced) (15 credits)

• Pharmacology of Inflammation (advanced) (15 credits)

• Pharmacology of Neurological & Psychiatric Disorders (advanced) (15 credits)

• Project Design in Pharmacology (30 credits)

• Pharmacology Research Project (advanced) (30 credits)

• Advanced Molecular Genetics modules that are under development (15 and 30 credits)