B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design

The B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design 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 the identification of 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 developing 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.

 

Preparatory Subject Matter: 50-56 Units

  • Chemistry: 
    • CHE 2A-2B-2C or 4A-4B-4C
  • Mathematics: 
    • MAT 16A-16B-16C or 17A-17B-17C or 21A-21B-21C
  • Physics: 
    • PHY 7A-7B-7C or 9A-9B-9C
  • Biological Sciences: 
    • BIS 2A 
    • BIS 2B or 2C
  • Statistics: STA 13 or 13Y or 32 or 100

 

Depth Subject Matter: 47-61 Units

  • Inorganic Chemistry: 
    • CHE 124A
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry: 
    • CHE 130A, 130B, 135
  • Physical Chemistry: 
    • CHE 107A-107B or 110A-110B-110C
  • Organic Chemistry: 
    • CHE 118A-118B-118C or 128A-128B-128C & 129A-129B-129C
  • Choice of two from the following: 
    • BIS 102 or CHE 131 or CHE 150

At least FOUR additional courses (not used to satisfy the above requirements) from:

  • Animal Science: 
    • ANS 170
  • Biological Sciences: 
    • BIS 102, 103
  • Biotechnology: 
    • BIT 171
  • Chemistry: 
    • CHE 131, 150, 199 or 194H
  • Environmental Toxicology: 
    • ETX 103A
  • Microbiology: MIC 102
  • Molecular Biosciences: 
    • VMB 101V or VMB 101Y
  • Molecular & Cellular Biology: 
    • MCB 123, MCB 124, MCB 126
  • Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior: 
    • NPB 100, 101, 168
  • Plant Biology: 
    • PLB 126

 

Total Units for Major: 97-117 Units