Unit Outline
CSA329
Therapeutics of Infectious Disease
Health Study Period 2, 2025
Sophie Briggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Sophie Briggs
Email: sophie.briggs@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Therapeutics of Infectious Disease is designed to build upon existing knowledge of pharmacology, physiology, microbiology, and evidence-based health, to develop the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to deliver pharmaceutical care in infectious disease. This unit will focus on the pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic principles relevant to the management of common infectious diseases.  Additionally, this unit will also have a focus on communication with prescribers as well as patients regarding the use of anti-infectives. An emphasis is placed on the application of knowledge to evaluate and advise upon pharmacotherapy in clinical situations.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1
Relate the pathophysiology to the pharmacotherapeutic management of disease.
2
Evaluate medication-related problems in clinical scenarios.
3
Develop strategies that are patient centred and evidence-based to manage infectious disease(s).
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
CSA207
Concurrent Pre-requisite
CSA306
Alterations as a result of student feedback
No alterations have been made as a result of student feedback. This is a new unit for 2025.
As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2025, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s Unit Survey following your completion of the unit.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
2 hour workshop weekly
2
Weekly
Independent Learning
Self-directed learning 4 hours weekly
4
Weekly
Seminar
Class poster presentation
2
Once only
Other
On Campus mid-semester period test in week 6
1
Once only
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following way:
  • Workshop attendance will be recorded
  • Compulsory attendance at the Class Poster Presentation in Week 12
  • Completion of all assessment tasks.
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Mid Study Period test
Week 6
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Group Poster Presentation
Week 11
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Final Exam
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Mid Study Period test
Task Description:
You will sit an invigilated mid-study period face-to-face written test. This will contain multiple choice questions, short answer questions and case-based questions. A limited number of resources will be available for this test.
Task Length:
50 minutes
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify medication-related issues within the clinical case provided.
LO2
2
Justify resolution(s) for the identified medication related issues identified.
LO3
3
Relate the pathophysiology to pharmacotherapeutic management of disease states.
LO1
 
Assessment Task 2: Group Poster Presentation
Task Description:
You will be assigned to groups to create a poster outlining a clinical case report that you are given, outlining the pathophysiology, current treatment, potential future treatments (if applicable) and management of potential complications associated with that infection. You will then present this poster in your groups to the class and answer questions related to the clinical case.
Your poster will be due week 11 with the presentation in week 12.
Task Length:
A3 Poster and up to 10 minute presentation and question and answer session
Due Date:
Week 11
Weight:
40 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify medication-related issues within the clinical case provided.
LO2
2
Resolve medication-related issues identified within the clinical case.
LO3
3
Describe the pathophysiology of the infectious disease.
LO1
4
Apply clinical reasoning to the case to answer questions.
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Final Exam
Task Description:
You will sit an invigilated end of study period written examination.

This is a hurdle assessment.
Task Length:
1 hour
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify medication-related issues within the clinical case provided.
LO2
2
Provide justification for resolution(s) for the identified medication related issues.
LO3
3
Apply the pathophysiology to pharmacotherapeutic management of disease states.
LO1
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
Required readings will be provided by your Unit Coordinator.
 
Recommended reading materials
Students will be signposted to a variety of material relevant to the area of study. Links will be provided to these materials through MyLO where possible. Most of these materials will be available online, either freely accessible or through the University library.
Students will also find the following e-resources (available via EPOCH) highly valuable:
  •  Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), PSA/RACGP/ASCEPT
  • Therapeutic Guidelines (current edition), Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd, Melbourne
  • UpToDate, Wolters Kluwer
 
Other required resources