Medicinal Chemistry, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Medicinal Chemistry program is designed for undergraduates who desire to understand how chemistry and biology can work together to improve health outcomes. Graduates of this program will be qualified to apply for admission to graduate programs in the sciences or colleges and schools in the medical field. Graduates who wish to enter the workforce rather than move on to a more advanced degree will be qualified to work as laboratory assistants and technicians or in other fields that require training in the chemical sciences.

This program provides a foundational background in chemistry, the biological sciences, physics and mathematics as well as a broad general education in the liberal arts and social sciences. Advanced courses in the degree include pharmaceutical chemistry, biochemistry, cheminformatics and programming, chemical analysis, drug design, synthetic chemistry and biotechnology. The combined curriculum culminates in individual research opportunities for students to develop their skills beyond their coursework experiences.

Student Learning Outcomes

While the general education courses establish a foundation for knowledge acquisition, the Undergraduate Program’s outcomes expand beyond content and focus on skills that are scaffolded throughout the undergraduate curriculum. Students in the Medicinal Chemistry program are expected to develop and demonstrate the following skills in accordance with the Undergraduate Program’s outcomes.

• Problem-Solving: Apply principles of foundational courses to solve problems using higher-level thinking.
• Laboratory Skills: Demonstrate the ability to perform foundational laboratory skills and techniques correctly.
• Scientific method: Apply the scientific process through hypothesis testing, experimental design, observation, explanation, and presentation of results.
• Knowledge of Chemistry: Demonstrate they have acquired fundamental knowledge in the chemical sciences across the areas of analytical, organic, biochemical, and physical chemistry. 
• Scientific literacy: Identify credible scientific literature.