You are here: Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2005 > Academic Programs > Medicinal Chemistry

The bachelor of science degree program in medicinal chemistry provides (1) a basic chemical understanding of life processes and biological control; (2) a chemical basis for the rational design, synthesis, and mechanism of action of drugs, and selective metabolic inhibition; (3) the basic laboratory skills necessary for research in medicinal chemistry; (4) an appreciation of medicinal chemistry and the chemical aspects of pharmacology; and (5) a chemically oriented foundation for postbaccalaureate research and study in medicinal chemistry and professional studies in the health sciences.

Depending upon the choice of electives, this program can provide an optimum background for employment as a B.S.-level medicinal chemist in research institutes, industry, and government; for entrance to graduate school in this or related areas; and for entrance to medical school.

Students may be referred to Dr. James McIver, the director of undergraduate studies, for advisement regarding the prerequisite courses and any other aspect of the program and discipline. Students are advised to meet with him at least once every semester to discuss career goals and curriculum. Academic progress is evaluated at the end of each semester. Students should apply for admission to the department as early as possible in their academic career.

Prerequisite courses taken by students at other institutions are generally accepted as equivalent to University at Buffalo courses that have comparable titles (e.g., general chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus).

Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.

BIO 200 Evolutionary Biology
BIO 201 Cell Biology
CHE 101 General Chemistry or CHE 105 Chemistry: Principles and Applications
CHE 102 General Chemistry or CHE 106 Chemistry: Principles and Applications
CHE 201 Organic Chemistry or CHE 251 Contemporary Organic Chemistry
CHE 202 Organic Chemistry or CHE 252 Contemporary Organic Chemistry
CHE 301 Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory (recommended) or CHE 322 Inorganic Chemistry II or CHE 413-CHE 414 Instrumental Analysis
CHE 349 Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences or CHE 319 Physical Chemistry
CHE 412 Chemistry of Biological Systems or BCH 403 Principles of Biochemistry
CHE 455 Synthetic Organic Chemistry
MCH 401 Molecular Structure and Reaction Mechanisms in Medicinal Chemistry
MCH 403 Mechanisms of Drug Action
MCH 408 Undergraduate Research Participation in Medicinal Chemistry*
MTH 141 College Calculus I
MTH 142 College Calculus II
PHY 107 General Physics I
PHY 108 General Physics II
PHY 158 General Physics II Lab
15 credit hours of science electives (approximately 5 courses)

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for general education and remaining university requirements

FIRST YEAR
Fall— BIO 200; CHE 101 or CHE 105; MTH 141
Spring— BIO 201; CHE 102 or CHE 106; MTH 142

SECOND YEAR
Fall—CHE 201 or CHE 251; PHY 107
Spring—CHE 202 or CHE 252; PHY 108, PHY 158

THIRD YEAR
Fall—CHE 301; CHE 319 or CHE 349; one science elective
Spring— CHE 412, two science electives

FOURTH YEAR
Fall—CHE 301, MCH 401, one science elective
Spring—CHE 455, MCH 403, MCH 408*, one science elective (if necessary)

Students should take BCH 403 in the fall semester of the fourth year, if CHE 412 was not taken in the third year.

*4 credit hours of research is the required minimum for the medicinal chemistry B.S. degree. It is most advantageous for students to complete the research requirement in one semester; if additional research is completed, it will be counted towards the 15 credit hours required in science electives. A student may complete the research requirement in the spring semester of the junior year, or either semester of the senior year.

Students must see the graduate secretary ([716] 645-6800, ext. 2030) of the Department of Chemistry for admission to the program.

BIO 200 Evolutionary Biology
BIO 201 Cell Biology
CHE 101 General Chemistry or CHE 105 Chemistry: Principles and Applications
CHE 102 General Chemistry or CHE 106 Chemistry: Principles and Applications
CHE 201 Organic Chemistry or CHE 251 Contemporary Organic Chemistry
CHE 202 Organic Chemistry or CHE 252 Contemporary Organic Chemistry
CHE 301 Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory or CHE 322 Inorganic Chemistry II or CHE 413-CHE 414 Instrumental Analysis
CHE 349 Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences
CHE 350 Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences Laboratory
CHE 412 The Chemistry of Biological Systems or BCH 403 Principles of Biochemistry
CHE 455 Synthetic Organic Chemistry
CHE 502 Synthetic Organic Chemistry
MCH 408 Undergraduate Research Participation in Medicinal Chemistry*
MCH 501 Medicinal Chemistry
MCH 524 Mechanisms of Drug Action
MCH 615-MCH 616 Graduate Research
MCH 622 Seminar
MCH 700 Thesis Guidance
MTH 141 College Calculus I
MTH 142 College Calculus II
PHY 107 General Physics I
PHY 108 General Physics II
PHY 158 General Physics II Lab
10 credits of science electives

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements for general education and remaining university requirements

FIRST YEAR
Fall— BIO 200; CHE 101 or CHE 105; MTH 141
Spring— BIO 201; CHE 102 or CHE 106; MTH 142

SECOND YEAR
Fall—CHE 201 or CHE 251; PHY 107, one science elective
Spring—CHE 202 or CHE 252; PHY 108/PHY 158, two science electives

THIRD YEAR
Fall—CHE 301 or CHE 322 or CHE 413-CHE 414; CHE 349, CHE 350
Spring—CHE 412, MCH 408, one science elective

FOURTH YEAR
Fall— MCH 408, MCH 501, graduate science elective
Spring—CHE 455, CHE 502, MCH 524, graduate science electives

Students should take BCH 403 in the fall semester of the fourth year, if CHE 412 was not taken in the third year.

FIFTH YEAR
Fall—MCH 615, MCH 622, graduate science elective
Spring—MCH 616, MCH 700, graduate science elective

4 credit hours of research is the required minimum for the medicinal chemistry B.S. degree. It is most advantageous for students to complete the research requirement in one semester; however, if additional research is completed, it will be counted towards the 15 credit hours required in science electives. A student may complete the research requirement in the spring semester of the junior year, or either semester of the senior year.

Refer to the Graduate School’s policies and procedures manual for requirements for master’s degree candidates.

Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in CHE 201-CHE 202.

BCH 403 Principles of Biochemistry or CHE 412 Chemistry of Biological Systems
CHE 201-CHE 202 Organic Chemistry
CHE 301 Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory or CHE 322 Inorganic Chemistry II or CHE 413-CHE 414 Instrumental Analysis
MCH 311 The Chemistry of Drug Action
MCH 403 Mechanisms of Drug Action