Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) - 3999
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Science
Contact: www.chem.unsw.edu.au
Campus: Sydney
Career: Undergraduate
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 192
UAC Code: 429720
Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements
International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements
Award(s):
Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours)
Program Description
Important: prior to 2016 this program was known as 3992 Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry. Students must follow the Handbook of the year they commenced their program, so continuing students should refer to the relevant Handbook here.
The Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) is a professionally oriented, truly interdisciplinary program taught as a joint initiative between the Schools of Chemistry and Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences (Faculty of Science), and the Pharmacology section of the School of Medical Sciences (Faculty of Medicine).
Medicinal Chemistry is an exciting, rapidly-expanding area within the broad discipline of Chemistry that has seen enormous growth recently both within Australia and globally. It is, quite simply, the development of new pharmaceutical agents, from Concept to Clinic. Many different stages are involved; from the design and synthesis of novel drug candidates, to their biochemical effects, testing regimes and regulatory and ethical considerations. The Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) program had been designed to ensure that graduates will have a strong background in contemporary biology, biochemistry and pharmacology, based upon a solid foundation of essential chemistry.
Graduates from the Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) program will be equipped with a unique and wide harmony of skills, ranging from fundamental chemistry enabling the synthesis and analysis of drug candidates, through to relevant pharmacology and molecular biology skills. This combination will see graduates in high demand both locally and globally in pharmaceutical companies involved in modern drug design. In addition, the multidisciplinary nature of the program will mean that graduates will also be highly marketable within other science-based industries and related fields. The research focus in the Honours year, which provides projects that emphasise the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the area, will also enable students to progress seamlessly into a higher degree if they wish.
The Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) is a professionally oriented, truly interdisciplinary program taught as a joint initiative between the Schools of Chemistry and Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences (Faculty of Science), and the Pharmacology section of the School of Medical Sciences (Faculty of Medicine).
Medicinal Chemistry is an exciting, rapidly-expanding area within the broad discipline of Chemistry that has seen enormous growth recently both within Australia and globally. It is, quite simply, the development of new pharmaceutical agents, from Concept to Clinic. Many different stages are involved; from the design and synthesis of novel drug candidates, to their biochemical effects, testing regimes and regulatory and ethical considerations. The Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) program had been designed to ensure that graduates will have a strong background in contemporary biology, biochemistry and pharmacology, based upon a solid foundation of essential chemistry.
Graduates from the Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) program will be equipped with a unique and wide harmony of skills, ranging from fundamental chemistry enabling the synthesis and analysis of drug candidates, through to relevant pharmacology and molecular biology skills. This combination will see graduates in high demand both locally and globally in pharmaceutical companies involved in modern drug design. In addition, the multidisciplinary nature of the program will mean that graduates will also be highly marketable within other science-based industries and related fields. The research focus in the Honours year, which provides projects that emphasise the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the area, will also enable students to progress seamlessly into a higher degree if they wish.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
Graduates will obtain a broad education across a range of relevant scientific areas, as well as a strong grounding in advanced biological and chemical techniques. There will be particular emphasis on the medical sciences. The first year of the program will provide solid foundation knowledge in some fundamental areas of science, chemistry, mathematics, and biology- as well as specific graduate attributes courses. Year two and three will focus on chemistry, pharmacology, and biochemistry, with a number of recommended electives to broaden a student's knowledge in relevant fields (physiology, anatomy, genetics). The fourth (Honours) year provides a substantial research experience.
Specifically, at the conclusion of this program, students should be able to:
Specifically, at the conclusion of this program, students should be able to:
- identify a problem and construct and execute a research project in a way that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of both concepts and techniques in research and design;
- demonstrate a capacity for critical thinking, initiative and judgement in the development and realization of the research project
- demonstrate a coherent and advanced knowledge of the essential principles of the core discipline area or areas;
- Understand discipline-specific techniques and a capacity to apply the techniques to the solution of problems;
- demonstrate project management skills, including an ability to approach problem-solving independently and from different perspectives;
- demonstrate competence in information literacy;
- collect, review, analyse and adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts, with an overall aim of producing solutions to identified problems;
- demonstrate effective spoken and written communication skills to present a clear and coherent account of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences;
- Apply the discipline in a socially responsible and ethical manner;
- Understand the discipline in an international context
Program Structure
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Total of 192 UoC
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168 UoC
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108 UoC of core courses in Medicinal Chemistry (stages 1, 2 & 3)
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12 UoC of Medicinal Chemistry electives (from the List of Approved Electives defined below)
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48 UoC Honours year
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12 UoC
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Free Electives. These courses can be taken from any Faculty of the University
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12 UoC
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General Education courses. These courses cannot be 'Science' courses (as defined by prefixes in Table 1)
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Where a student studies the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) as part of a dual degree with another UNSW undergraduate degree program, they are required to complete a minimum of 168 units of credit comprised of the core Medicinal Chemistry courses, the elective Medicinal Chemistry courses, and Honours, ie. the blue coloured area in the table above. This 168 UoC is in addition to the requirements of the second degree program.
Stage 1
Semester 1
Stage 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
- BIOT1011 Introductory Biotechnology
- CHEM1061 Higher Chemistry Medicinal B
- MATH1041 Stats for Life & Soc Sciences
Plus 6 UOC electives (see the Note at the end of Stage 3)
Notes:
CHEM1011 (Chemistry A) and CHEM1021 (Chemistry B) could be taken instead of
CHEM1051 Higher Chemistry Medicinal A and CHEM1061 Higher Chemistry Medicinal B, with permission of the Program Authority.
Students intending to take 6 UoC of Level 1 Physics as an elective in Session 2 should substitute MATH1131 (Mathematics 1A) or MATH1141 (Higher Mathematics 1A) for MATH1031 (Mathematics for Life Sciences) in Session 1. The choice will depend on the level of Mathematics and performance in HSC or equivalent. Contact the Mathematics Office for further information.
Stage 2
Semester 1
Notes:
CHEM1011 (Chemistry A) and CHEM1021 (Chemistry B) could be taken instead of
CHEM1051 Higher Chemistry Medicinal A and CHEM1061 Higher Chemistry Medicinal B, with permission of the Program Authority.
Students intending to take 6 UoC of Level 1 Physics as an elective in Session 2 should substitute MATH1131 (Mathematics 1A) or MATH1141 (Higher Mathematics 1A) for MATH1031 (Mathematics for Life Sciences) in Session 1. The choice will depend on the level of Mathematics and performance in HSC or equivalent. Contact the Mathematics Office for further information.
Stage 2
Semester 1
- Plus 6 UOC electives (see the Note at the end of Stage 3)
Semester 2
- Plus 6 UOC electives (see the Note at the end of Stage 3)
Stage 3
Semester 1
Semester 1
- Plus 12 UOC electives (see the Note below)
Semester 2
- Plus 6 UOC electives (see the Note below)
Notes:
In stages 1, 2 and 3 there are 36 UoC elective courses (6 UoC in Stage 1, 12 UoC in Stage 2, and 18 UoC in Stage 3). Within this 36 UoC of electives, students must choose:
a) 12 UoC from the approved elective list, below;
b) 12 UoC as free electives (which may also be chosen from the elective list, but could also be chosen from elsewhere within the University)*; and
c) 12 UoC of General Education*
*Notes b) and c) do not apply when the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) is taken as part of a dual degree program.
Students must consider prerequisites for Stage 3 elective courses when choosing Stage 2 electives.
In stages 1, 2 and 3 there are 36 UoC elective courses (6 UoC in Stage 1, 12 UoC in Stage 2, and 18 UoC in Stage 3). Within this 36 UoC of electives, students must choose:
a) 12 UoC from the approved elective list, below;
b) 12 UoC as free electives (which may also be chosen from the elective list, but could also be chosen from elsewhere within the University)*; and
c) 12 UoC of General Education*
*Notes b) and c) do not apply when the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) is taken as part of a dual degree program.
Students must consider prerequisites for Stage 3 elective courses when choosing Stage 2 electives.
List of Approved Elective List (Stages 1-3)
- BABS3021 Microbial Genetics (6 UOC)
- BABS3041 Immunology 1 (6 UOC)
- BABS3071 Commercial Biotech (6 UOC)
- BABS3081 Bacteria and Disease (6 UOC)
- BABS3121 Molec Biol of Nucleic Acids (6 UOC)
- BABS3281 Molecular Frontiers (6 UOC)
- BINF2010 Introduction to Bioinformatics (6 UOC)
- BIOC3111 Molecular Biology of Proteins (6 UOC)
- BIOC3261 Human Biochemistry (6 UOC)
- BIOC3271 Molecular Cell Biology 2 (6 UOC)
- BIOS2021 Genetics (this course may be taken at Stage 1 or later. If taken in Stage 1, a credit or better must be achieved in BABS1201)
- CHEM2031 Inorganic Chem: The Elements (6 UOC)
- CHEM3031 Inorg Chem:Trans Metals & Comp (6 UOC)
- CHEM3101 Project Laboratory in Chem (6 UOC)
- CHEM3998 Special Project in Chemistry 2 (6 UOC)
- CHEM6701 Topics in Contemporary Chem A (6 UOC)
- CHEM6702 Topics in Contemporary Chem B (6 UOC)
- MICR2011 Microbiology 1 (6 UOC)
- PHAR3202 Neuropharmacology (6 UOC)
- PHAR3251 Clinical & Exp'l Pharmacology (6 UOC)
- PHSL2101 Physiology 1A (6 UOC)
- PHSL2201 Physiology 1B (6 UOC)
- PHYS1111 Fundamentals of Physics (6 UOC)
- PHYS1121 Physics 1A (6 UOC)
- PHYS1131 Higher Physics 1A (6 UOC)
Stage 4
Semester 1
Semester 1
- CHEM4501 Chemistry Project Proposal and Research Skills (6 UOC)
- CHEM4503 Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) coursework (6 UOC)
- CHEM4512 Chemistry Honours Project (12 UOC)
Semester 2
- CHEM4524 Chem Hons Project 24 UOC (24 UOC)
Single Degree Program Rules
1. Students in the single degree program must complete a minimum of 192 Units of Credit.
2. Students must follow the program of study as outlined in this Handbook, including 108 units of credit of core courses and at least 12 units of credit of courses from the approved electives list (see above).
3. Students must complete exactly 12 UoC of general education and these must be taken in the first three stages in a student's program.
Students must follow the UNSW rules for general education. Any course defined as a 'science' course in Table 1, cannot be taken as general education. Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) or nominee.
'Science' courses are courses offered by the following Schools. The course prefixes that are associated with each School are in bold below:
Table 1: Definition of 'Science' courses
2. Students must follow the program of study as outlined in this Handbook, including 108 units of credit of core courses and at least 12 units of credit of courses from the approved electives list (see above).
3. Students must complete exactly 12 UoC of general education and these must be taken in the first three stages in a student's program.
Students must follow the UNSW rules for general education. Any course defined as a 'science' course in Table 1, cannot be taken as general education. Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) or nominee.
'Science' courses are courses offered by the following Schools. The course prefixes that are associated with each School are in bold below:
Table 1: Definition of 'Science' courses
| Aviation | AVIA |
| Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences | BIOS, BEES, CLIM, GEOS, IEST, MSCI, ENVS |
| Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences | BABS, BIOC, BIOT, MICR |
| Chemistry | CHEM |
| Computer Science | COMP |
| Food Science | FOOD |
| Materials Science and Engineering | MATS |
| Mathematics and Statistics | MATH |
| Medical Sciences | ANAT, NEUR, PATH, PHAR, PHSL |
| Psychology | PSYC |
| Physics | PHYS |
| Optometry and Vision Science | OPTM, VISN |
| Science Faculty | SCIF, BSSM |
4. Students must complete 12 UoC of Free Electives (which may be chosen from the approved elective list, but could also be chosen from elsewhere within the University).
5. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. No student may commence Stage 4 until stages 1 to 3 have been completed successfully.
For information regarding the admission requirements and application process for honours, please see the information below under 'Honours'.
6. Students must complete a maximum of 60 units of credit of level I courses, excluding any GEN*#### course or other mainstream level I course taken to fulfil the 12 UoC general education requirement.
7. No student may commence level II courses until 30 units of credit of level I courses have been successfully completed. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Program Authority.
8. Students may commence level III courses upon successful completion of 72 units of credit. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Program Authority.
9. Progression to Stages 3 & 4 is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to maintain a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% for progression to Stage 3, and to Stage 4.
Students who do not meet the requirement to enter Stage 4 will be transferred to program 3970 (Bachelor of Science) and will, on successful completion of the first three stages of program 3992, graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Science (program 3970). Students who transfer to program 3970 before successfully completing all requirements of stage 1 to 3 of program 3992 will be required to complete an approved major in 3970 as specified in the Handbook.
5. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. No student may commence Stage 4 until stages 1 to 3 have been completed successfully.
For information regarding the admission requirements and application process for honours, please see the information below under 'Honours'.
6. Students must complete a maximum of 60 units of credit of level I courses, excluding any GEN*#### course or other mainstream level I course taken to fulfil the 12 UoC general education requirement.
7. No student may commence level II courses until 30 units of credit of level I courses have been successfully completed. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Program Authority.
8. Students may commence level III courses upon successful completion of 72 units of credit. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Program Authority.
9. Progression to Stages 3 & 4 is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to maintain a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% for progression to Stage 3, and to Stage 4.
Students who do not meet the requirement to enter Stage 4 will be transferred to program 3970 (Bachelor of Science) and will, on successful completion of the first three stages of program 3992, graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Science (program 3970). Students who transfer to program 3970 before successfully completing all requirements of stage 1 to 3 of program 3992 will be required to complete an approved major in 3970 as specified in the Handbook.
Dual Degree Program Rules
Where a student undertakes a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) program as part of a dual degree with another undergraduate program at UNSW, the program rules for the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) are as follows (for further information regarding each rule, please refer to the relevant rule for the single degree program as listed above):
1. Students must complete a minimum of 168 Units of Credit.
2. Students must follow the program of study as outlined in this Handbook, including 108 units of credit of core courses and at least 12 units of credit of courses from the approved electives list (see above).
3. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. No student may commence Stage 4 until stages 1 to 3 have been completed successfully.
For information regarding the admission requirements and application process for honours, please see the information below under 'Honours'.
4. No student may commence level II courses until 30 units of credit of level I courses have been successfully completed. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Program Authority.
5. Students may commence level III courses upon successful completion of 72 units of credit.
6. Progression to Stages 3 & 4 is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to maintain a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% for progression to Stage 3,
and Stage 4.
Students who do not meet the requirement to enter Stage 4 will be transferred to program 3970 (Bachelor of Science) and will, on successful completion of the first three stages of program 3999, graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Science (program 3970). Students who transfer to program 3970 before successfully completing all requirements of program 3999 will be required to complete a major in 3970 as specified in the Handbook.
1. Students must complete a minimum of 168 Units of Credit.
2. Students must follow the program of study as outlined in this Handbook, including 108 units of credit of core courses and at least 12 units of credit of courses from the approved electives list (see above).
3. An Honours Year of 48 units of credit must be completed. No student may commence Stage 4 until stages 1 to 3 have been completed successfully.
For information regarding the admission requirements and application process for honours, please see the information below under 'Honours'.
4. No student may commence level II courses until 30 units of credit of level I courses have been successfully completed. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Program Authority.
5. Students may commence level III courses upon successful completion of 72 units of credit.
6. Progression to Stages 3 & 4 is subject to academic performance. Students will be required to maintain a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65% for progression to Stage 3,
and Stage 4.
Students who do not meet the requirement to enter Stage 4 will be transferred to program 3970 (Bachelor of Science) and will, on successful completion of the first three stages of program 3999, graduate with the degree of Bachelor of Science (program 3970). Students who transfer to program 3970 before successfully completing all requirements of program 3999 will be required to complete a major in 3970 as specified in the Handbook.
Honours
Students must complete a 48 UOC Honours sequence at Stage 4. Progression to stage 4 is subject to academic performance, and requires completion of a total of 144UOC and all the requirements of the first three years of the program, including level I, core and elective courses, and General Education requirements. Students are expected to have attained an overall WAM of 65 or higher to be eligible to continue to Honours. Students who are ineligible to progress to Honours, will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Science program (3970) and graduate with the Bachelor of Science award at pass level.
Fourth year Honours in this program is comprised of a 36 UOC major independent research project, 6 UOC of coursework on contemporary chemistry and pharmacology and 6 UOC of coursework on relevant professional and ethical topics. Honours Grades are awarded as follows:-
Fourth year Honours in this program is comprised of a 36 UOC major independent research project, 6 UOC of coursework on contemporary chemistry and pharmacology and 6 UOC of coursework on relevant professional and ethical topics. Honours Grades are awarded as follows:-
- Honours Class 1: mark or weighted average of 85 or greater;
- Honours Class 2 Division 1: mark or weighted average from 75 to 84;
- Honours Class 2 Division 2: mark or weighted average from 65 to 74;
- Honours Class 3: mark or weighted average below 65;
A student's Honours Grading is calculated only on their performance in the final year of the program. The final honours grading is calculated as follows:-
- CHEM4503 Medicinal Chemistry (Honours) coursework - 12.5%;
- CHEM4501 Chemistry Project Proposal and Research Skills - 12.5%;
- Research Project - 75%
The research project is assessed by a thesis (60%), oral examination (25%), and final seminar (15%).
In addition to these items, students are required to attend all School research seminars, however there is no formal assessment associated with this.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) program who wish to take out the Bachelor of Science award at pass level without proceeding to Honours, are required to transfer to the 3970 Bachelor of Science. Applications to transfer should be lodged with the Science Student Centre no later than the census date for the semester in which the student expects to satisfy requirements. Students applying after that date may not be able to graduate in the next round of ceremonies.
In addition to these items, students are required to attend all School research seminars, however there is no formal assessment associated with this.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry(Honours) program who wish to take out the Bachelor of Science award at pass level without proceeding to Honours, are required to transfer to the 3970 Bachelor of Science. Applications to transfer should be lodged with the Science Student Centre no later than the census date for the semester in which the student expects to satisfy requirements. Students applying after that date may not be able to graduate in the next round of ceremonies.
Academic Rules
See the Single Degree and Dual Degree Program Rules above.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Faculty of Science Rules
The Faculty of Science has some rules that relate to all students enrolled in programs offered by the Faculty in relation to recognition for prior learning, general education, course exclusions, study load, and cross-institutional study. All students should read the information contained on the Faculty General Rules and Requirements page in this Handbook.