This is a program of study designed for students interested in biologically related chemistry but who don’t want to major in biochemistry; it is for students interested in pharmaceutical development, or in the unique chemistry in Nature (bio-organic and/or bio-inorganic chemistry, enzyme mechanisms, biomimetics, bioanalytical chemistry or other aspects of biologically related chemistry). The program provides a solid grounding in Chemistry plus a specialized exploration of the chemistry of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant substances and processes. Thus, it provides a broader, more chemical focus than is available in other degree programs dealing with these subjects (Spec. Hon. BSc in Biochemistry, Hon. CHEM/BIOL Double Major degree, or Hon. CHEM Major/BIOL Minor degree).
For easy transferability between programs, the first two years of this degree stream are very similar to those of the Specialized Honours BSc in Biochemistry degree.
This program leads to a fully accredited Specialized Honours BSc degree in Chemistry suitable for pursuits at the graduate level [More on suitability for graduate studies] as well as for employment in the pharmaceutical industry, government or research & development laboratories in areas of Medicinal or Biological Chemistry.
The program leads to a Specialized Honours BSc degree in Chemistry. Specific mention of the Pharmaceutical & Biological Chemistry stream appears on the transcript.
Degree Requirements
- Required CHEM Courses: CHEM 1000 3.0, CHEM 1001 3.0, CHEM 2000 3.0 (See Note 1), CHEM 2011 3.0, CHEM 2020 3.0, CHEM 2021 3.0, CHEM 2030 3.0, CHEM 2080 4.0, CHEM 3000 3.0, CHEM 3001 3.0, CHEM 3011 3.0, CHEM 3020 3.0, CHEM 3030 3.0, CHEM 3050 3.0 (also available as BCHM/BIOL 3010 3.0), BCHM/BIOL/CHEM 3051 3.0, BCHM/BIOL/CHEM 3071 3.0 (or 3075 3.0), CHEM 3080 4.0, CHEM 4000 8.0 (or BCHEM 4000 8.0), BCHM/CHEM 4050 3.0 (also available as BIOL 4051 3.0)
- Other Upper-level CHEM Courses: either CHEM 3021 3.0 or BCHM/CHEM 4051 3.0 or CHEM 4052 3.0 or BCHM/BIOL 3110 3.0 or BCHM/BIOL 4151 3.0, and either BCHM/CHEM 4051 3.0 or 4052 3.0 (if not already taken to satisfy the previous requirement) or CHEM 4021 3.0 (which prerequires CHEM 3021 3.0) (see Note 2)
- Required Science Breadth Courses: BIOL 1000 3.0 and 1001 3.0, BCHM/BIOL 2020 3.0 (or CHEM 2050 4.0), BCHM/BIOL 2021 3.0, BIOL 2040 3.0 and 2070 3.0, LE/EECS 1020 3.0 or 1520 3.0 or 1530 3.0 or 1540 3.0; MATH 1013 3.0 and MATH 1014 3.0 (see Note 3); PHYS 1011 3.0 & 1012 3.0 or PHYS 1411 3.0 & 1412 3.0 or PHYS 1421 3.0 & 1422 3.0(see Note 4)
- Non-Science Breadth Courses: 12 credits in eligible non-science General Education courses in at least two subjects
- Additional electives in any subject and at any level to achieve at least 120 credits in total
- A cumulated grade point average of 5.50 over all courses
Notes:
- CHEM 2000 3.0 is a required course for students who entered the Faculty of Science as of Fall 2021 or later.
- Choices that satisfy these requirements are:
- CHEM 3021 3.0 and 4021 3.0 (suitable for those with a greater interest in Organic Synthesis related to Pharmaceutical Chemistry)
- CHEM 3021 3.0 and either 4051 3.0 or 4052 3.0 (suitable for those with an equal interest in Organic Synthesis related to Pharmaceutical Chemistry as in Biological Chemistry)
- BCHM/CHEM 4051 3.0 or 4052 3.0, and either BCHM/BIOL 3110 3.0 or BCHM/BIOL 4151 3.0 (suitable for those with a greater interest in the biological aspects of Biological Chemistry)
- Students transferring from another program with credit in other MATH courses may be wholly or partially exempted. For instance, transferring students with credit in MATH 1505 6.0, MATH 1506 3.0 and MATH 1507 3.0 may be exempted from MATH 1013 3.0 or from both MATH 1013 3.0 and MATH 1014 3.0, depending on the grade earned. Chemistry majors are not permitted to take MATH 1505 6.0, MATH 1506 3.0 and MATH 1507 3.0 and should in general not take MATH courses that are credit exclusions of MATH 1013 3.0 or MATH 1014 3.0 except by permission from the Undergraduate Program Director.
- PHYS 1010 6.0, PHYS 1410 6.0 AND PHYS 1420 6.0 are also suitable Science Breadth Courses