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Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Chemistry is an area of chemistry focused on the development
of new drugs and the modification of currently used drugs to prevent,
cure, and relieve symptoms of disease. Modern medicine relies on a
multitude of drugs that block, counteract or lesson the debilitating
effects of disease-causing factors.
The education of pharmaceutical chemists can focus on three distinct,
but overlapping areas of chemistry: (1) medicinal chemistry,
where the emphasis is on the synthesis of new drugs and the modification
of old drugs, as well as the relationship between the structure of
the drug and its biological activity; (2) natural product chemistry,
where the emphasis is on the production of drugs through the identification
and modification of pharmacologically-active compounds found in nature;
and (3) analytical chemistry, where the emphasis is on being
able to determine the pharmacologically active component in a drug
delivery mode (e.g., a pill) and/or a biological sample (e.g., blood). Efforts
to understand the pharmacological properties of a biologically active
molecule such as caffeine (shown here), depend on our ability to detect
the substance.
The Pharmaceutical Chemistry program at USP focuses primarily on this
last area, i.e., the separation and identification of drugs and their
metabolic products. Students interested in the synthesis of new or
modified drugs will be better served by obtaining a BS degree in Chemistry.
Advanced graduate training at the MS and/or PhD level is typically
necessary to develop the synthetic skills needed to pursue a career
in Medicinal Chemistry.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry majors take courses within several departments
at the University, drawing most heavily on the expertise within the
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Required courses in the
curriculum of particular interest include "Introduction to Pharmaceutics",
which provides a broad overview of the manufacture of drugs, "Pharmaceutical
Analysis", which focuses on the analytical techniques utilized
most in the pharmaceutical industry, and "Structure-Activity
Relationships", which focuses on the relationship between the
structure of an organic molecule and its biological activity.
Few other universities, and none in the Philadelphia area, offer a
program in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Curriculum
Notes:
(1) A revised Pharmaceutical Chemistry curriculum (shown below) was recently
adopted for all students entering in Fall 2006. In the new curriculum,
the one-semester Introduction to Pharmaceutics course (PH 304) has been
replaced with the one-year Pharmaceutics / Biopharmaceutics I/II sequence,
including one semester of laboratory. Students that entered USP prior to
Fall 2006 may continue to follow the previous curriculum, but will need to
replace the Introduction to Pharmaceutics course with
Pharmaceutics/Biopharmaceutics I, since PH 304 is no longer offered.
(2) In general, students that enrolled in a previous academic year should always
consult with the Department Chair for the curriculum that applies.
(3) Courses listed below in "bold" are offered by DCB.
(4) Students should also keep in mind that nearly all science and math
courses are only offered in the Fall or Spring semester, not both. Courses
followed by an (*) either may not be offered every year, or are offered
based on student interest and instructor availability. Schedules should be
planned accordingly.
The total # of credits required for graduation in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry
curriculum is 130/131.
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First Year
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Principles
of Chemistry
Principles
of Chemistry Lab
Introductory Biology
Mathematical Analysis I/II
Physical Education
Orientation
for the Chemical Sciences
University Composition
Social Science Elective
Introduction to Literature
|
6 credits (Fall/Spring)
2 credits (Fall/Spring)
8 credits (Fall/Spring)
6 credits (Fall/Spring)
1 credit (Fall/Spring)
1 credit (Fall)
3 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Spring)
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| Total First Year
credits: |
33 |
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Second Year
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Principles
of Organic Chemistry
Principles
of Organic Chemistry Lab
Physics
Intellectual Heritage
Mathematical Analysis III
Basic
Inorganic Chemistry
Mathematical Analysis IV
or
Introduction to Biostatistics
|
6 credits (Fall/Spring)
2 credits (Fall/Spring)
8 credits (Fall/Spring)
6 credits (Fall/Spring)
4 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Spring)
4 credits (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
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| Total Second Year
credits: |
32/33
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Third Year
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Principles of Analytical
Chemistry
Analytical
Chemistry Lab
Physical
Chemistry I/II
Molecular
Structure in Biochemistry
Intermediary
Metabolic Biochemistry
Literature
of Chemistry
Discussions
in Chemistry
Instrumental
Analysis
World Culture
Public Speaking
Social Science Elective
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3 credits (Fall/Spring)
1 credits (Fall)
8 credits (Fall)
3 credit (Fall)
3 credit (Fall)
1 credits (Fall)
1 credits (Spring)
4 credit (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
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| Total Third Year
Credits: |
33 |
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Fourth Year
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Seminar
in Chemistry
Physical
Chemistry Lab I
Pharmaceutical Chemistry Program Elective
Pharmaceutics / Biopharmaceutics I/II
Pharmaceutics / Biopharmaceutics Lab
History / Literature Elective
Core Elective
Pharmaceutical
Analysis
Structure
Activity Relationships
Advanced Social Science Elective
Free Elective
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2 credits (Fall/Spring)
2 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Fall)
6 credits (Fall/Spring)
1 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Fall)
3 credits (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
3 credits (Spring)
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| Total Fourth Year
credits: |
32 |
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