Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Science (Medicinal Chemistry)

Medicinal chemists design and synthesise new medicinal and pharmacological agents; develop new dosage forms; monitor guidelines for testing drugs and undertake analyses; assist with drug regulatory affairs; assess patent applications for new drugs; and teach in tertiary institutions.

The Bachelor of Science (Medicinal Chemistry) includes specialised subjects in drug discovery and design, using both rational, computer-aided and bio-prospecting approaches. The program also provides training in physiology, pharmacology and other areas needed to understand the effects of disease states on the human body and the role of drugs and other methods of chemical intervention.

Subject to satisfactory performance and the approval of the Course Co-ordinator and the Sub Dean, students may apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry at the end of the first year.

Mid-year entry for the Bachelor of Science (Medicinal Chemistry) must be in consultation with the Head of the School. The minimum duration to complete the degree, if the program is commenced mid-year, is 3½ years full-time or part-time equivalent.

course structure

Subject Code

Subject Name

Session

Credit Points

First Year

Autumn Session

CHEM101

Chemistry 1A: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry

Autumn

6

or

     

CHEM104

Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter

Autumn

6

Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101. All other students must select CHEM104.

SHS 111

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I

Autumn

6

Plus two of the following subjects in Autumn Session:

BIOL104

Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment

Autumn

6

BIOL105

Functional Biology of Animals and Plants

Autumn

6

MATH141

Foundations of Engineering Mathematics*

Autumn

6

or

     

MATH151

General Mathematics 1A (if required)*

Autumn

6

or

     

MATH187

Mathematics 1: Algebra and Differential Calculus*

Autumn

6

* The mathematics subject to study is dependent on the level of mathematics already achieved by the student (HSC or equivalent).

SHS 110

Human Growth, Nutrition and Exercise

Autumn

6

PHYS141

Fundamentals of Physics A

Autumn

6

Spring Session

BIOL103

Molecules, Cells and Organisms

Spring

6

CHEM102

Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life

Spring

6

or

     

CHEM105

Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures

Spring

6

SHS 112

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II

Spring

6

STAT252

Statistics for the Natural Sciences

Spring

6

Summer Session

Only for students who have completed CHEM104 and CHEM105.

CHEM106

Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter

Summer

6#

#Note: CHEM106 does NOT count for credit with CHEM105, but is required for students completing CHEM104 and CHEM105 as pre-requisite subjects for most 200-level CHEM subjects.

Completion of CHEM106 does NOT count towards the minimum 144 credit points for this course.

Second Year

BIOL213

Principles of Biochemistry

Autumn

6

CHEM211

Inorganic Chemistry II

Autumn

6

CHEM212

Organic Chemistry II

Autumn

6

SHS 211

Control Mechanisms Physiology

Autumn

6

BIOL214

The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism

Spring

6

BIOL215

Introductory Genetics

Spring

6

CHEM213

Molecular Structure, Reactivity and Change

Spring

6

CHEM214

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry II

Spring

6

Third Year

Autumn Session

CHEM350

Principles of Pharmacology

Autumn

8

CHEM364

Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy

Autumn

8

Plus one of the following subjects, or other subjects approved by the Coordinator

BIOL303

Biotechnology: Applied Cell and Molecular Biology

Autumn

8

BIOL320

Molecular Cell Biology

Autumn

8

CHEM314

Instrumental Analysis

Autumn

8

CHEM340

Chemistry Laboratory Project (Restricted Entry)

Autumn

8

Spring Session

CHEM320

Bioinformatics: From Genome to Structure

Spring

8

CHEM321

Organic Synthesis and Reactivity

Spring

8

CHEM330

Medicinal Chemistry

Spring

8

Honours

If the required academic standard is attained the BSc (Medicinal Chemistry) student may transfer to the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry fourth Honours year. This consists of special coursework plus a research project.

Professional Recognition/ACCREDITATION

This degree structure is designed to meet the qualifying standards of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, and students meeting the course requirements will be eligible for corporate membership as Chartered Chemists.

OTHER Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: smah-students@uow.edu.au 

Last reviewed: 8 January, 2014