Program Overview

Honours BSc Biopharmaceutical Science

The Honours BSc Biopharmaceutical Science program is an interdisciplinary course of study that combines basic sciences such as molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and organic chemistry with specialized courses in biopharmaceutical sciences. The goal of this program is to produce graduates who can work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment at the interfaces between biology, chemistry, and health-related sciences.

Program Overview

This program offers two options: genomics and medicinal chemistry. The genomics option focuses on molecular biology and the function of genes and proteins in the study of diseases. The medicinal chemistry option emphasizes organic and biological chemistry and their applications to the production of new and better pharmaceuticals.

Program Requirements

The program requires 120 units, including:

• 3 optional course units in English (ENG) at the 1000 or 2000 level
• Compulsory courses at the 1000 level:
  • BIO 1130: Introduction to Organismal Biology
  • BIO 1140: Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
  • CHM 1311: Principles of Chemistry
  • CHM 1321: Organic Chemistry I
  • MAT 1330: Calculus for the Life Sciences I
  • MAT 1332: Calculus for the Life Sciences II
  • PHY 1321: Principles of Physics I
• Compulsory courses at the 2000 level:
  • BCH 2333: Introduction to Biochemistry
  • BIO 2133: Genetics
  • BPS 2110: Introduction to Biopharmaceutical Science
  • CHM 2120: Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM 2123: Laboratory of Organic Chemistry II
  • CHM 2132: Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
  • MAT 2379: Introduction to Biostatistics
  • PHI 2396: Bioethics
• Compulsory courses at the 3000 level:
  • BCH 3120: General Intermediary Metabolism
  • BIO 3170: Molecular Biology
• Compulsory courses at the 4000 level:
  • BPS 4900: Seminar
  • PHA 4107: Introductory Pharmacology - Drugs and Living Systems
• Optional courses:
  • 3 course units from:
    • GEO 1111: Introduction to Earth Systems
    • PHY 1322: Principles of Physics II
  • 3 course units from:
    • BCH 3356: Molecular Biology Laboratory
    • BIO 3151: Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • 42 course units from the Medicinal Chemistry Option or the Genomics Option
• Elective courses:
  • 6 elective course units from the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Sciences, or the Telfer School of Management
  • 6 elective course units

Medicinal Chemistry Option

The Medicinal Chemistry Option requires:

• CHM 2311: Introduction to Structure and Bonding
• CHM 2354: Analytical Chemistry
• CHM 3120: Intermediate Organic Chemistry
• CHM 3122: Applications of Spectroscopy in Chemistry
• BPS 4125: Medicinal Chemistry
• One option from:
  • BPS 4006: Honours Project
  • BPS 4126: Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory
• 9 optional course units from the list of optional courses for the Medicinal Chemistry Option
• 3 optional course units at the 3000 or 4000 level offered by the Faculty of Science

Genomics Option

The Genomics Option requires:

• ITI 1120: Introduction to Computing I
• BIO 2135: Animal Form and Function
• BIO 3102: Molecular Evolution
• BIO 3119: Population Genetics
• BPS 3101: Genomics
• BPS 4101: Human Genome Structure and Function
• BPS 4104: Bioinformatics Laboratory
• One option from:
  • BPS 4006: Honours Project
  • BPS 4127: Advanced Techniques in Biosciences
• 9 optional course units from the list of optional courses for the Genomics Option
• 3 optional course units at the 3000 or 4000 level offered by the Faculty of Science

List of Optional Courses

Optional courses for the Medicinal Chemistry Option and the Genomics Option are listed below:

• Medicinal Chemistry Option:
  • BCH 3125: Protein Structure and Function
  • BIM 4316: Modern Bioanalytical Chemistry
  • BPS 3350: Transition Metal Chemistry
  • BPS 4103: Selected Topics in Biopharmaceutical Science
  • BPS 4111: Directed Studies in Biopharmaceutical Science
  • BPS 4121: Biosynthesis and Natural Product Derived Medicines
  • BPS 4126: Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory
  • BPS 4129: Advanced Chemical Biology
  • BPS 4131: Advanced Biopharmaceutical Science
  • CHM 3350: Transition Metal Chemistry
  • CHM 4120: Advanced Organic Chemistry
  • CHM 4139: Enzyme Chemistry and Biocatalysis
  • CHM 4155: Polymer and Applied Chemistry
  • CHM 4317: Organometallic Chemistry
  • CHM 4319: Bio-Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHM 4325: Advanced Organic Synthesis and Reaction Mechanisms
  • CHM 4328: Special Topics in Organic Chemistry
  • CHM 4354: Principles of Instrumental Analysis
• Genomics Option:
  • BCH 3125: Protein Structure and Function
  • BCH 3346: Biochemistry Laboratory II
  • BCH 4122: Structural Biology of Proteins
  • BCH 4125: Cellular Regulation and Control
  • BCH 4172: Topics in Biotechnology
  • BCH 4188: Synthetic Biology
  • BIM 4103: Selected Topics in Biomedical Science
  • BIM 4316: Modern Bioanalytical Chemistry
  • BIO 2137: Introduction to Plant Science
  • BIO 3124: General Microbiology
  • BIO 3126: General Microbiology Laboratory
  • BIO 3140: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
  • BIO 3147: Animal Developmental Biology
  • BIO 3152: Cell Biology Laboratory
  • BIO 3153: Cell Biology
  • BIO 3302: Animal Physiology II
  • BIO 3303: Animal Physiology I
  • BIO 4109: Advanced Topics in Animal Development
  • BIO 4115: Topics in Molecular Genetics
  • BIO 4127: Comparative Endocrinology
  • BIO 4144: Plant Molecular Biology
  • BIO 4145: Eukaryotic Microbiology
  • BPS 3102: Principles of Toxicology and Pharmacology
  • BPS 4102: Pharmaceuticals: Federal and International Regulations
  • BPS 4103: Selected Topics in Biopharmaceutical Science
  • BPS 4105: Human Toxicology and Environmental Health
  • BPS 4111: Directed Studies in Biopharmaceutical Science
  • BPS 4123: Phytomedicines and Natural Product Drugs
  • BPS 4129: Advanced Chemical Biology
  • BPS 4131: Advanced Biopharmaceutical Science
  • MIC 4100: Pathogens and the Environment
  • MIC 4124: Pathogenic Bacteriology
  • MIC 4125: Immunology
  • MIC 4126: Virology
  • PHS 3341: Physiology of Sensation, Regulation Mechanisms, Movement and Reproduction
  • PHS 3342: Physiological Regulation of Intake, Distribution, Protection and Elimination