In this course we will discuss many different types of substances, including common household poisons, poisonous plants and mushrooms, toxic gases/metals, shellfish toxins, and other natural toxins. Aspects of the chemistry and pharmacology of the poisons, antidotes/treatments, and occasional case studies will be covered. Historical examples and current events will also be incorporated into the course materials.

1. PHAR 719 Poisons and Toxins
M 2:00 to 3:50 PM
Spring 2021
Zoom Meetings
Our mission is to advance societal health through leadership in pharmacy education, research, community
engagement, and improved patient care.
Faculty Responsible for the Course:
Dr. Phil Proteau Phil.Proteau@oregonstate.edu 541-737-5776
General Catalog Description, Course Credits, & Prerequisites:
PHAR 719, Poisons and Toxins, 2 credit hours (Pre-/co-reqs: PHAR 735/736) In this course we will discuss
many different types of substances, including common household poisons, poisonous plants and
mushrooms, toxic gases/metals, shellfish toxins, and other natural toxins. Aspects of the chemistry and
pharmacology of the poisons, antidotes/treatments, and occasional case studies will be covered. Historical
examples and current events will also be incorporated into the course materials.
Course Delivery
A website for the course is maintained through the OSU Canvas site through your ONID account. Phar 719
should appear under the “Courses” section.
Course meetings will be held by Zoom. Instructions for accessing Zoom, including the Zoom meeting
number/identifier, is on the Canvas site. The same Zoom meeting number will be used all term for the
regular class meeting times.
Students are required to maintain an active email account that is either your ONID account or linked to
your ONID account. If your ONID email is forwarded to a second address, please assure that the second
address is active and capable of receiving email (e.g. it has not exceeded its maximum storage capacity).
Students are responsible for all email communication delivered to student ONID email accounts through
the course website, especially this term.
Online Attendance and Zoom Participation:
Please arrive in the Zoom session early and be ready to start at 2:00 p.m. If you have video capability,
please use it. As Zoom can experience feedback/background noise issues, please mute your microphone
when not asking questions, participating in discussions. This course requires participation in discussions,
so we will need to learn what method will work best with a group of 20+ students. Based on last year’s
class, asking questions directly worked OK, as well as using the Chat or raise hand options. Use whatever
approach is most comfortable, and we will adjust if necessary.
Disclaimer
Due to the rapid and unprecedented switch to remote education, the instructors reserve the right to make changes to
the syllabus throughout the term. Modes of delivery (e.g. Zoom classes versus pre-recorded lectures), examination
methods (online exams versus projects), contact methods, or any of the other course items might change if we discover
the technology does not meet our needs or better ideas emerge. Instructors will do their best to provide ample notice
but students will need to check email regularly and be responsible for course changes.

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Zoom sessions will be recorded and later posted in the event that students experience difficulty with
computer access to Zoom during the class meeting time.
Communication
Communication with the instructor should take place via email directly to the email address
above. Questions that are of a personal nature should be addressed to the Course Coordinator
(Dr. Proteau) by email.
Technical Assistance
If you experience any errors or problems while in your online course, contact 24-7 Canvas
Support through the Help link within Canvas (left hand menu) which includes a hot line. If you
experience computer difficulties, need help downloading a browser or plug-in, or need
assistance logging into a course, contact the IS Service Desk for assistance. You can call (541)
737-8787 or visit the IS Service Desk online.
Course Specific Measurable Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
1. Explain the terminology describing poisons and toxins
2. Identify the most common household poisons/toxic plants/environmental poisons (aside from
pharmaceuticals)
3. Understand the pharmacological targets and physiological responses to various poisons/toxins.
4. Be familiar with the chemical nature of common poisons/toxins
5. Recommend appropriate antidotes/treatments for a variety of poisons/toxins
Course Content
Two hours of lecture and interactive discussion each week will highlight the diverse array of poisons/toxins that
might be encountered –both common and rare substances. Class size will be small (max. 24) to encourage student
participation and involvement in selection of toxic agents to discuss. Poisonings via prescription or OTC drugs
will NOT be the focus of this course, although if there is specific student interest in an individual drug, that drug
may be included in discussions. Some possible topics:
•Venoms –spider, snake, cone snail
•Pesticides/Herbicides
•Poisonous plants –poison oak, poison ivy, hemlock, etc.
•Poisonous gases
•Heavy metals –lead, mercury
•Household poisons –cleaning supplies (bleach), ethylene glycol, etc.
•Shellfish toxins
•Cyanobacterial/Blue-green Algal Toxins
Student Requirements for Credit and Evaluation of Performance:
-Participation in lectures/discussion sessions
-Satisfactory completion of all quizzes, exam and presentation
-Attendance
Research Presentation (PowerPoint) 40%
Exam (100 pts) 40%

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Quizzes (two –Weeks 4 and 8) 10%
Participation in Classroom Discussions 10%
Grading will follow the scale:
90 –100% A
85 –90% A-
80 –85% B+
75 –80% B
70 –75% B-
60 –70% C
50 –60% D
Below 50% F
Attendance Impact on Grading – The class only meets nine times during the term. Two absences
will result in a partial grade reduction (e.g. A to A-; B+ to B). Three absences will result in a full
grade drop (e.g. A to B; B+ to C+). The maximum grade with four absences is a C. If five classes are
missed, the course grade will be an F.
The College of Pharmacy policy for incomplete course grades is more restrictive than OSU policy.
Incomplete grades must be resolved prior to the third week of the following term or a non-passing grade
will be submitted.
Exam and Quiz policies:
Exams and Quizzes will be conducted online through Canvas. The exam format will be multiple choice. The
exact times for the quizzes and exam are TBA; dates provided below.
If technical issues arise at any time while completing an online exam, immediately contact the instructors
by email or phone above, or the IS Service Desk, (541-737-8787 or visit the IS Service Desk online) or
support staff (Gary Miller, gary.miller@oregonstate.edu) The exams will be set so that you can restart once
without penalty if you have technical issues. Exam questions will be presented one at a time, and you will
not be able to return to a question once you have submitted an answer. Exams will be timed.
Read questions carefully and review your answers prior to submitting an answer. If questions arise during
an exam (of the kind that you would normally write on the front of a paper exam), write your concerns on a
note, and send the note to the course coordinator by email immediately after the end of the exam. Please
note that exam question numbers will be meaningless since every student will receive exam questions in a
random order. You will have to provide a way to identify the question if you have a concern for the
instructor.
Time limit on exam re-grading: Requests to challenge exam answers must be made in writing by email
within one week of the exam’s graded return. A full exam review will follow each request.
Make up examinations will not be offered during the term. Students unable to take an examination at the
scheduled time must obtain prior permission from the course coordinator—and may require written
documentation—for an alternate test time. In the case of sudden illness or emergency, the student must
make every attempt to notify the course coordinator before the examination period by email or phone
message.
Exams and Academic Integrity:

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The online Exams are closed book, closed note, with no outside help allowed as in a regular classroom
exam. Canvas will allow us to monitor your web activities during an Exam. We will be alerted if you leave
the Canvas website at any time during an Exam. However, we acknowledge that we cannot monitor your
use of other electronic devices or notes should you try to inappropriately consult something for help with
an answer. Nevertheless, doing so will be considered a violation of Academic Integrity (section below).
Guidelines for a Productive and Effective Online Classroom
Students are expected to conduct themselves in the course (e.g., in Zoom sessions, on discussion boards, by
email) in compliance with the university’s regulations regarding civility. Civility is an essential ingredient
for academic discourse. All communications for this course should be conducted constructively, civilly, and
respectfully. Differences in beliefs, opinions, and approaches are to be expected. In all you say and do for
this course, be professional. Please bring any communications you believe to be in violation of this class
policy to the attention of your instructor.
Learning Resources:
-No textbooks will be required for this course
-PowerPoint lecture slides will be posted each Monday afternoon, prior to the 2:00 pm course meeting time
-Research and news articles will be indicated in class
Course Outline:
March 29/Apr 5 Course introduction and presentation of general toxins/recent news articles on
poisons/toxins (Dr. Proteau)
Apr 12 to May 24 Student presentations and discussions of news articles
Week 4, April 19 Quiz #1 (10 points)
Week 8, May 17 Quiz #2 (10 points)
May 31 Memorial Day (no class)
Final exam for the course (100 points)
Currently scheduled for 9:30 am, Wednesday, June 09 according to the University finals schedule (NOTE –
THIS DATE IS TENTATIVE) [The exam typically takes 30 minutes or less and considering that we do not
have class in Week 10 (due to Memorial Day), I would prefer having the final exam earlier, at a time that is
convenient for the whole class.]
Attendance Requirements:
See Student Requirements for Credit and Evaluation of Performance section above for effect of
attendance on grading. As this course requires participation, attendance via Zoom is expected so that
everyone can be involved in discussions/chats. Note – It is realized that unexpected events occur, so
missing one lecture will not directly impact the course grade (although it can impact the participation
aspect of the course). Zoom meetings will be recorded and posted to the Canvas Media Gallery, but
the recordings should not be used as a substitute for attending the Zoom meetings.

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Late or Missing Exams and Assignments:
All students are expected to take all regularly scheduled examinations. Students that are
unexpectedly unable to take an examination or complete an assessment at the scheduled time must
make every attempt to notify the course coordinator before the examination period. Email or phone
message will suffice; in some cases, written documentation may be requested.
For all non-emergency situations that cannot be accommodated through alternative scheduling, prior
permission must be obtained from the course coordinator for an excused absence. For assignments,
students will be expected to still meet the scheduled submission date; for examinations, students will
typically not be allowed to take the examinations before the rest of the class. You should work early
with the course coordinator to address requests for excused absences from exams. All students are
expected to be available through Friday of finals week. Excused absences will not be granted to
accommodate early departures before the end of finals week. Students with an unexcused absence
will receive a zero on the exam or assessment.
Timing of make-up examinations for excused students will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Generally, the make-up exam is administered as soon as possible. In all cases, the instructor reserves
the right to utilize an alternative format for make-up examinations, such as an oral exam or essay
exam, of equivalent difficulty and scope.
Closures or Curtailments (Including Inclement Weather):
• OSU: See OSU Campus Alert Website: http://oregonstate.edu/main/alerts
Evaluation and Improvement of Course Quality and Teaching Effectiveness:
Course and faculty evaluations are an essential component of the College’s assessment activities as
well as critical for the individual faculty evaluation processes. Student feedback is used to improve
instructional and curriculum quality as well as provides a mechanism for students to bring other issues
to light that occur in courses. Students have several opportunities to participate in continuous quality
improvement of courses and the program. Additionally, the College of Pharmacy Curriculum and
Assessment committees have student representatives, and students are encouraged to bring suggestions
for improvement directly to members of these committees.
The College uses a two-prong end of term evaluation system: 1) Faculty Evaluation; and 2) Course
Evaluation. The Faculty Evaluation consists of 12 items established by the Oregon State University
Faculty Senate. The College cannot change those items and results are used to evaluate individual
faculty members. Faculty evaluations open and close based on faculty teaching schedules. Responses
to the course and faculty evaluations are anonymous.
The second prong is a college-specific set of items that we have deemed to more helpful in evaluating
courses. The process uses 5 standard items about the course such as organization and learning
outcomes being understandable. The survey also asks you to indicate whether you believe the course
outcomes were met. The open-ended comments collected during the course evaluation are shared with

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the Course Coordinator(s), the Curriculum Committee, and the Director of Assessment & Faculty
Development.
General Oregon State University and College of Pharmacy Policies:
Academic Calendar
All students are subject to the registration and refund deadlines as stated in the Academic
Calendar: https://registrar.oregonstate.edu/osu-academic-calendar.
Student Conduct Expectations link: https://beav.es/codeofconduct
Academic and Professional Standards – Code of Conduct
The Oregon State University College of Pharmacy professional program has defined academic and
behavioral expectations and characteristics considered essential to being a student pharmacist and
pharmacist. Individuals who choose to become student pharmacists do so with the understanding that
admission, progression, and graduation are dependent upon their capacity to personally demonstrate
essential characteristics defined by the College and profession of pharmacy, available at
http://pharmacy.oregonstate.edu/current-student-resources.
Additionally, OSU Student Conduct & Community Standards (SCCS) are available online at
http://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/code and define expectations of students at the University level.
Information about Academic Misconduct, Reporting of Incidents, and additional information about these
expectations can be found at https://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/studentconduct.
To report a Conduct Incident, please contact College of Pharmacy Student Services or use the “Report a
Conduct Incident” on the SCCS page referenced above.
Basic Needs
Any student who has difficulty affording or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a
safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to
contact their academic advisor or the Human Services Resource Center (HSRC) for support
(hsrc@oregonstate.edu, 541-737-3747). The HSRC has a food pantry, a textbook lending program and
other resources to help. Furthermore, please notify the professor if you are comfortable in doing so. This
will enable them to provide any resources that they may possess.
Civility, Student Behavior, and Non-discrimination
The goal of Oregon State University is to provide students with the knowledge, skill and wisdom they
need to contribute to society. Our rules are formulated to guarantee each student’s freedom to learn and

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to protect the fundamental rights of others. Behaviors that are disruptive to teaching and learning will
not be tolerated and will be referred to the Student Conduct Program for disciplinary action.
Oregon State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of protected status in any of its policies,
procedures, or practices. Protected statuses include age, color, disability, gender identity or expression,
genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran's
status. People must treat each other with dignity and respect for scholarship to thrive. Behaviors that
create a hostile, offensive or intimidating environment based on any protected status will be referred to
the Affirmative Action Office. For any questions regarding civility or acceptable behavior, please
reference the University’s mission and values statements and the College of Pharmacy’s Essential
Characteristics of a Student Pharmacist at http://pharmacy.oregonstate.edu/current-student-resources.
Copyright Information
Every reasonable effort has been made to protect the copyright requirements of materials used in this
course. Class participants are warned not to copy, audio, or videotape in violation of copyright laws.
Journal articles will be kept on reserve at the library or online for student access. Copyright law does
allow for making one personal copy of each article from the original article. This limit also applies to
electronic sources.
Diversity in the College of Pharmacy
The College of Pharmacy strives to create an affirming climate for all students including
underrepresented and marginalized individuals and groups. Diversity includes but is not limited to
differences in age, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, socioeconomic background, veteran status,
sexual orientation, and marginalized groups. We believe diversity is the synergy, connection,
acceptance, and mutual learning fostered by the interaction of different human characteristics.
Reach out for success
University students encounter setbacks from time to time. If you encounter difficulties and need
assistance, it’s important to reach out. Consider discussing the situation with an instructor or academic
advisor. Learn about resources that assist with wellness and academic success at
www.oregonstate.edu/ReachOut . If you are in immediate crisis, please contact the Crisis Text Line by
Texting OREGON to 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
(8255).
Religious Accommodation of Students
Oregon State University strives to respect all religious practices. If you have religious holidays that
conflict with any of the requirements of this class, please contact the Course Coordinator immediately to
make alternative arrangements.
The University will grant students’ reasonable requests for religious accommodations where doing so
does not conflict with reasonably necessary University goals. For more information, please consult the

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Religious Accommodation of Students Policy linked below or contact the Office of Equity and
Inclusion: https://eoa.oregonstate.edu/nondiscrimination-basis-religion
Students with Disabilities
Accommodations for students with disabilities are determined and approved by Disability Access
Services (DAS). If you, as a student, believe you are eligible for accommodations but have not obtained
approval, please contact DAS immediately at 541-737-4098 or at http://ds.oregonstate.edu. DAS notifies
students and faculty members of approved academic accommodations and coordinates implementation
of those accommodations. While not required, students and faculty members are encouraged to discuss
details of the implementation of individual accommodations.
Student Guidelines for Course Materials
To protect privacy rights, intellectual property rights, and the quality of the teaching and learning
experience, the College of Pharmacy has adopted the following policies and guidelines governing course
materials. Course materials include presentation materials created by instructors or other students,
materials distributed in support of class activities, course assessments, and audio or video recordings.
Except as provided below, students shall not give, sell, publish, or otherwise distribute any materials, in
any medium, of any course given at the OSU College of Pharmacy, without the written consent of the
course instructor and the Dean of the College of Pharmacy.
Students currently enrolled in a course may, with the prior permission of the course instructor or guest
lecturer, make audio or video recordings of course content, for use in study or other non-commercial
purposes. If students intend to record photographs, video, or audio that includes other students, they
must also obtain prior permission from the included students.
Students currently enrolled in a course may distribute recordings to other currently enrolled OSU
College of Pharmacy students for use in study or other non-commercial purposes arising from
participation in the course, but they must ensure that recordings are distributed only in private forums.
Any online distribution or posting of such recordings must be made on a password-protected site, such
as the student Wiki. If granted permission to use recordings or content from faculty or student
presentations (e.g. slides, figures, charts) in their own presentations, papers, or other scholarly activities,
students must cite the source of those recordings or content appropriately.
Students should exercise special caution when creating or distributing audio, video, or image recordings
of patients. Students must not create or distribute recordings of patients without securing the permission
of everyone identifiable in the recording and their course instructor or preceptor.
Syllabus Changes and Retention

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This syllabus is not to be considered a contract between the student and the College of Pharmacy. It is
recognized that changes may be made as the need arises. Students are responsible for keeping a copy of
the course syllabus for their records.
Prepared by Phil Proteau, March 21, 2021