Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Concentration

Provides preparation for professional work in chemistry or forensic science; graduate work in chemistry, environmental or forensic science; or pre-professional training in the health sciences or secondary education. Coupling the program with an appropriate minor prepares students to enter related fields such as biochemistry, oceanography, pharmacy, toxicology and the atmospheric sciences. Through the study of general, organic, analytical and physical chemistry, students gain an understanding of the world around them.

credits required for major

credits required for minor

Program Details

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of major concepts, theoretical principles and experimental findings in chemistry.
  2. Employ critical thinking and quantitative analytical skills to solve problems and evaluate scientific data.
  3. Use and application of laboratory methods and scientific instrumentation to investigate a scientific hypothesis, conduct experiments, analyze data and interpret results.
  4. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills including the ability to transmit complex scientific or technical information in a clear and concise manner.
  5. Gather, comprehend, apply and communicate credible information on scientific and technical topics and recognize the proper use of scientific data, principles and theories to assess the quality of stated conclusions.
  6. Demonstrate ethical awareness and conduct with regards to: (1) honesty in data reporting; (2) the safety of practitioners, test subjects and the local community/environment; and (3) their social responsibility to recognize the impact that our actions have on the natural and human world.

Courses

  • CH 221 General Chemistry Credits: 5
  • CH 222 General Chemistry Credits: 5
  • CH 223 General Chemistry Credits: 5
  • CH 311 Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 312 Analytical Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 334 Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 335 Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 336 Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 350 Chemical Literature Credits: 1
  • CH 365 Materials Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 407 Seminar Credits: 1
  • CH 440 Physical Chemistry I Credits: 4
  • CH 450 Biochemistry I Credits: 4
  • CH 461 Experimental Chemistry Credits: 3
  • MTH 251 Calculus I Credits: 4
  • MTH 252 Calculus II Credits: 4

Concentration Courses

[courses]

Courses

  • CH 247 Foundations of Integrative Medicine Credits: 4
  • CH 322 Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Credits: 4
  • CH 334 Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 335 Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 336 Organic Chemistry Credits: 4
  • CH 345 Introduction to Toxicology Credits: 3
  • CH 450 Biochemistry I Credits: 4

MAX DECKER

Research Assistant, Chemistry

PATRICIA FLATT

Department Head of Chemistry/Professor, Chemistry
flattp@wou.edu

FEIER HOU

Associate Professor, Chemistry
houf@wou.edu

KEITH SCHWARTZ

Assistant Professor, Chemistry
schwartzk@wou.edu

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Where This Degree Can Take You

A degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology teaches you how drugs work in the body and how to design new medicines. You’ll learn to study the effects of different compounds, understand how they interact with cells, and figure out how to make them more effective. This degree helps you develop skills in research, lab work, and problem-solving as you experiment with creating new treatments. It’s about using chemistry and biology together to improve health and treat diseases.

Potential Careers

  • Pharmaceutical Scientist
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Medicinal Chemist
  • Pharmacologist
  • Toxicologist
  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Quality Control Analyst
  • Biochemist
  • Pharmacy Researcher
  • Clinical Pharmacist

Potential Employers

  • Abbott Laboratories
  • Vetsource
  • Biotronik
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • Genentech
  • Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

Consider This Degree If You…

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Have a Research-Oriented Mindset

The ability to conduct and analyze research is necessary for staying current with new discoveries and technologies in drug development.

Value Collaboration Skills

Working with biologists, clinicians, and regulatory teams is common in this field, making collaboration crucial for the success of new drug developments.

Enjoy Problem Solving

The ability to troubleshoot issues that arise during drug development and research is crucial. Whether optimizing a chemical synthesis or addressing unexpected side effects in a new drug, finding innovative solutions is key to overcoming challenges in this field.

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