Course content

One definition of ethnopharmacology is: The interdisciplinary scientific exploration of biologically active agents traditionally employed or observed by man. This course deals with the use of medicinal plants in other cultures for the treatment of illness in addition to the use of ethnopharmacology for development of new medicinal substances as well as intellectual property rights.

Learning outcome

  • knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in other cultures
  • understanding of how ethnopharmacology can be the basis for development of new drugs
  • understanding of how ethnopharmacology can lead to a higher degree of safety and a more rational use of herbal preparations
  • knowledge of intellectual property rights regarding traditional use of medicinal plants

Admission to the course

The course is primarily open to students who have been admitted to the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Oslo. If there is space available then others may also apply to take the course as long as their academic background is adequate.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

The course is only available to students who have passed their pharmacy apprenticeship and have passed all previous pharmacy courses or have the equivalent within pharmacognosy.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

The course consists of lectures and seminars. During the seminars, groups of students prepare and present a given part of literature followed by discussions. The presentations are compulsory.

Inactivity and / or excessive absences in compulsory education means that the student does not receive final assessment / examination.

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

The course may be cancelled if the number of enrolled students are low.

Examination

The students are evaluated based on a home written essay (in Inspera).

Submit assignments in Inspera

You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera.Read more about how to submit assignments in Inspera.

When writing your assignments make sure to familiarize yourself with the rules for use of sources and citations. 

Breach of these rules may lead to suspicion of attempted cheating.

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses:

Examination support material

All examination support material is allowed.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 16, 2026 8:36:14 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn

The course is last held autumn 2020

Examination
Autumn .

Examination is last held autumn 2022

Teaching language
Norwegian

Contact

Department of Pharmacy