The course is intended for all M.S. and Ph.D. students interested in learning about the neurochemical basis for drug action in order to inform the engineering of pharmacological agents to combat disease. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the field of neuropharmacology, exploring how drugs affect the nervous system at molecular, cellular, and systemic levels. Students will examine the mechanisms of neurotransmission, the role of various neurotransmitters (including glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, epinephrine and norepinephrine), and the pharmacological agents that influence these systems. Topics include the physiological and pathophysiological basis of neurotransmitter systems, drug-receptor interactions, and the pharmacotherapy of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, addiction, and psychosis. The course also investigates the neurobiology of anesthesia and the challenges of drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier. By the end of the course, students will gain foundational knowledge regarding how neuroactive substances modulate brain function and behavior.