Course Structure Across Semesters
The Pharmacy program at Akal University Bathinda is structured over eight semesters, each building upon the previous one to ensure a progressive and comprehensive learning experience. The curriculum includes core courses, departmental electives, science electives, and laboratory components designed to develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | PHC-101 | Introduction to Pharmacy | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | CHM-101 | Organic Chemistry I | 4-0-0-4 | - |
| I | BIO-101 | Cell Biology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | BIO-102 | Microbiology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | MAT-101 | Mathematics I | 4-0-0-4 | - |
| I | PHY-101 | Physics | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| I | L-101 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 0-0-3-1.5 | CHM-101 |
| I | L-102 | Cell Biology Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | BIO-101 |
| II | CHM-102 | Organic Chemistry II | 4-0-0-4 | CHM-101 |
| II | BIO-103 | Biochemistry | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-101 |
| II | PHC-102 | Pharmacology I | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-101, BIO-102 |
| II | MAT-102 | Mathematics II | 4-0-0-4 | MAT-101 |
| II | L-103 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 0-0-3-1.5 | CHM-102 |
| III | CHM-103 | Medicinal Chemistry I | 4-0-0-4 | CHM-102, BIO-103 |
| III | PHC-103 | Pharmacology II | 3-0-0-3 | PHC-102 |
| III | BIO-104 | Pharmacognosy | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-102 |
| III | L-104 | Medicinal Chemistry Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | CHM-103 |
| IV | CHM-104 | Medicinal Chemistry II | 4-0-0-4 | CHM-103 |
| IV | PHC-104 | Pharmaceutical Analysis I | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-103 |
| IV | PHC-105 | Drug Delivery Systems | 3-0-0-3 | CHM-103, PHC-103 |
| IV | L-105 | Pharmaceutical Analysis Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | PHC-104 |
| V | PHC-106 | Clinical Pharmacy | 3-0-0-3 | PHC-104, PHC-105 |
| V | PHC-107 | Pharmacokinetics | 3-0-0-3 | PHC-103, PHC-104 |
| V | PHC-108 | Regulatory Affairs | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| V | L-106 | Clinical Pharmacy Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | PHC-106 |
| VI | PHC-109 | Pharmacovigilance | 3-0-0-3 | PHC-107 |
| VI | PHC-110 | Biotechnology in Pharmacy | 3-0-0-3 | BIO-104 |
| VI | PHC-111 | Pharmaceutical Marketing | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| VI | L-107 | Biotechnology Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | PHC-110 |
| VII | PHC-112 | Research Methodology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| VII | PHC-113 | Capstone Project I | 0-0-6-3 | PHC-109, PHC-110 |
| VIII | PHC-114 | Capstone Project II | 0-0-6-3 | PHC-113 |
Advanced Departmental Electives
The department offers several advanced elective courses that allow students to explore specialized areas within pharmacy. Here are descriptions of key electives:
- Computational Drug Design: This course introduces students to computational methods used in drug discovery, including molecular docking, pharmacophore modeling, and virtual screening techniques.
- Nanomedicine and Targeted Drug Delivery: Students learn about the design and application of nanosystems for targeted drug delivery, focusing on liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers.
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Explores biotechnological approaches to drug development, including recombinant protein production, gene therapy, and monoclonal antibody technologies.
- Pharmacogenomics: Covers how genetic variations affect individual responses to drugs, with applications in personalized medicine and precision therapeutics.
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics: Focuses on the biochemical processes involved in drug metabolism and how these influence drug efficacy and safety profiles.
- Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance: Teaches principles of quality control and assurance in pharmaceutical manufacturing, including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory compliance.
- Pharmaceutical Informatics: Introduces students to data management systems, electronic health records, and the role of informatics in improving patient care and drug development.
- Global Health Policy and Drug Access: Examines issues related to access to medicines globally, including intellectual property rights, pricing strategies, and policy frameworks affecting pharmaceutical availability.
- Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurship: Prepares students for careers in startup ventures, covering business planning, funding, regulatory pathways, and innovation management in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Advanced Clinical Trials Design: Provides an overview of clinical trial methodology, including phase I-IV trials, protocol design, and statistical analysis techniques used in drug evaluation.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The program strongly emphasizes project-based learning to foster critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and innovation. Students are required to complete two major projects during their academic journey:
- Mini Projects (Year 1-2): These projects aim at developing foundational research skills through small-scale investigations guided by faculty mentors.
- Final-Year Thesis/Capstone Project (Year 3-4): Students undertake independent research or applied projects that demonstrate mastery in their chosen specialization area.
The evaluation criteria include proposal writing, literature review, experimental design, data analysis, presentation skills, and final report submission. Faculty members guide students throughout the process, helping them select relevant topics, secure resources, and refine their approaches based on feedback.