Curriculum Overview
The curriculum for the B.Tech in Pharmacy program at Nirma University Ahmedabad is meticulously structured to provide a comprehensive educational experience across eight semesters. It encompasses core subjects, departmental electives, science electives, and laboratory sessions that collectively build a strong foundation for professional success.
Course Structure by Semester
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | PHAR101 | Chemistry for Pharmacy | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| I | PHAR102 | Biology for Pharmacy | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| I | PHAR103 | Pharmacology I | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR101, PHAR102 |
| I | PHAR104 | Organic Chemistry I | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| I | PHAR105 | Pharmaceutical Analysis I | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR101, PHAR102 |
| I | PHAR106 | Pharmaceutics I | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| I | PHAR107 | Introduction to Pharmacognosy | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| I | PHAR108 | Mathematics I | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| II | PHAR201 | Medicinal Chemistry II | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR101, PHAR104 |
| II | PHAR202 | Pharmacology II | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR103 |
| II | PHAR203 | Pharmaceutical Analysis II | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR105 |
| II | PHAR204 | Pharmaceutics II | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR106 |
| II | PHAR205 | Drug Design and Development | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR201 |
| II | PHAR206 | Pharmacognosy II | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR107 |
| II | PHAR207 | Biostatistics and Informatics | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| II | PHAR208 | Mathematics II | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR108 |
| III | PHAR301 | Clinical Pharmacy | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR202, PHAR203 |
| III | PHAR302 | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR204 |
| III | PHAR303 | Regulatory Affairs in Pharmacy | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR205 |
| III | PHAR304 | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR102 |
| III | PHAR305 | Pharmacokinetics | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR202 |
| III | PHAR306 | Toxicology | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR103 |
| III | PHAR307 | Pharmaceutical Marketing | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| III | PHAR308 | Industrial Organic Chemistry | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR104 |
| IV | PHAR401 | Advanced Drug Delivery Systems | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR302 |
| IV | PHAR402 | Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR203 |
| IV | PHAR403 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR304 |
| IV | PHAR404 | Pharmacogenomics | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR305 |
| IV | PHAR405 | Research Methodology | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| IV | PHAR406 | Antimicrobial Resistance | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR306 |
| IV | PHAR407 | Natural Product Chemistry | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR206 |
| IV | PHAR408 | Computational Pharmacology | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR304 |
| V | PHAR501 | Drug Discovery and Development | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR401, PHAR402 |
| V | PHAR502 | Regulatory Affairs and Compliance | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR303 |
| V | PHAR503 | Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurship | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| V | PHAR504 | Advanced Pharmacokinetics | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR305 |
| V | PHAR505 | Pharmaceutical Process Development | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR302 |
| V | PHAR506 | Global Health and Policy | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| V | PHAR507 | Pharmacovigilance | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR306 |
| V | PHAR508 | Personalized Medicine | 3-1-2-4 | PHAR404 |
| VI | PHAR601 | Mini Project I | 0-0-0-4 | - |
| VI | PHAR602 | Mini Project II | 0-0-0-4 | PHAR601 |
| VI | PHAR603 | Capstone Project | 0-0-0-8 | PHAR501, PHAR502 |
| VI | PHAR604 | Professional Development | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| VI | PHAR605 | Advanced Topics in Pharmacy | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| VI | PHAR606 | Internship Preparation | 0-0-0-4 | - |
| VI | PHAR607 | Research Ethics and Standards | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| VI | PHAR608 | Pharmaceutical Business Strategy | 3-1-2-4 | - |
| VII | PHAR701 | Internship | 0-0-0-12 | PHAR603 |
| VIII | PHAR801 | Final Thesis | 0-0-0-12 | PHAR701 |
Advanced Departmental Elective Courses
The department offers several advanced elective courses that delve into specialized areas of pharmacy. These courses are designed to enhance students' expertise in emerging fields and prepare them for industry roles:
- Drug Discovery and Development: This course explores the entire pipeline of drug discovery from target identification to clinical trials, incorporating modern techniques such as AI-driven screening and computational modeling.
- Regulatory Affairs in Pharmacy: Students learn about international regulatory frameworks including FDA, EMA, and ICH guidelines for drug approval processes.
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Covers biotechnological applications in pharmaceutical production, including recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and gene therapy vectors.
- Advanced Drug Delivery Systems: Focuses on novel delivery methods such as nanoparticles, microspheres, transdermal patches, and controlled-release formulations.
- Pharmacogenomics: Studies how genetic variations affect drug response, preparing students for personalized medicine approaches in clinical settings.
- Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance: Emphasizes quality control measures and GMP compliance across different stages of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Bioinformatics and Computational Pharmacology: Integrates computational tools with pharmaceutical research for drug target identification, molecular docking, and virtual screening.
- Global Health and Policy: Addresses public health challenges and policy-making related to access to medicines, healthcare economics, and global health equity.
- Pharmacovigilance: Teaches methods for monitoring adverse drug reactions and ensuring patient safety post-market.
- Antimicrobial Resistance: Examines the mechanisms of resistance development and strategies to combat resistant pathogens in clinical and environmental contexts.
Project-Based Learning Philosophy
The department's philosophy on project-based learning emphasizes hands-on experience and real-world problem-solving. Students engage in both mini-projects and a final thesis, working under faculty mentorship to address industry-relevant challenges. The selection process involves student preferences, faculty availability, and alignment with current research trends.
Mini Projects
Mini projects are undertaken during the sixth semester. Each project lasts approximately 8 weeks and is guided by a faculty member. Students are expected to apply theoretical knowledge gained in previous semesters to solve practical problems in pharmacy.
- Project Scope: Projects can range from formulation development, analytical method validation, or literature reviews on emerging topics.
- Evaluation Criteria: Projects are evaluated based on technical execution, presentation quality, and final report submission.
Capstone Project
The capstone project is a comprehensive research endeavor undertaken during the seventh and eighth semesters. Students work closely with faculty mentors to conduct original research or develop industry-relevant solutions.
- Research Focus: Projects are aligned with current research trends in pharmaceutical sciences, often involving collaboration with external partners.
- Project Duration: The project spans 24 weeks, allowing sufficient time for data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Mentorship: Each student is assigned a faculty mentor who provides guidance throughout the research process.