Developing drug discovery scientists and pharmacists who will play key roles in advanced medical care
The pharmaceutical sciences are an integrated field of study targeting innovation, synthesis, manufacture and identification of applications for pharmaceutical agents to treat diseases and promote human health. They are founded in physics, chemistry and biology. Through the integration and application of these basic sciences, we enhance the development of education and research in the pharmaceutical sciences, which are being required to take on increasing social significance in light of recent advances in medical technology and the need to address the aging society issue. Research and development, together with appropriate applications of pharmaceutical products can significantly affect human health and life. Hence, an individual who aspires to become involved in the pharmaceutical sciences must have not only a solid academic grounding but also have a highly developed sense of social responsibility and ethics. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Kyoto University had previously aimed at developing scientists and engineers in the fields of drug discovery sciences and medical pharmacy through a 4-year program offered by the Division of Integrative Pharmaceutical Sciences. In 2006, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences was restructured into two divisions: the Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences (4-year program), with the goal of developing scientists and engineers in the drug discovery sciences; and the Division of Pharmacy (6-year program) dedicated to developing pharmacists, scientists and engineers in medical pharmacy, who will play key roles in advanced medical care.
Years 1– 2 (Common to both the Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Division of Pharmacy): Courses centering on Liberal Arts and General Education courses and preparation for specialized education
The Year 1 curriculum includes Liberal Arts and General Education courses comprising studies in the liberal arts and basic natural sciences in addition to fundamental subjects for specialized education. These subjects are provided to help students to acquire a high level of knowledge and scientific ways of thinking through access to a wide range of disciplines while developing the basic academic skills and thinking ability for further learning of specialized subjects. Liberal Arts and General Education courses comprise liberal arts, social studies, natural sciences and foreign languages. In addition, students are required to take fundamental subjects for specialized education, including An Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences and Ethics, Fundamental Biology for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fundamental Physical Chemistry for Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Basic Organic Chemistry. Year 2 students are required to take Liberal Arts and General Education Courses, and Scientific English as one of the fundamental subjects for specialized education, as well as specialized education subjects.
Pocket Seminars
Organic Chemistry of Pharmaceuticals
Pocket Seminars (small-scale seminars for freshman students) make up a unique Liberal Arts and General Education course offered to those freshman students who are interested. Held immediately after enrollment, they comprise groups of 10 students and are led by teaching staff of each faculty/division of the Graduate School/research institute and center, conducting various types of class format in an intimate atmosphere (face to face). The following subjects are provided by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. (Lecture subjects differ from year to year.)
Pharmaceuticals and Medicine
Years 3-4 (Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences): Lectures and laboratory training sessions on specialized subjects
The Year 3 curriculum centers on specialized education subjects,
enabling students to acquire expertise and learn experimental techniques in pharmaceutical sciences. Educational subjects on research basics are also introduced to some extent in order to enable students to develop a high level of expertise that will assist them in their graduate school education. Lectures are mainly conducted in the morning, with specialized laboratory training sessions taking place in the afternoon. Attendance at all laboratory training sessions is compulsory in order for students to acquire know-how and abilities in respect of experimental techniques related to all of the specialized fields of pharmaceutical sciences.
The Year 4 curriculum primarily comprises special laboratory training, which takes up most of that year. For this training, each student enrolls in his/her preferred laboratory and works on a new study theme in a particular specialized area, with guidance and advice provided by a faculty member in the laboratory. Special laboratory training is also important in terms of students being equipped to recognize the current status of pharmaceutical research and to think about their future paths.
Years 3-6 (Division of Pharmacy): Lectures and laboratory training on specialized subjects
Pre-study for practical training. using a simulated pharmacy
The Year 3 curriculum centers on specialized education subjects, enabling students to acquire expertise and learn experimental techniques in pharmaceutical sciences. Educational subjects for research basics are also introduced, to some extent, to enable students to develop a high level of expertise that will assist them in their graduate school education. Lectures are mainly conducted in the morning, with specialized laboratory training sessions taking place in the afternoon. Attendance at all laboratory training sessions is compulsory in order for students to acquire know-how and abilities in respect of experimental techniques related to all of the specialized fields of pharmaceutical sciences.
In the first semester of Year 4, lectures are conducted before noon and medical pharmacy workshops take place in the afternoon. The objective here is for students to learn about research areas across the entire field of medical pharmacy. Special laboratory training begins in the second semester of Year 4 and continues through to Year 6. For special laboratory training, each student enrolls in his/her preferred laboratory and works on a new study theme in various areas centering on medical pharmacy, with guidance and advice provided by a faculty member in the laboratory. Special laboratory training is also important in terms of students being equipped to recognize the current status of pharmaceutical research and to think about their future paths. In Year 5, in addition to special laboratory training, a 5-month practical training course is conducted at the Department of Pharmacy of Kyoto University Hospital and at off-campus dispensing pharmacies so that students can gain an understanding of the roles and functions of pharmacists in medical services and learn about a pharmacist’s work activities.