Program Overview

Medicinal Chemistry Degree

The Medicinal Chemistry degree program at the University of Waterloo focuses on preparing students for drug research-based positions in universities, pharmaceutical companies, and government research labs. This program provides a broad background in chemistry, enabling graduates to work in various fields, including quality control and the oil and gas industry.

Overview

The program combines the principles of chemistry and biology to design and develop pharmaceuticals. Students learn to understand how the shape and structure of molecules determine their ability to function as medicine. The curriculum includes 20+ immersive lab courses and a fourth-year independent research project, allowing students to explore a topic of personal interest.

Courses

First-Year Courses

In the first year, students take a mixture of Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Physics courses to provide a foundation for upper-year classes. The courses include:

• BIOL 130 – Introductory Cell Biology
• CHEM 121/121L – Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter/ Chemical Reaction Laboratory 1
• MATH 127 – Calculus 1 for the Sciences
• ENGL 193/COMMST 193 – Communication in the Sciences
• Plus one course from: PHYS 111/111L – Physics 1/Laboratory PHYS 121/121L – Mechanics/Laboratory

January to April

• CHEM 125/125L – Chemical Reactions, Equilibria and Kinetics/Laboratory
• CHEM 140 – Introduction to Scientific Calculations
• MATH 128 – Calculus 2 for the Sciences
• One elective
• Plus one course from: PHYS 122/122L – Waves, Electricity and Magnetism/Lab PHYS 112/112L – Physics 2/Lab

Sample Upper-Year Courses

• CHEM 333 – Metabolism 1
• CHEM 383 – Medicinal Chemistry
• CHEM 381 – Bioorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 382L – Advanced Organic Synthesis Lab
• CHEM 481 – Rational Design of Potential Drug Candidates

Skills Developed

The Medicinal Chemistry major provides students with various skills, including:

• Synthetic organic chemistry skills
• Ability to design and execute scientific experiments safely and accurately
• Analytical skills needed to identify organic compounds
• Ability to analyze scientific and technical data
• Problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management skills

Customize Your Degree

Students can add additional areas of expertise to their degree by including one of the minors available to all Waterloo students.

Faculty and Degree

• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Degree: Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry
• Available as a co-op program: Yes
• Available as a regular program: No
• Available as a minor: No

Co-op Program

The co-op program provides students with 20 months of valuable co-op work experience in pharmaceutical companies and hospitals. Sample co-op job titles include:

• Discovery analyst
• Research and development technician
• Pharmaceutical RD
• Undergraduate research assistant
• Quality control assistant analyst
• Science tutor
• Pharmacist assistant

Admission Requirements

• Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including English (ENG4U), Advanced Functions, Calculus and Vectors, and two of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics
• Admission averages: Low 80s

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Medicinal Chemistry program often pursue careers in pharmacology, drug discovery and design, organic chemistry, industrial research and development, and experimental research. Many graduates also pursue specialized master's and PhD degrees.

Recent Graduates

• Analytical Chemist – GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
• Applied Research Scientist – MDS Sciex
• Chemist – Allelix Biopharmaceuticals
• Inorganic Technician – Environmental Enforcement Services

Difference Between Medicinal Chemist and Pharmacist

Medicinal chemistry is about creating and studying new drug candidates, while a pharmacist prescribes drugs and ensures patient safety. If interested in becoming a pharmacist, students are recommended to pursue programs such as Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Honours Science before applying to the Pharmacy program.