Programs

Overview

The accelerated Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry program allows students to earn a master's degree in 5 years.

Program Highlights

• 5-year BS/MS program
• For incoming freshmen and transfer students
• Fall semester start
• Includes a year-long research project
• Full-semester industry internship

Program Details

The BS in Chemistry/MS in Medicinal Chemistry program is designed for students who are interested in a career in chemistry. It allows students to obtain a master's degree in five years instead of the customary six to seven years it takes to complete the two degrees separately.

Students complete course sequences in general, organic, bio, physical, and analytical chemistry, then concentrate on courses in pharmaceutical and advanced organic chemistry and specialized electives. They obtain experience in biotechnology techniques and learn the principles of drug design.

Students are accepted into the combined BS/MS program and automatically continue into the MS courses if they meet progression standards at the end of year three. Students who fail to meet these standards, or who choose to complete only the requirements for the BS degree, take a modified fourth year curriculum.

In order to prepare the program graduate to successfully compete for a position in industry or to pursue a PhD in chemistry, the program requires:

• A year-long research project
• A full semester industry internship

As with all MCPHS baccalaureate and first professional degree programs, a core curriculum emphasizes the basic sciences, oral and written communication skills, the liberal arts, and ethics. Students have the option of choosing a minor concentration. 

Curriculum

Year I-Fall

Year I-Spring

*May be taken either semester.

Year II-Fall

Year II-Spring

Year III-Fall

Year III-Spring

**This course is taken at Simmons College.

Year IV-Fall

Year IV-Spring* (BS degree)

* Students completing the BS degree alone take two advanced electives in the spring semester, but do not register for research or seminar credits. PSB 820 Advanced Medicinal Chemistry I (3sh), CHE 810 Heterocyclic Chemistry (2 sh), or PSB 851 Bio-Organic Chemistry (2sh) may be taken by BS students only with permission of instructor.

Total credits to complete BS degree requirements: 127 s.h.

Year IV-Spring* (MS degree)

*Students continuing with the MS curriculum register for research, seminar and one advanced elective. Recommended MS electives are: PSB 820 Advanced Medicinal Chemistry I (3sh) or PSB 851 Bio-Organic Chemistry (2sh).

Year IV-Summer

Year V-Fall

Year V-Spring

Total credits to complete BS/MS degree requirements: 150 s.h.

Electives

Facilities

The new undergraduate lab features a modular design comprised of four self-contained pods for 16 students each. While 64 students can work concurrently, the pod design allows for small group work where more than one class can be conducted, or groups can work on different experiments simultaneously. The design includes:

• Fully equipped pods
• A video projection system with a 42-inch LCD monitor in each pod
• A separate room for specialized instruments and continuous interaction among student groups, their pod instructors and a circulating professor

The lab has floor to ceiling picture windows looking out onto Longwood Avenue, providing passers-by with a glimpse into the world of science where MCPHS students prepare to meet the technology and health care challenges of the future.

Graduate chemistry laboratories provide separate facilities where advanced students conduct independent thesis and dissertation experiments and collaborate with faculty on new research and sponsored grants. 

Accreditation

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) is chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is authorized to grant undergraduate and graduate degrees in the health sciences and related fields.

MCPHS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

For Transfers

MCPHS welcomes students from other institutions. Any applicant to MCPHS who has completed at least one semester of college coursework (12 credits or more) is considered to be a transfer applicant. Students who have been out of high school for more than two years are strongly encouraged to take math and science courses at another accredited college or university and then to apply for transfer to MCPHS.

The transfer requirements may be different for different MCPHS programs. To find the requirements for transferring into this program, please click the link below.  

Transfer Requirements for Chemistry Pharmaceutical Chemistry (BS/MS)