What is Pharmacology?

If you've ever wondered how drugs work, the role that pharmacology plays in human health, or the kinds of personal skills you'll need to discover and develop the next generation of drugs (including courage, inquisitiveness, creativity) then this is the film for you...








Pharmacology is the study of drugs. It involves examining the interactions of chemical substances with living systems, with a view to understanding the properties of drugs and their actions, including the interactions between drug molecules and drug receptors and how these interactions elicit an effect. Our pharmacology courses examine the different classes of drugs, how they are used therapeutically, their mechanisms of action, how they are handled by the human body, and their role in society.

Pharmacology provides the scientific basis and principles for a variety of special applications, such as the study of drug actions in the health sciences, the use of drugs as therapeutic agents in medicine or as tools in scientific research, and the development and regulation of pharmaceuticals. Pharmacology is a multi-disciplinary science with many subspecialties including clinical pharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, behavioural pharmacology, neuropsychopharmacology, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacoeconomics, to name a few.


What is Toxicology?

Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals (including drugs) on living systems and the means to prevent or ameliorate such effects. In addition to therapeutic agents, toxicologists examine many environmental agents and chemical compounds that are synthesized by humans or that originate in nature. The toxic effects of these agents may range from disturbances in growth patterns, discomfort, disease or death of individual organisms or on whole ecosystems. There are many subspecialties of toxicology including: clinical toxicology, regulatory toxicology (both of these found in the pharmaceutical and toxicology industry), forensic toxicology, occupational toxicology, and risk assessment.  The current need for toxicologists is outlined in a recent online Science publication.


What is the difference between Pharmacology and Toxicology?

Pharmacology and toxicology are very similar disciplines that require an understanding of basic properties and actions of chemicals. However, pharmacology places more emphasis on the therapeutic effects of chemicals (particularly drugs) while toxicology focusses more on the adverse effects of chemicals and risk assessment.


Pharmacology is not the same as Pharmacy

Pharmacology programs are distinct programs from the Pharmacy program. Pharmacology programs are joint undergraduate programs between the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Medicine. Students graduating with an undergraduate Specialist or Major program in Pharmacology receive a Bachelor of Science degree.  Pharmacy is a professional degree program offered by the Faculty of Pharmacy that prepares students to become licensed pharmacists. A license is required to legally dispense drugs.


How does the Pharmacology Specialist program differ from the Pharmaceutical Chemistry program? 

The Pharmacology Specialist program is an undergraduate collaborative program between the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Medicine. The Pharmaceutical Chemistry Specialist program is an undergraduate collaborative program between the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Faculty of Pharmacy that places greater emphasis on the chemical synthesis and manufacture of drugs.  Students interested in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Specialist program should contact the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. When choosing between the two programs students may find it helpful to examine the course descriptions of the course requirements of each program.