Master’s Degree Courses
Medical Physiology and Pharmacology Medical Physiology and Aging
Master’s Degree in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology
The following courses are required for the master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology.
This 1-credit course studies the basic principles of pharmacology and therapeutics in the context of medicine and biomedical science. Concepts are taught using a combination of online lectures and online problem sets. Topics include the types and nomenclature of small molecule drugs and therapeutic biologics, drug-receptor interactions, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics and the basis of personalized medicine.
This 2-credit course will cover the fundamentals of small molecule drugs and therapeutic biologics (e.g., viral-based gene therapy) and their actions in the body. Specific topics include painkillers, alcohol and psychological medications, among others. The course will prepare students for more advanced studies of pharmacology and therapeutics in the context of human physiology and pathophysiology.
This course studies the pharmacology and therapeutics of the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems. This course will cover the fundamentals of small molecule drugs and their actions on the heart, vasculature, kidney and other parts of the cardiovascular, renal and respiratory systems. Specific topics include heart medications, cholesterol lowering drugs and diuretics, among others.
This course studies the endocrine, musculoskeletal, reproductive and gastrointestinal systems. This course will cover the fundamentals of small molecule drugs and therapeutic biologics and their actions in the treatment and/or control of endocrine disorders, reproduction, the gastrointestinal system, the musculoskeletal system and skin. Specific topics include corticosteroids, diabetes and osteoporosis, among others.
This course studies cancers and microbial/parasitic infections. This course will cover the fundamentals of small molecule drugs and therapeutic biologics and their actions in the treatment of cancers and of microbial and/or parasitic infections. Specific topics include chemotherapy, antibacterials and antivirals, among others.
In this course, students will learn complex pharmacological principles and other advanced topics, including drug design, development and mechanisms. Students will build on their foundational knowledge from GMS 6551 and gain an understanding of receptor theory, pharmacological assays, binding, receptor biology and molecular docking.
This course explores the signaling mechanisms that exist in human cells. Students will gain an understanding of the biology of cell mechanisms, how they drive new drug targets and their critical role in the development of new therapeutics.
The use of cannabis and tobacco products has become more widespread in recent years, particularly as medicinal and recreational cannabis use has been legalized in many states and tobacco use has shifted toward electronic nicotine delivery systems. This expansion has led to new laws, more abundant scientific inquiries and increased mainstream use, despite the lack of research on long-term effects.
This is an introductory course that teaches the basic functions of the human body. Students explore normal physiology and common diseases in each organ system. Participation in online workshops will help students understand the integration of physiology with genetics, genomics, molecular biology and cellular physiology as a basis for understanding human disease.
This course teaches the functions of the renal system of the human body at a level required for clinical medicine and basic research in medical physiology. Students will explore how systems act in an integrated manner to regulate overall body functions and how the failure of these normal physiologic functions and integrations are associated with some diseases.
This course teaches the functions of the pulmonary system of the human body, including the uptake, transport and utilization of oxygen and other blood gases. Students will discover acid-base physiology and the mechanisms for controlling pulmonary function and gain an understanding of how the pulmonary system works with other systems.
This course teaches the functions and regulation of the muscle and the cardiovascular system. Students will learn adaptations that occur in response to exercise, the environment and disease and apply their knowledge of these systems to identify when a cardiovascular system may fail when associated with some diseases.
Elective Courses for the Master’s Degree
Select 6 credits from the following courses to fulfill your elective requirements for the master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology.
This course teaches the functions of the endocrine and reproductive systems of the human body. Students will gain an understanding of hormone function, including the hormonal control of reproduction, how the hormonal systems work with other human systems to regulate body functions and the diseases associated with the failure of the endocrine and reproductive systems.
This course teaches the functions of the digestive system of human body. Students will explore how the endocrine and neural mechanisms control the gastrointestinal systems and gain an understanding of how the systems act in an integrated manner to regulate overall body functions.
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of cardiovascular function, including control of cardiac development, vascular and microvascular function, baroreflex and chemoreflex control of the circulation, role of the kidney and central nervous systems in cardiovascular regulation, the maternal and fetal circulation in normal pregnancy and the use of gene therapy tools in cardiovascular research.
This course delves into important, current aspects of hypertension research. It begins with clinical trials and pharmacogenomics and considers mono- and polygenic forms of hypertension, dietary/environmental influences leading to salt dependent hypertension/metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes, neural control of BP and stress-induced hypertension, endothelial dysfunction / inflammation and stem cells in hypertension and hypertension in pregnancy and fetal programming of hypertension.
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of kidney function, including physiological control of glomerular filtration and glomerular function in renal disease, regulation of renal sodium excretion, morphology of renal transporters, renal mechanisms of acid base balance and the renal physiologic responses to normal pregnancy.
This courses teaches advanced topics in respiration physiology, including quantitative understanding of atmospheric, alveolar and blood gas pressures, as well as quantitative understanding of oxygen carriage in blood and alterations in blood chemistry that result from changes in blood gases. Students build an understanding of the respiratory physiology concepts in theoretical models.
Required Courses for the Master’s Degree
The following courses are required for the master’s degree in medical physiology and aging.
This is an introductory course that teaches the basic functions of the human body. Students explore normal physiology and common diseases in each organ system. Participation in online workshops will help students understand the integration of physiology with genetics, genomics, molecular biology and cellular physiology as a basis for understanding human disease.
This course teaches the functions of the renal system of the human body at a level required for clinical medicine and basic research in medical physiology. Students will explore how systems act in an integrated manner to regulate overall body functions and how the failure of these normal physiologic functions and integrations are associated with some diseases.
This course teaches the functions of the pulmonary system of the human body, including the uptake, transport and utilization of oxygen and other blood gases. Students will discover acid-base physiology and the mechanisms for controlling pulmonary function and gain an understanding of how the pulmonary system works with other systems.
This course teaches the functions and regulation of the muscle and the cardiovascular system. Students will learn adaptations that occur in response to exercise, the environment and disease and apply their knowledge of these systems to identify when a cardiovascular system may fail when associated with some diseases.
Teaching proficiency on critical assessment and understanding of methods used in research studies related to biomedical aging and clinical geriatrics. Students will gain the ability to understand, gather information and assess the quality of these studies including basic content and construction of peer reviewed journal articles.
Humans have theorized about aging since 3000 AD in an attempt to explain how specific changes during the life course are an integral part of aging. This course will explore the fundamental theories of aging across a wide array of disciplines to give the learner a broad understanding of “healthy” aging.
Providing an overview of the practice of providing care to geriatric populations. This includes an understanding of common syndromes, conditions and diseases that are relevant to the quality of life in older adults.
Elective Courses for the Master’s Degree
Select 12 credits (6 physiology and 6 aging) from the following courses to fulfill your elective requirements for the master’s degree in medical physiology and aging.
Physiology
This course teaches the functions of the endocrine and reproductive systems of the human body. Students will gain an understanding of hormone function, including the hormonal control of reproduction, how the hormonal systems work with other human systems to regulate body functions and the diseases associated with the failure of the endocrine and reproductive systems.
This course teaches the functions of the digestive system of human body. Students will explore how the endocrine and neural mechanisms control the gastrointestinal systems and gain an understanding of how the systems act in an integrated manner to regulate overall body functions.
This course delves into important, current aspects of hypertension research. It begins with clinical trials and pharmacogenomics and considers mono- and polygenic forms of hypertension, dietary/environmental influences leading to salt dependent hypertension/metabolic syndrome/type 2 diabetes, neural control of BP and stress-induced hypertension, endothelial dysfunction / inflammation and stem cells in hypertension and hypertension in pregnancy and fetal programming of hypertension.
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of cardiovascular function, including control of cardiac development, vascular and microvascular function, baroreflex and chemoreflex control of the circulation, role of the kidney and central nervous systems in cardiovascular regulation, the maternal and fetal circulation in normal pregnancy and the use of gene therapy tools in cardiovascular research.
This course exposes students to in-depth discussion and understanding of several aspects of kidney function, including physiological control of glomerular filtration and glomerular function in renal disease, regulation of renal sodium excretion, morphology of renal transporters, renal mechanisms of acid base balance and the renal physiologic responses to normal pregnancy.
This course teaches advanced topics in respiration physiology, including quantitative understanding of atmospheric, alveolar and blood gas pressures, as well as quantitative understanding of oxygen carriage in blood and alterations in blood chemistry that result from changes in blood gases. Students build an understanding of the respiratory physiology concepts in theoretical models.
Aging
Students will learn the major theories of biological aging, including Evolutionary Neuroendocrine, and Free Radical Theories of Aging, the roles of vital organ systems, key cellular programs and how the aging process can be delayed through pharmaceutical and genetic manipulation, or calorie restriction.
This course uses a clinical science approach to examine the relationship between aging and change in brain systems as they relate to clinical disorders. Overviews of modern clinical neuroscience methodology, clinical assessment, intervention strategies, functional neuroanatomy, and major cognitive systems and age-related changes are provided.
This course explores population-based research on diseases of elders that include neurodegeneration, dementia, pulmonary disorders, chronic kidney disease, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and metabolic health conditions.
This course examines behavioral antecedents of major diseases, by reviewing epidemiological and population-based studies of behavioral/psychosocial variables and disease conditions and decreased longevity.
This course builds on the behavioral concepts of lifestyle-based intervention discussed in the Lifestyles I. You will examine the underlying physiologic changes experienced by older adults in response to lifestyle-based interventions. Adaptations will be evaluated across the spectrum of physiologic organization, from whole-body to molecular and cellular changes.
Aging is a complex process determined by both genetic and environmental factors. By manipulating these aging-related factors, researchers have been able to extend lifespan and healthspan in lab animals. This course will focus on the current and emerging interventions to promote human lifespan and healthspan.
Learn More about the Program
Click below for details about UF’s Medical Physiology online program.
