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Undergraduate MUR-BRD202-2023

Drugs in Society

Uncover the effects legal, illicit and medicinal drugs have on society. Follow the steps in a drug's development, from discovery to clinical testing and marketing. Analyse the ethical and economic features. Look into herbal medicines and homoeopathy.

From

$1,895 $2,145

Your upfront cost: $0

International student?

Duration

13 weeks

Study method

100% Online

Available loans

  • HECS-HELP
  • FEE-HELP

Assessments

100% online

Prior study

Not required

Start dates

  • 27 Nov 2023
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This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.

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QS Ranking 2023

27

Times Higher Education Ranking 2023

31

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  • 2023

Subject details

What you'll learn

On successful completion of the subject you should be able to:

  1. understand the types of drugs that you might encounter in your personal and future professional lives
  2. outline how some of these drugs work
  3. explain the interaction of modern society with these drugs, both legal and illegal.
Topics covered
    • A brief history of drugs
    • Drug discovery
    • How do drugs get to the market?
    • Drugs of abuse
    • Antibiotics
    • Drugs and the law
    • Recreational and prescription drugs
    • Herbal medicines and homeopathy
    • Drugs in the Emergency Department
    • Drugs and sex
Entry requirements

Others

Students undertaking this subject as part of their Murdoch Degree requirements must have completed 18 credit points (6 OUA subjects) at Level 1 before enrolling in the subject.

Additional requirements

  • Equipment requirements - Simple video recording device (such as phone or camera)
Description

Have you ever wondered how aspirin knows where the pain is?  Or why some drugs are so addictive?

This subject explores drugs, asking how they are discovered and regulated. It examines social drugs such as alcohol and nicotine, illicit drugs such as cannabis and cocaine, and medicines such as painkillers and anti-depressants. It considers social, ethical and economic issues such as reproductive medicines, drugs in sport and the rise of complementary medicines, as well as future personalised therapies.

Please Note: All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.

Assessments

  • 1000 word leaflet (20%)
  • 2500 word Essay (50%)
  • Presentation (30%)
Textbooks

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).

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