Bachelor's Degree in Life Sciences


OBJECTIVES
SecondYear: Consolidate knowledge and begin to focus on a health-related field of study
Third Year: Acquire multidisciplinary knowledge in the health field, based on physical-chemical, pharmacological, biological, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological sciences, combined with technical, regulatory, and economic knowledge
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAM
- Promotions on a human scale
- Internships at the end of each year
- Multidisciplinary skills acquired:
– Scientific and cross-functional (regulation, quality, legal, marketing, HSE)
– Organizational and interpersonal (autonomy, teamwork)
- 2 modern languages
- Option to complete your bachelor’s degree abroad (Germany, Spain, Ireland, etc.)
A MOTIVATING WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Organizational: Engaged and collaborative teaching and administrative teams
- A great quality of life: a welcoming pharmacy campus and a dynamic student government
- Innovative educational resources. Learning Lab, an educational 3D printing space
POSSIBLE FURTHER STUDIES: STUDENTS MAY ENROLL IN MASTER’S PROGRAMS IN HEALTH ENGINEERING, AS WELL AS IN ANY OTHER MASTER’S PROGRAMS IN THE FIELD OF BIOLOGY
Program Director for the Bachelor's Degree in Health Engineering: Béatrice Bañuls,
Second Year, Third Semester
TU – Fundamentals of Human Physiology
– 2 ECTS
PAL2BPHA – Fundamentals of Pharmacology
– 1.5 ECTS
PAL2IMHE – Immunology-Hematology
– 3.5 ECTS
PAL2PVBA – VBA Programming
– 2 ECTS
PAL2ISMO – Modeling of physicochemical systems
– 2.5 ECTS
PAL2PEC – Portfolio of Experiences and Skills
– 1.5 ECTS
HAV305V – Biochemistry, 3rd Year
– 4 ECTS – School of Science
HAV309C – Chemistry
-3 ECTS – School of Science
HAV306V – Cellular and Molecular Biology 2
– 4 ECTS – School of Science
HAV 318V – Microbiology, Semester 3
– 4 ECTS – School of Science
HAL301LB – English S3
– 2 ECTS – School of Science
Second Year, Semester 4
PAL2CGAN – Communication in English
– 2 ECTS
TU LV2TU – PAL2LV2: PAL2ESPA – PAL2ALLE – PAL2AUTR
German/Spanish/Other – 2 ECTS
PAL2ISBP – Pharmaceutical Biophysics
– 5 ECTS
PAL2ISAP – Physicochemical approaches to pharmaceutical substances
– 5 ECTS
PAL2STAT – Health Statistics and Engineering
– 2.5 ECTS
PAL2BIOC – Biocellular / Biomolecular
– 4 ECTS
PAL2BCBI – Clinical Biology Practices: Biochemistry, Immunology
– 3.5 ECTS
PAL2ISIN – Overview of the Pharmaceutical Industry / Quality
– 2 ECTS
HAV403V – Biochemistry, 4th Semester
– 4 ECTS – School of Science
L3, Semester 5
All course units in the School of Pharmacy
PAL3ISTE: INSTRUMENTAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF PHARMACEUTICAL SUBSTANCES
– 5 ECTS – Objectives: To train students in various analytical techniques for both solutions and solids, enabling them to conduct experimental analyses and quality control of active pharmaceutical ingredients—both on their own and in pharmaceutical formulations—as well as pharmacokinetic studies.
- Be able to identify and characterize the crystalline polymorphs of pharmaceutical substances using thermal and diffraction methods.
- Analysis and quantification of various elements in pharmaceutical substances, blood, and urine using atomic spectrophotometry.
- Conceptualization and modeling of Newtonian, non-Newtonian, and viscoelastic behaviors. Application to viscometric and rheological measurements of healthcare products.
- Introduction to separative analytical methods and their coupling with mass spectrometry: application to the identification and quantification of xenobiotics.
Course Content (Lectures-Tutorials-Lab) The various analytical methods are presented in lectures and illustrated with numerous examples related to pharmaceuticals. A few hours of tutorials are dedicated to demonstrating how these techniques complement one another. Numerous laboratory sessions (32 hours per student), directly linked to the lectures, allow students to become familiar with the various types of equipment and thus to better master all these techniques, both in terms of fundamentals and technical application. Instructors: University of Montpellier
PAL3ISPP: PHARMACOLOGY – PHARMACOKINETICS – TOXICOLOGY
– 5 ECTS – Objectives: Pharmacology: Through the pharmacology course, students should acquire a solid understanding of the drug classes covered. The pharmacology course describes the mechanism(s) of action for each class of drugs, their pharmacological properties and resulting therapeutic indications, key pharmacokinetic parameters, side effects, drug interactions, and major contraindications. Pharmacokinetics: By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- To describe the various stages of the journey of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) contained in a pharmaceutical product after administration to humans
- To describe the various mechanisms involved during these stages
- To define the various pharmacokinetic parameters: bioavailability, volume of distribution, clearance, half-life, etc.
- To calculate these parameters using a non-compartmental analysis or pharmacokinetic models.
Toxicology: By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- To describe the general principle of the metabolism of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) contained in a pharmaceutical product following administration to humans
- Describe the various mechanisms of action of a toxic substance
- Describe the toxicology of ethanol and acetaminophen
- Describe the main stages of clinical investigation (preclinical studies)
Course Content : Pharmacology: 14 hours– Psychotropic Drugs
- Anxiolytics
- Hypnotics
- Antipsychotics
- Mood Regulators
- Antidepressants
Medications used in neurology
- Antiepileptic drugs
Pain and Inflammation
- Peripheral analgesics
- NSAIDs, glucocorticoids
- Medications used to treat asthma and COPD
Pharmacokinetics: 10 hours– Lecture + 6 hours – Seminar I – Stages of Pharmacokinetics (ADME): each stage will be described
- The journey through the body
- The mechanisms involved (tissue and cellular processes, biotransformation, etc.)
- Factors limiting the transport of the active ingredient
- Characteristic pharmacokinetic parameters
I-a. Absorption Phase (oral route only) I-b. Distribution Phase I-c. Metabolism Phase I-d. Excretion Phase II- Pharmacokinetic Analysis: II-a. Calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters using non-compartmental analysis II-b. Calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters using compartmental analysis:
- Concept of a pharmacokinetic model
- Analysis following IV administration: one-compartment model
- Analysis following IV administration: two-compartment model
- Analysis following oral administration: one-compartment model
Toxicology: 6:00 p.m.
- To describe the general principle of the metabolism of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) contained in a pharmaceutical product following administration to humans:
– Describe the various stages of protein functionalization and conjugation – Describe the mechanisms underlying variations in metabolism (age, disease, enzyme induction and inhibition, etc.)
- Describe the various mechanisms of action of a toxic substance (effects on DNA, lipids, and proteins depending on the substance’s characteristics) and detoxification systems
- Ethanol Toxicology: Overview, Metabolism and Distribution in the Body (ADME), Mechanisms of Toxic Action, Symptoms
- Paracetamol Toxicology: Metabolism in the Body, Mechanisms of Toxic Action, Symptoms
- Key stages of clinical investigation: preclinical studies (acute toxicity studies, subacute toxicity studies, mutagenicity studies, teratogenicity studies, local tolerance studies)
PAL3ISCH: THERAPEUTIC CHEMISTRY – PEPTIDE SYNTHESIS
– 5 ECTS – Objectives Through the therapeutic chemistry course, students should acquire a solid understanding of the drug classes covered. The therapeutic chemistry course describes the classification of each class of drugs by addressing their structure, structure-activity relationships, physicochemical properties related to pharmacokinetic parameters, as well as therapeutic indications related to pharmacokinetics. The objectives of the “peptide synthesis” section are:
- to understand the applications of peptides in the field of health (as active ingredients and pharmacological tools) as well as the main techniques used to produce peptide libraries.
- to propose a synthesis strategy and know how to implement it in practice in order to obtain a simple peptide.
- how to analyze a peptide and purify it using chromatography.
Content Therapeutic Chemistry 30 hours
- List of Medications (INN and Brand Name)
- Cardiovascular medications (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, sartans, diuretics, antianginal agents, lipid-lowering agents)
- Medications used in neurology (anti-Parkinson's, anti-Alzheimer's)
- Pain and inflammation (anti-asthma medications, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, anti-ulcer medications, analgesics, antihistamines)
- Infectious disease medications (beta-lactams and antiretrovirals)
- Cancer medications
- Biotechnology-derived drugs (immunosuppressants, insulins, etc.)
Peptide Synthesis (12 hours of lectures and 8 hours of lab work)
- Peptides: Overview and Applications in the Healthcare Field
- Principles of supported synthesis, concepts of automation
- Various strategies for peptide synthesis, protecting groups, and activation agents
- Solid-phase peptide synthesis (Fmoc/tBu strategy)
- Synthesis of peptide libraries: Lab exercise on the split/mix synthesis of a library of 8 tripeptides, followed by LC/MS analysis.
PAL3ISPO: Biomaterials and Polymers in Healthcare
– 5 ECTS – Objectives Acquire a basic understanding of biomaterials:
- Understand the major classes of biomaterials, their properties, and their main applications: polymers, metals, and ceramics
- Understand the various requirements for biomaterials used in implantable medical devices or tissue engineering matrices
- Understanding the biomaterial-cell interactions that govern the tissue integration of biomaterials
- Understand the different 3D printing methods and the process for 3D printing: from computer-aided design to G-code editing and printing.
- Understand the main methods of polymer synthesis
- Understand the characteristic macromolecular parameters of a polymer
- Understand the techniques used to characterize polymers
- Understanding the relationship between properties and applications, particularly biomedical applications
TU ContentTU Lectures (30 hours) Biomaterials:
- Overview of Biomaterials: Metals, Ceramics, and Bioglasses
- Introduction to Biomaterial-Cell Interactions for Implantable Materials
- Polymers:
- General Knowledge: History of polymers and major industrial applications; Macromolecular properties versus degradation
- Summary: Major polymer synthesis methods and their impact on properties
- Macromolecular parameters and characterization: Molecular weights; Crystallinity; Glass transition
- Introduction to Natural Polymers in Healthcare
- Innovative Shaping Techniques: An Introduction to 3D Printing Techniques
PAL3ISEN: TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTS
– 3 ECTS – Objectives: To understand how the pharmaceutical industry operates and what its roles are, and to gain an overview of the various career paths available to students. Students will be able to:
- Describe the different stages of drug development
- Describe the roles of the main regulatory agencies (ANSM, EMA, FDA) and how they are organized and operate
- Find a text in the major regulatory databases (CSP, Eudralex, 21 CFR, ICH, etc.)
- Describe the principles of Good Clinical Practice and Good Manufacturing Practice
- Understanding the principles of audits and inspections
- Explain the process of a clinical trial, the parties involved, and their roles
- Describe the contents of the CTD and explain what Module 3 consists of and how it is structured
Contents:
- I. Overview of the Pharmaceutical Industry. Drug Life Cycle
- II. Global Drug Regulatory Authorities (France, Europe, the United States, WHO) and Major Regulatory Guidelines (CSP, Eudralex, 21 CFR, ICH)
- III. Good Practices in… (GMP, GCP, the concept of audits and inspections)
- IV. Clinical Trials: Conduct, Authorization, Monitoring, and Management of Investigational Drugs
- V. Common Technical Document: Focus on Module 3
PAL3ISCO: COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES – PEC
– 3 ECTS – Objectives: Communication: Be able to express oneself and use communication techniques appropriately and effectively. PEC: Finalize the development of one’s Portfolio of Experience and Skills. Content: Communication:
- Organize and structure your thoughts;
- Develop communication skills: storytelling, explanation, and argumentation;
- Enhance your nonverbal communication;
- Adjust one's attitudes and behaviors.
PEC
- Highlighting your experiences and skills
- Developing a career plan and an end-of-year internship plan
- How to Respond to a Job Offer
- Interviewing a professional
MODERN LANGUAGES – PAL3ANS5 / PAL3ESS5 / PAL3ALS5 / PAL3AUS5
– English – Spanish / German / other language – 2 ECTS
ENGLISH
Objectives
- Improving English communication skills
- Speeches and oral interactions
- Reading and listening comprehension
- Written expression
Contents
- Oral presentations
- Work with written documents and videos
- Editorial work
- Learn general English and English tailored to the workplace
GERMAN
Objectives
- Proficiency in the language, both spoken and written
- Public Speaking
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Current Events in German-Speaking Countries
Contents
- Analysis of newspaper articles, television programs, and other authentic materials to gain insight into various aspects of current events in Germany
- An examination of certain medical or, more broadly, scientific topics
SPANISH
Objectives
- Review the basics of Spanish grammar and address any lingering gaps in knowledge and differences in proficiency levels. Tailor the teaching of these fundamentals to meet each student’s individual needs.
- Comprehension of audiovisual materials
- Reading Comprehension and Translation into French
- Acquisition of specialized vocabulary
- Proficiency in using the Prezi presentation tool (after completing the Prezi tutorial)
- A Cultural Approach and Work on Imagery by the Painters of the Prado
- Knowledge of various Spanish and Latin American companies
- Improving Oral Skills
Content THE TEACHER PROVIDES:
- Science news article (source: El País – El Mundo)
- Video clips (Source: Internet)
L’ETUDIANT PRESENTS:
- Creation of Prezi
- Grammar exercises and lessons on a dedicated platform
L3, Semester 6
All course units in the School of Pharmacy
PAL3ISM : METHODS FOR THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF PHARMACEUTICAL DATA
– 3.5 ECTS – Objectives:
- Be able to identify the appropriate statistical methodology based on the research question and the nature of the data (choice of test, conditions for application, etc.)
- Know how to implement the chosen methodology using a free tool
- Knowing how to interpret statistical results in terms of practical application
- To take a critical look at an existing methodology.
Course content: 22 hours of lectures, 16 hours of tutorials, and 10 hours of independent study
- Reminder: Parametric tests (comparison of means and variances)
- Nonparametric tests
- One-way analysis of variance
- Two-way analysis of variance
- Simple regression analysis
- Calculating the number of subjects/li>
- Principal Component Analysis
- Hierarchical Classification
PAL3ISFO: GALENIC PHARMACY
– 5 ECTS – Objectives: This course introduces students to the principles of galenic pharmacy, which involves transforming an active molecule into a high-quality, safe, and effective drug in a form suitable for therapeutic use. Students will learn about the main pharmaceutical raw materials used in drug formulation, as well as packaging materials. The main dosage forms will be presented, along with the criteria that determine their selection, formulation, manufacturing, and packaging.
- General Information on Criteria for Selecting a Dosage Form
- The raw materials used in the formulation of drugs
- Packaging materials
- Dosage forms, their physicochemical and administration characteristics, the excipients used in their formulation, their packaging, and their quality control.
- Lectures: 34 hours
- Tutorials: 4 hours (2 sessions of 2 hours each)
- Practical sessions: 12 hours (4 sessions of 3 hours each)
PAL3ISSI – Biological and Cellular Engineering
– 5 ECTS – Objectives:
- Classify protein structural families
- Understanding the theoretical and analytical aspects of normal and tumor cell signaling
- Understand the main tools of genetic engineering
Contents
- Structure/function and signaling pathways of membrane proteins, nuclear receptors, and adhesion molecules
- Fundamentals of Structural Biochemistry
- Fundamentals of Genetic Engineering
- Fundamentals of Oncogenesis
- Research methods: protein identification, quantification of expression levels, and purification; analysis of protein complex interactions
- Lectures and Tutorials (REQUIRED)
- 2 mandatory hands-on workshops held during the day
PAL3ISER – Environmental Engineering – Radiobiology – Nutrition and Health
– 5 ECTS – Objectives: To gain an overview of the various career paths offered by the Project Management in Healthcare track
- Health, Safety, and Environment Manager
- Quality Manager
- Product stewardship (responsibility for product safety and environmental impact)
- Risk Assessment Expert (Health, Environment)
- Sustainable Development
- Safety Specialist
- etc.
Contents COURSES
- Healthy Workplaces: Practical Applications in the Workplace
- Hygiene and Chemical and Biological Hazards – A Story of Growing Awareness
- The Principles of Risk Assessment
- Sustainable development
FEEDBACK
- Product stewardship, the MSDS
- Corporate Safety Management by an HSE Manager
- Activities of the Regional Association for the Improvement of Working Conditions
PAL3ISPH: SURFACE PHENOMENA
– 3 ECTS – Objectives:
- Identification of physical phenomena occurring at interfaces: air/liquid, liquid/liquid, and liquid/solid
- Characterization of these phenomena and understanding the challenges of formulating dispersed systems in various industries: pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food processing, plant protection, etc. For three types of systems: emulsions, suspensions, and foams
- Raising awareness of the raw materials used in the formulation of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products.
Contents LECTURES: 10 hours
- Surfactants – Dispersed systems – Liquid interfaces – Solid interfaces
- Emulsions – Foams – Suspensions
PRACTICAL WORK: 6 sessions of 3 hours each
- Section 1: Study of the phase behavior of surfactants using the ternary phase diagram method
- Section 2: Physicochemical characterization of surfactant mixtures and determination of CMC
- Section 3: Developing a final formulation based on a phase diagram – Dermo-cosmetic emulsion
- Section 4: Study of the foaming and wetting properties of surfactants
- Section 5: Formulation of suspensions: application to toothpastes
- Session 6: Oral presentation of students' experimental results
PAL3ISMA: MARKETING, QUALITY MANAGEMENT, QUALITY STATISTICAL CONTROL
– 2.5 ECTS – Learning Objectives
- Marketing: An Introduction to Healthcare Marketing and Strategic Issues in the Healthcare Industry
- Quality Management: Understanding the essential principles of quality management and becoming familiar with management tools and measurement systems
- Statistical Control: Mastering the key statistical tools used in quality control for production monitoring and for the validation of analytical control methods
Content MARKETING: 9 a.m.
- The marketing approach
- The Pharmaceutical Market: Characteristics and Analysis
- Strategic Challenges Facing Healthcare Manufacturers
- Sustainable development
THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT: 2 hours
- Definitions and related vocabulary
- The Challenges and Benefits
- Standards, certification, and accreditation
THE PROCESS-BASED APPROACH: 3 hours
- Process modeling
- Process Management
IMPROVEMENT CONTINUES: 3 hours
- The Principles of Continuous Improvement
- Internal and External Audits
Lab 1: The Process Approach: Process Description, Analysis, and Management – 1.5 hours Lab 2: Continuous Improvement: Planning and Measurement Systems – 1.5 hours STATISTICAL CONTROL:
- Introduction to Statistical Process Control
- Introduction to Statistical Validation in Analytical Testing
MODERN LANGUAGES – PAL3ISANS6 – PAL3ISALS6, PAL3ISESS6, PAL3ISAUS6
– 2 ECTS – English / Spanish / German / other language
ENGLISH
Objectives
- Improving English communication skills
- Speeches and oral interactions
- Reading and listening comprehension
- Written expression
Contents
- Oral presentations
- Work with written documents and videos
- Editorial work
- Learn general English and English tailored to the workplace
GERMAN
Objectives
- Proficiency in the language, both spoken and written
- Public Speaking
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Current Events in German-Speaking Countries
Contents
- Analysis of newspaper articles, television programs, and other authentic materials to gain insight into various aspects of current events in Germany
- An examination of certain medical or, more broadly, scientific topics
SPANISH
Objectives
- Review the basics of Spanish grammar and address any lingering gaps in knowledge and differences in proficiency levels. Tailor the teaching of these fundamentals to meet each student’s individual needs.
- Comprehension of audiovisual materials
- Reading Comprehension and Translation into French
- Acquisition of specialized vocabulary
- Proficiency in using the Prezi presentation tool (after completing the Prezi tutorial)
- A Cultural Approach and Work on Imagery by the Painters of the Prado
- Knowledge of various Spanish and Latin American companies
- Improving Oral Skills
Content THE TEACHER PROVIDES:
- Science news article (source: El País – El Mundo)
- Video clips (Source: Internet)
L’ETUDIANT PRESENTS:
- Creation of Prezi
- Grammar exercises and lessons on a dedicated platform
PAL3ISTA: WORK PLACEMENT
– 2 ECTS – Objectives:
- Expose students to real-world scenarios related to their future careers in the industry
- Understanding the industrial environment, the context, work procedures, constraints, and document drafting
Content: The two-month internship is a full-time, continuous placement at a company in the private or public sector or at a research laboratory. This internship may take place in France or abroad.
