Undergraduate Courses
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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:

Course Finder

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:

  1. Demonstrate extensive and coherent knowledge of the principles and concepts associated with chemistry.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Exercise critical analysis of observations and data from primary and secondary sources.
  5. Integrate and apply knowledge and skills associated with medicinal chemistry to plan and execute a substantial research project.
  6. 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

Last reviewed: 13 November, 2014