2018 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 Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) | 2018

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

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 and Credit Arrangements 

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to demonstrate:

CLO Description
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

To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours), a candidate must successfully complete at least 192 credit points, as set out below.

Please note:

  • 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 have a grade of Pass (not Pass Supplementary) or higher in 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.

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.

 

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
Autumn
MEDI100Human Structure and Function6Autumn
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104 and CHEM105.
CHEM101Chemistry IA: Introductory Physical and General Chemistry6Autumn
CHEM104Foundation Chemistry: Properties of Matter6Autumn
Plus, 12 credit points of subjects from the following list:
BIOL104Evolution, Biodiversity and Environment6Autumn
BIOL105Functional Biology of Animals and Plants6Autumn
MEDI110Human Growth Nutrition and Exercise6Autumn
PHYS141Fundamentals of Physics A6Autumn
MATH141Foundations of Engineering Mathematics6Autumn, Spring
or
MATH151General Mathematics 1A6Autumn
or
MATH187Mathematics 1: Algebra and Differential Calculus6Autumn
* 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
BIOL103Molecules, Cells and Organisms6Spring
MEDI112Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology II6Spring
STAT252Statistics For the Natural Sciences6Spring
Select ONE of the following two subjects:
CHEM102Chemistry 1B: Structure and Reactivity of Molecules for Life6Spring
CHEM105Foundation Chemistry: Reactions and Structures6Spring
Summer
CHEM106Foundation Chemistry: Properties and Reactivity of Matter6Summer 2018/2019
Note: Students completing CHEM104 and CHEM105 and wishing to enrol in 200 level CHEM subject may also be required to complete CHEM106. Please check with the Head of Students for confirmation.
Year 2
Autumn
BIOL213Principles of Biochemistry6Autumn
CHEM211Inorganic Chemistry II6Autumn
CHEM212Organic Chemistry II6Autumn
MEDI211Control Mechanisms Physiology6Autumn
Spring
BIOL214The Biochemistry of Energy and Metabolism6Spring
BIOL215Introductory Genetics6Spring
CHEM213Molecular Structure, Reactivity and Change6Spring
CHEM214Analytical and Environmental Chemistry6Spring
Year 3
Autumn
CHEM358Pharmacology6Autumn
CHEM374Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure Elucidation6Autumn
Plus, 12 credit points of subjects from the following list:
BIOL340Cell and Molecular Biology6Autumn
BIOL343Techniques in Biotechnology and Medical Research6Autumn
CHEM324Chemical Analysis and Inference6Autumn
Spring
CHEM325Bioinformatics:Genome, Genes and Biomolecules6Spring
CHEM360Organic Synthesis III6Spring
CHEM333Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry6Spring
Plus, ONE subject from the following list: 
BIOL341Immunity and Infection6Spring
CHEM370Modern Inorganic and Bio-inorganic Chemistry6Spring
Year 4
CHEM470Selected Topics in Medicinal Chemistry12 
CHEM480Medicinal Chemistry Project36 

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.

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

For further information please email: smah-students@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 18 October, 2018