Curriculum Overview
The Pharmacy program at Marwadi University Rajkot is meticulously structured to ensure students acquire a robust foundation in pharmaceutical sciences and practical skills required for professional practice. The curriculum spans eight semesters, with each semester carefully designed to build upon previous knowledge and introduce new concepts relevant to modern pharmacy practices.
Semester-wise Course Structure
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PHM-101 | Organic Chemistry I | 3-1-0-4 | None |
| 1 | PHM-102 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3-1-0-4 | None |
| 1 | PHM-103 | Cell Biology | 3-1-0-4 | None |
| 1 | PHM-104 | Introduction to Pharmacognosy | 3-1-0-4 | None |
| 1 | PHM-105 | Basic Biochemistry | 3-1-0-4 | None |
| 1 | PHM-106 | Chemistry Lab I | 0-0-2-2 | None |
| 2 | PHM-201 | Pharmacology I | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-101, PHM-102 |
| 2 | PHM-202 | Medicinal Chemistry I | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-101, PHM-102 |
| 2 | PHM-203 | Pharmaceutical Analysis I | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-101, PHM-102 |
| 2 | PHM-204 | Pharmaceutical Microbiology | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-103 |
| 2 | PHM-205 | Pharmacognosy Lab I | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-104 |
| 3 | PHM-301 | Clinical Pharmacy I | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-201, PHM-202 |
| 3 | PHM-302 | Pharmacokinetics | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-201 |
| 3 | PHM-303 | Drug Design | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-202 |
| 3 | PHM-304 | Toxicology | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-201, PHM-202 |
| 3 | PHM-305 | Pharmaceutical Analysis II | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-203 |
| 4 | PHM-401 | Clinical Pharmacy II | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-301 |
| 4 | PHM-402 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-303, PHM-204 |
| 4 | PHM-403 | Pharmacovigilance | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-301 |
| 4 | PHM-404 | Industrial Pharmacy | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-203, PHM-303 |
| 4 | PHM-405 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry Lab | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-202 |
| 5 | PHM-501 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-201 |
| 5 | PHM-502 | Pharmaceutical Formulation | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-203, PHM-202 |
| 5 | PHM-503 | Regulatory Affairs | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-404 |
| 5 | PHM-504 | Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-204 |
| 5 | PHM-505 | Pharmacognosy Lab II | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-205 |
| 6 | PHM-601 | Research Methodology | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-501, PHM-502 |
| 6 | PHM-602 | Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-203, PHM-404 |
| 6 | PHM-603 | Drug Delivery Systems | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-502 |
| 6 | PHM-604 | Pharmaceutical Marketing | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-404 |
| 6 | PHM-605 | Mini Project | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-501, PHM-502 |
| 7 | PHM-701 | Pharmaceutical Research I | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-601 |
| 7 | PHM-702 | Advanced Drug Analysis | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-203, PHM-502 |
| 7 | PHM-703 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Lab | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-402 |
| 7 | PHM-704 | Capstone Project | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-601, PHM-701 |
| 8 | PHM-801 | Pharmaceutical Research II | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-701 |
| 8 | PHM-802 | Internship | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-601, PHM-701 |
| 8 | PHM-803 | Pharmaceutical Ethics and Legal Aspects | 3-1-0-4 | PHM-201 |
| 8 | PHM-804 | Capstone Project Defense | 0-0-2-2 | PHM-704 |
Advanced Departmental Elective Courses
The program offers several advanced departmental elective courses that allow students to specialize in specific areas of interest:
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology: This course explores the application of nanoscale materials in drug delivery systems. Students will study the synthesis, characterization, and therapeutic applications of nanoparticles, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and metallic nanomaterials.
- Medicinal Plant Research: Focused on natural product-based drug discovery, this course delves into the chemical composition of medicinal plants, their traditional uses, and modern extraction techniques. Students will also explore bioactivity screening methods and structure-activity relationships.
- Pharmaceutical Process Optimization: This course addresses the optimization of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, including formulation development, scale-up strategies, and quality control measures. Students will gain hands-on experience with process modeling and statistical tools.
- Drug Targeting and Delivery Systems: This course covers advanced concepts in targeted drug delivery, including passive and active targeting mechanisms, controlled release systems, and gene therapy applications. Students will study both theoretical and practical aspects of delivery platforms.
- Pharmacogenomics: Focused on the interplay between genetics and drug response, this course explores how genetic variations influence therapeutic outcomes. Students will learn about pharmacogenetic testing methods, personalized medicine approaches, and ethical considerations in genomics-based therapy.
- Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs: This course provides an in-depth look at regulatory frameworks governing pharmaceutical development and approval. Students will study global regulations, including FDA, EMA, and CDSCO guidelines, and learn about documentation and compliance strategies.
- Pharmacovigilance and Risk Management: This course emphasizes the monitoring and evaluation of adverse drug reactions and risk management strategies in clinical settings. Students will explore pharmacovigilance systems, signal detection methods, and safety reporting procedures.
- Biopharmaceuticals and Protein Engineering: This course introduces students to the development and characterization of biopharmaceutical products, including recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and gene therapies. Students will study protein structure-function relationships, expression systems, and purification techniques.
- Pharmaceutical Formulation Design: Focused on the design and development of pharmaceutical formulations, this course covers solid and liquid dosage forms, excipient selection, and formulation optimization strategies. Students will also learn about regulatory considerations in formulation development.
- Clinical Pharmacokinetics: This course explores the quantitative analysis of drug concentrations in biological systems, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) processes. Students will study modeling approaches, population pharmacokinetics, and clinical applications.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The program strongly emphasizes project-based learning as a core component of the educational experience. This approach encourages students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, fostering critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation.
Mini-projects are introduced in the third year, where students work in teams on specific research or development challenges under faculty supervision. These projects often involve partnerships with pharmaceutical companies or research institutions, providing students with valuable industry exposure.
The final-year capstone project is a significant milestone that allows students to conduct independent research or develop a comprehensive solution to a problem in pharmaceutical sciences. Students select their topics in consultation with faculty mentors, ensuring alignment with current research trends and industry needs.
Assessment criteria for projects include originality of approach, technical depth, presentation quality, and the ability to defend findings. The program also encourages students to present their work at conferences and publish papers in peer-reviewed journals, enhancing their academic and professional profile.