Course Structure Overview
The Pharmacy program at Al Karim University Katihar is designed to provide students with a robust academic foundation and practical skills necessary for success in the pharmaceutical industry. The curriculum spans four years, divided into eight semesters, with each semester containing a mix of core courses, departmental electives, science electives, and laboratory sessions.
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credits (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PCH 101 | Organic Chemistry I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | PCH 102 | Inorganic Chemistry I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | PHB 101 | Biology I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | PPH 101 | Physics I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | PCH 103 | Chemistry Lab I | 0-0-3-1 | - |
| 2 | PCH 201 | Organic Chemistry II | 3-1-0-4 | PCH 101 |
| 2 | PCH 202 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 3-1-0-4 | PCH 102 |
| 2 | PHB 201 | Biology II | 3-1-0-4 | PHB 101 |
| 2 | PPH 201 | Physics II | 3-1-0-4 | PPH 101 |
| 2 | PCH 203 | Chemistry Lab II | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 103 |
| 3 | PHM 301 | Pharmacology I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 3 | PPH 301 | Pharmaceutical Analysis I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 3 | PCH 301 | Medicinal Chemistry I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 3 | PPH 302 | Pharmaceutics I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 3 | PHM 302 | Pharmacognosy | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 3 | PCH 302 | Chemistry Lab III | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 203 |
| 4 | PHM 401 | Pharmacology II | 3-1-0-4 | PHM 301 |
| 4 | PPH 401 | Pharmaceutical Analysis II | 3-1-0-4 | PPH 301 |
| 4 | PCH 401 | Medicinal Chemistry II | 3-1-0-4 | PCH 301 |
| 4 | PPH 402 | Pharmaceutics II | 3-1-0-4 | PPH 302 |
| 4 | PCH 402 | Chemistry Lab IV | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 302 |
| 5 | PHM 501 | Clinical Pharmacy | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 5 | PPH 501 | Pharmaceutical Microbiology | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 5 | PCH 501 | Pharmacokinetics | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 5 | PPH 502 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 5 | PCH 502 | Chemistry Lab V | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 402 |
| 6 | PHM 601 | Toxicology | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 6 | PPH 601 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 6 | PCH 601 | Drug Design & Development | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 6 | PPH 602 | Regulatory Affairs | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 6 | PCH 602 | Chemistry Lab VI | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 502 |
| 7 | PHM 701 | Advanced Clinical Pharmacy | 3-1-0-4 | PHM 501 |
| 7 | PPH 701 | Pharmaceutical Marketing | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 7 | PCH 701 | Industrial Pharmacy | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 7 | PPH 702 | Quality Assurance & Control | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 7 | PCH 702 | Chemistry Lab VII | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 602 |
| 8 | PHM 801 | Capstone Project | 0-0-6-6 | - |
| 8 | PPH 801 | Internship | 0-0-6-6 | - |
| 8 | PCH 801 | Research Project | 0-0-6-6 | - |
| 8 | PPH 802 | Professional Development | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 8 | PCH 802 | Chemistry Lab VIII | 0-0-3-1 | PCH 702 |
Advanced Departmental Elective Courses
The following departmental elective courses offer specialized knowledge and advanced skills in various aspects of pharmacy:
- Pharmacokinetics: This course delves into the mathematical modeling of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Students will learn to predict drug behavior in different populations and optimize dosing regimens for therapeutic efficacy.
- Drug Design & Development: Focused on modern approaches to drug discovery, including computational modeling, molecular docking, and lead optimization strategies. Students will explore how new compounds are synthesized and tested for clinical applications.
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: This course introduces biotechnology principles applied in pharmaceutical manufacturing, such as recombinant DNA technology, protein engineering, and cell culture techniques used in producing therapeutic proteins.
- Regulatory Affairs: Students will study regulatory frameworks governing drug development and approval processes. Topics include FDA guidelines, international regulatory bodies, and compliance strategies in global markets.
- Pharmaceutical Marketing: This course explores marketing strategies specific to the pharmaceutical industry, including product positioning, market analysis, promotional activities, and ethical considerations in pharmaceutical advertising.
- Industrial Pharmacy: Designed to familiarize students with pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, quality control measures, production planning, and facility management. Students will gain insight into scaling up laboratory formulations for commercial production.
- Quality Assurance & Control: This course focuses on the principles of quality assurance in pharmaceutical production, including GMP compliance, testing procedures, batch documentation, and audit processes to ensure product safety and efficacy.
- Advanced Clinical Pharmacy: Students will learn to evaluate patient outcomes, manage medication therapy, and provide evidence-based recommendations. The course includes case studies on complex medical conditions and treatment protocols.
- Pharmacovigilance: This course covers the monitoring and reporting of adverse drug reactions post-market. Students will understand pharmacovigilance systems, signal detection methods, and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Pharmaceutical Toxicology: Focuses on the mechanisms of toxicity, dose-response relationships, and risk assessment in pharmaceuticals. Students will study how toxicological data influences drug development and regulatory decisions.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
Our department places significant emphasis on project-based learning to enhance student engagement and deepen understanding of complex concepts. Projects are integrated throughout the curriculum to provide students with hands-on experience in research, problem-solving, and innovation.
The structure of projects includes mini-projects during semesters 4-6 and a final-year capstone project that serves as a culmination of all learned knowledge. Mini-projects are typically completed in groups and involve applying theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios or laboratory experiments. Each project is guided by faculty mentors who provide expertise, feedback, and support.
Evaluation criteria for projects include:
- Technical Competency
- Creativity and Innovation
- Team Collaboration
- Research Quality
- Report Writing and Presentation Skills
Students are encouraged to choose projects aligned with their interests and career goals, with guidance from faculty advisors. The selection process involves submitting a proposal that outlines the objectives, methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes of the project.