- 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 Medicinal Chemistry (Honours)
Testamur Title of Degree: | Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) |
Abbreviation: | BMedChem(Hons) |
UOW Course Code: | 1773 |
CRICOS Code: | 084858K |
Total Credit Points: | 192 |
Duration: | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Home Faculty: | Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health |
Intake Session(s): | Autumn |
Delivery Mode: | On-campus (Face-to-face) |
Delivery Campus / UAC Code: | Wollongong / 757613 |
Additional Information: |
Overview
Medicinal Chemistry covers all elements of the development of new medicines for human use, including the isolation of new medicinal agents from natural sources, the design and synthesis of new drugs, and understanding the cause of diseases at the molecular level.
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 degree provides excellent training in the modern techniques of chemical science applied to medicine. This includes specialised courses in drug discovery and design, using both rational, computer-aided and bioprospecting approaches. As well as fundamental training in the chemical sciences, you will also study the concepts needed to understand the effects of the disease state on the human body and the role of drugs. Topics of study include chemistry, physiology, pharmacology and cell biology.
If you do not qualify for direct entry to the degree you may gain admission via the Bachelor of Science, subject to satisfactory performance in at least one year of the degree and approval of the Course Co-ordinator and the Head of Students.
Entry Requirements
Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) will be able to:
- Demonstrate extensive and coherent knowledge of the principles and concepts associated with chemistry.
- Demonstrate extensive and coherent knowledge of the principles and concepts associated with the design and synthesis of medicinal agents, their mode of action and their biological interactions.
- Demonstrate technical and cognitive skills associated with chemistry, including medicinal chemistry, by locating, analysing and synthesising information to generate solutions to complex questions and problems.
- Exercise critical analysis of observations and data from primary and secondary sources.
- Integrate and apply knowledge and skills associated with medicinal chemistry to plan and execute a substantial research project.
- Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and coherently to others through a variety of media.
Course Structure
Students who have not completed HSC Mathematics at Band 4 or higher (or equivalent) are required to complete a mathematics subject (MATH151 or equivalent) normally in the first year.
Students may only count 60 credit points of 100-level subjects towards the degree.
Students must complete a minimum of 32 credit points of 300-level subjects.
Students must have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in at least 24 credit points of 300-level core subjects which form part of a Science major.
This is a prescribed program of study comprising core and optional subjects as set out below.
Subject Code | Subject Name | Credit Points | Session(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | |||
Autumn | |||
MEDI111 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology I | 6 | Autumn |
Select ONE of the following subjects: | |||
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. | |||
CHEM101 | Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry | 6 | Autumn |
CHEM104 | Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter | 6 | Autumn |
Plus TWO of the following subjects in Autumn Session: | |||
BIOL104 | Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment | 6 | Autumn |
BIOL105 | Functional Biology of Animals and Plants | 6 | Autumn |
MEDI110 | Human Growth Nutrition and Exercise | 6 | Autumn |
PHYS141 | Fundamentals of Physics A | 6 | Autumn |
MATH141 | Foundations of Engineering Mathematics* | 6 | Autumn, Spring |
or | |||
MATH151 | General Mathematics 1A (if required)* | 6 | Autumn |
or | |||
MATH187 | Mathematics 1: Algebra and Differential Calculus* | 6 | Autumn |
* The Mathematics subject to study is dependent on the level of Mathematics already achieved by the student (HSC or equivalent). Students may complete only one of these MATH subjects. | |||
Spring | |||
BIOL103 | Molecules, Cells and Organisms | 6 | Spring |
MEDI112 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II | 6 | Spring |
STAT252 | Statistics For the Natural Sciences | 6 | Spring |
Please select ONE of the following subjects: | |||
CHEM102 | Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life | 6 | Spring |
CHEM105 | Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures | 6 | Spring |
Summer | |||
CHEM106 | Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter | 6 | Summer |
#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 192 credit points for this course. | |||
Year 2 | |||
BIOL213 | Principles of Biochemistry | 6 | Autumn |
CHEM211 | Inorganic Chemistry II | 6 | Autumn |
CHEM212 | Organic Chemistry II | 6 | Autumn |
MEDI211 | Control Mechanisms Physiology | 6 | Autumn |
BIOL214 | The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism | 6 | Spring |
BIOL215 | Introductory Genetics | 6 | Spring |
CHEM213 | Molecular Structure, Reactivity and Change | 6 | Spring |
CHEM214 | Analytical and Environmental Chemistry | 6 | Spring |
Year 3 | |||
Autumn | |||
CHEM350 | Principles of Pharmacology | 8 | Autumn |
CHEM364 | Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy | 8 | Autumn |
Plus ONE of the following two subjects in Autumn Session: | |||
BIOL320 | Molecular Cell Biology | 8 | Autumn |
BIOL303 | Biotechnology: Applied Cell and Molecular Biology | 8 | Autumn |
Spring | |||
CHEM320 | Bioinformatics: From Genome to Structure | 8 | Spring |
CHEM321 | Organic Synthesis and Reactivity | 8 | Spring |
CHEM330 | Medicinal Chemistry | 8 | Spring |
Year 4 | |||
CHEM440 | Selected Topics in Medicinal Chemistry | 16 | Annual, Spring/Autumn |
CHEM460 | Medicinal Chemistry Project | 32 | Annual, Spring/Autumn |
Progression Requirements
Satisfactory performance must be achieved (normally a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70% or greater in 300-level subjects) for entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) degree. Students with a WAM below 70% in 300-level subjects may only progress into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) with the approval of the Medicinal Chemistry Coordinator. Students who do not gain entry into the fourth year of the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) degree will normally be required to transfer into the Bachelor of Science (Medicinal Chemistry) degree.
Honours
The class of Honours awarded is based on performance in third and fourth year subjects, based on a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) formula in accordance with Method 3 as defined in the General Course Rules Section 8.
Credit Arrangements
Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.
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