B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design (formerly Pharmaceutical Chemistry)

Kaia Yellowhorse, a Native American student from Yreka in Northern California, works in a lab creating nanoparticles for her pharmaceutical chemistry major. She wants to be a professor and run her own lab one day. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)

The B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design (formerly Pharmaceutical Chemistry) is strongly focused on basic science while providing students with a deeper understanding of the experimental and computational processes, as well as the societal issues, surrounding the discovery, design, and development of modern pharmaceuticals. Key topics include identifying potential drug targets, the physical principles of drug action, drug synthesis and screening, computational drug design, drug delivery, and ethical considerations. With advances in modern chemistry and expanding knowledge of biological processes, the field offers exciting opportunities and presents new challenges for the development of innovative therapeutics.

Graduates of the program will be well-prepared to pursue advanced education in professional and/or graduate schools and to thrive in a range of scientific careers in academia, government, or industry. Career paths include pharmaceutical, medicinal, and biological sciences, as well as medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, and biotechnology. The demand for professionals in this field remains high and is expected to grow in the future.

The minimum number of units required for the Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design is 99 units.

Preparatory Subject Matter: 47-50 Units

General Chemistry (15 units): 

Choose a series:

  • CHE 2A-2B-2C
  • CHE 4A-4B-4C

Physics (12-15 units): 

Choose a series:

  • PHY 7A-7B-7C
  • PHY 9A-9B-9C

Calculus (12 units): 

Choose a series:

  • MAT 17A-17B-17C
  • MAT 19A-19B-19C
  • MAT 21A-21B-21C

Biological Science (4 units):

  • BIO 002; please read below for more information on the new biology requirement and enrollment process

Statistics (4 units):

Choose one:

  • STA 13 or STA 13Y
  • STA 32
  • STA 100

Depth Subject Matter: 52-61 Units

Inorganic Chemistry (3 units):

  • CHE 124A

Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design (9 units):

  • CHE 130A-130B-135

Physical Chemistry (6-12 units):

Choose a series:

  • CHE 107A-107B
  • CHE 110A-110B-110C

Organic Chemistry (12-15 units):

Choose a series:

  • CHE 118A-118B-118C
  • CHE 128A-128B-128C and CHE 129A-129B-129C

Upper Division Electives (Choose 2) (6 units):

Choose two:

  • BIS 102 or BIS 102V
  • CHE 131
  • CHE 150

Upper Division Electives (Choose 4) (12-18 units):

Choose four; not used to satisfy the above requirements:

  • ANS 170
  • BIS 102 or BIS 102V
  • BIS 103
  • BIT 171
  • CHE 131
  • CHE 150
  • CHE 199 or CHE 194HA
  • ETX 103A
  • MCB 123
  • MCB 124
  • MCB/PLB 126
  • MMG/MIC 102
  • NPB 100
  • NPB 101
  • NPB 168
  • VMB 101Y or VMB 101V

Total Units for the Major: 99-111

 

Notes on BIO 2 Coursework and Enrollment

Beginning in Fall 2026, the BIS 2ABC series will be discontinued and replaced by BIO 123.

In light of this change, the Chemistry Department will require Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design students to take BIO 2 (equivalent of BIS 2A). Students are not required to take BIO 2L alongside the lecture. If you wish to take BIO 2L, you will need to take BIO 1 and 1L beforehand.

If you have not taken BIO 1 (or BIS 2B), you will need to submit a prerequisite petition stating "My major only requires BIO 2" in order to register for the course.

However, if you have any interest in applying to a post-graduate or health program (i.e., Pharmacy School or Medical School) that requires a year of biology coursework, you will need to begin with BIO 1 and follow the listed prerequisites in order.

If you would like to discuss your coursework and enrollment in BIO 2, please schedule an Academic Advising Appointment with a Staff or Peer Advisor.

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