Undergraduate Physiology Courses
200-level Physiology Courses
PHYSL 210 - Human Physiology
«6 (fee index 12) (two-term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Saswati Das (in-person); Dr. Kyla Smith (online)
Description: Introductory course in human physiology. Students will study the function and regulation of the human body and the complexities and interactions of cells, tissues, major organs and systems. This course is offered as a classroom-based course or in an online format. Students may not transfer from one mode of instruction to the other.
Prerequisites: BIOL 107; plus 6 credits in University level Chemistry. Credit may be obtained in only one of PHYSL 210 or 212 and 214. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in ZOOL 241 and/or 242.
Online Physiology 210: Online Physiology 210 will provide an alternative online mode of delivery with curriculum content and course evaluation equivalent to the in-class lecture version of this course. This online course is based on a required textbook and is supported by extensive online content including short video lessons, additional video animations, learning objectives, unmarked quizzes and other knowledge-testing online activities, access to additional online textbook resources, and a discussion board monitored by the instructor. Students' progress will be monitored by the course instructor, and students will have access to subject-matter experts from the Department of Physiology. Click here for more information
For more information regarding the online 210 course, please contact Dr. Kyla Smith: kylasmit@ualberta.ca
PHYSL 212 - Human Physiology I
«3 (fee index 6) (fall term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Saswati Das
Description: An introduction to human physiology. Part 1, covering: membrane transport mechanisms; intracellular and electrical signaling; the physiology of excitable tissues; the physiology of blood; and the cardiovascular system. Required for students in the Physiology Honors program. Recommended for students in other Honors/Specialization programs.
Prerequisites: BIOL 107; CHEM 101 and 102.
Pre- or corequisites: CHEM 261 and 263.
Notes: Credit may be obtained in only one of PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in ZOOL 241 and/or 242. Students in some Honors/Specialization programs may require PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210. See your departmental advisor.
PHYSL 214 - Human Physiology II
«3 (fee index 6) (fall term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Saswati Das
Description: An introduction to human physiology. Part 2, covering: the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract; the respiratory system; the renal system; endocrinology; and the reproductive system. Required for students in the Physiology Honors program. Recommended for students in other Honors/Specialization programs.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212.
Notes: Credit may be obtained in only one of PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210. This course may not be taken for credit if credit has been obtained in ZOOL 241 and/or 242. Students in some Honors/Specialization programs may require PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210. See your departmental advisor.
300-level Physiology Courses
PHYSL 310 - Experimental Techniques in Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (either term, 1-0-6)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Kyla Smith
Description: Modern techniques in Physiology (involving cell biology, molecular, histological and live cell imaging, and non-invasive experimentation) will be discussed in theory and demonstrated/utilized in a series of laboratory experiments. Student participation as subjects may be required in some labs.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212 and 214 and consent of Department.
PHYSL 372 - Systems Neuroscience
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Klaus Ballanyi
Description: Introduction to the organization and function of vertebrate nervous systems. Major topics will be neural development, control of movement, integration of sensory information, and the neuronal mechanisms underlying memory and learning.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210, or ZOOL 242.
400-level Physiology lecture-based Courses
PHYSL 400 - Reproductive Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (fall term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Shereen Hamza
Description: The aim of this course is to describe (i) the causes of infertility, (ii) therapeutic approaches to restore or enhance fertility and (iii) contraceptive approaches to avoid pregnancy.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.
PHYSL 403 - Neuroendoimmunomodulation
«3 (fee index 6) (fall term, 3-0-0).
Course Coordinator: Dr. Shereen Hamza
Description: The physiological and pathophysiological interrelationships between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.
PHYSL 404 - Cardiovascular Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (fall term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Zamaneh Kassiri
Description: General concepts in human cardiovascular physiology: properties of the myocardium, heart function, vascular biology, hemodynamics and control of cardiovascular system. Discussion of cardiovascular pathologies and relevant clinical situations.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.
PHYSL 405 - Sensory Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Simon Gosgnach
Description: The sensory systems in human physiology. The topics covered will be vision, hearing, vestibular mechanisms, taste, smell and touch, including receptor mechanisms and central organization.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.
PHYSL 407 - Molecular and Cellular Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Xing-Zhen Chen
Description: The molecular and cellular aspects of physiological processes. Main areas include the structure and functions of plasma membranes (emphasizing transport processes, their regulation and methods of study) and the mechanism of action of hormones (hormonereceptor interactions, receptor regulation and interactions of intracellular mediators). The physiological significance of these processes will be stressed throughout.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or 212 and 214 and consent of the Department.
PHYSL 409 - Homeostatic Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Shereen Hamza
Description: Advanced principles of regulatory mechanisms in human and mammalian physiology, with in depth analysis of interrelationships between different organ systems in the maintenance of homeostasis. Clinical and physiologic perspectives are highlighted in the demonstration of how organ systems interact in health and the disruption in homeostasis which occurs in disease. Contemporary topics in energy and cardiovascular homeostasis such as the physiological adaptations to pregnancy, exercise, obesity and diabetes will be explored using an integrative, systems physiology approach. Suitable as preparation for careers in medicine, biomedical research and health-related fields.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214 (or 210), 404 and consent of Department.
PHYSL 413 - Fetal Physiology
«3 (fi 6) (second term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. David M. Olson
Description: The course stresses experimental approaches to understanding maternal physiology during pregnancy, complications of pregnancy, fetal development & physiology during late gestation, the transition to independent life, and newborn health complications. The course is organized into four units, each dealing with a different topic in the field. Each class session comprises one 2–3-hour lecture on the first Tuesday of the unit and then a student-prepared oral or poster presentation on the second Tuesday of the unit, and the writing of a short (5-page) scientific review paper for the third Tuesday of the unit.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or 212 and 214 and consent of the Course Manager.
PHYSL 444 - Current Topics in Neuroscience
«3 (fi 6) (fall term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Clayton Dickson
Description: A lecture course emphasizing contemporary aspects of developmental, cellular, systems and cognitive neurophysiology. Topics will include experience-dependent processes in the development of the nervous system, the molecular and cellular mechanisms for learning and memory, the electrophysiology of rhythmic activity in identified brain circuits, the microphysiology of transmitter secretion, and the representation and transformation of information in the nervous system. Students will be expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of selected readings from current and classical literature. Suitable for honors students in Physiology, Pharmacology, Psychology and Neuroscience.
Prerequisites: PMCOL 371 or ZOOL 342, and PHYSL 372 and consent of the Department.
PHYSL 455 - Physiology of Lipids and Lipoproteins
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Robin Clugston
Description: Advanced course focusing on specific aspects of the physiological regulation of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Topics include the transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms governing the synthesis and degradation of important enzymes, lipids, and lipid transport molecules; the role of lipid mediators in signaling pathways and protein modification; the assembly and dynamics of lipoproteins and biological membranes; genetic disruptions of lipid regulatory proteins such as cell surface receptors leading to human disease.
Prerequisites: A minimum grade of B- in PHYSL 210 or 212/214 or consent of Department. This course is intended for students in Honors in Physiology. Students in other programs may be admitted subject to availability and with the consent of the Department. Graduate students may not register for credit (see PHYSL 555).
PHYSL 457 - Exercise Physiology
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Kyla Smith
Description: Acute and chronic adaptations to various modalities of exercise. Focus will be on metabolism, muscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. An introduction to clinical exercise physiology will also be covered.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 212 and 214, or 210 and consent of Department.
Physiology RESEARCH Courses
PHYSL 461 Undergraduate Research Project (Guideline)
«3 (fee index 6) (either term, 0-0-6)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Emmanuelle Cordat and Dr. Silvia Pagliardini
Description: Individual study, open to undergraduate students who have identified a supervisor in the Department of Physiology. Co-supervisors from other Departments are permitted. Students will spend one term in the laboratory of a faculty member and carry out a laboratory research project. Registration package and further information are available.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212/214 and consent from the course coordinator.
PHYSL 463 - Advanced Topics in Physiology Research I
«3 (fee index 6) (fall term, 0-6-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Kyla Smith
Description: Open to undergraduate students in the Honors Physiology program. Students will identify, present, and critically discuss recent advances in Physiology research with classmates and instructors in a journal club-type format. Registration package and further information are available.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212/214 and consent from the course coordinators. Must be taken in conjunction with PHYSL 464.
PHYSL 464 - Advanced Topics in Physiology Research II
«3 (fee index 6) (winter term, 0-6-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Kyla Smith
Description: Taken in conjunction with PHYSL 463, this course is open to undergraduate students in the Honors Physiology program. Students will undertake self-directed research and provide a critical review of recent literature in one specific field of Physiology (to be identified by the student in consultation with the course coordinators). Registration package and further information are available.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212/214, PHYSL 463 and consent from the course coordinators.
PHYSL 466 Undergraduate Tutorial
«3 (fee index 6) (either term, 3-0-0)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Kyla Smith
Description: Individual study, Restricted to students in the Physiology Honors Program. Students will select a faculty member who will guide them through a course of reading at an advanced level on a specialized topic. Successful completion of an oral presentation is required at the conclusion of the project. Credit for this course may be obtained more than once.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 OR PHYSL 212/214 and consent from the course coordinator.
PHYSL 467 Undergraduate Research Project (Guideline)
«6 (fee index 12) (both terms, 0-0-6)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Emmanuelle Cordat and Dr. Silvia Pagliardini
Description: Individual study, open to undergraduate students who have identified a supervisor in the department of Physiology. Co-supervision with Professors from other Departments is possible, provided that a supervisor from the department of Physiology is identified. Students will spend two terms in the laboratory of a faculty member and carry out a laboratory research project.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212/214 and consent from the course coordinator.
PHYSL 468 Undergraduate Research Thesis I (Guideline)
«6 (fee index 12) (fall term, 0-0-12)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Emmanuelle Cordat and Dr. Silvia Pagliardini
Description: Individual study, open to undergraduate students who have identified a supervisor in the Department of Physiology. Taken in conjunction with PHYSL 469, this 6-credit course is the first part of a 12-credit program in two terms resulting in an honours research thesis in physiology. Students will spend the Fall term in the laboratory of a supervisor and carry out a research project to be continued in the second term as PHYSL 469. Co-supervision with Professors from other Departments is possible, provided that a supervisor from the Department of Physiology is identified. Students will be evaluated on an oral presentation, a written research proposal and performance in the laboratory.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212/214 and consent from the course coordinator.
PHYSL 469 Undergraduate Research Thesis II (Guideline)
«6 (fee index 12) (winter term, 0-0-12)
Course Coordinator: Dr. Emmanuelle Cordat and Dr. Silvia Pagliardini
Description: Taken in conjunction with PHYSL 468, this 6-credit course is the second part of a 12-credit program in two terms resulting in an honours research thesis in Physiology. Upon satisfactory progress in first-term PHYSL 468, students will continue their research and produce an honours thesis on their project. Students will be evaluated on a final oral presentation, a written research Thesis and performance in the laboratory.
Prerequisites: PHYSL 210 or PHYSL 212/214 and consent from the course coordinator.