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Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Location: Boston
Term: Fall, Spring

In this full-time, four-year program, you will gain a broad foundational knowledge of chemistry in topics such as organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and stereochemistry.

As a chemistry student, you will have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research opportunities on campus and in local laboratories, where you'll work alongside industry experts and develop a fuller understanding of the field. You will also gain experience in biotechnology techniques and learn the principles of drug design, as well as the mechanisms of drug actions. And as a senior, you will participate in a synthetic capstone experience as part of a pharmaceutical chemistry course.

You will graduate ready to successfully continue on to a career in the chemical, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology industries, or will be well-prepared to begin your postgraduate studies.

Freshman applicants can view their admission requirements on the Undergraduate Applicants page.  

Students with 12 or more college credits may transfer in to the first or second year of the program. Courses must have been completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade of C or better for transfer. Math and science courses taken more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of matriculation to MCPHS will not be accepted.

While there are no specific required courses for entry into the first year of our program, the admission committee will look for success in any math and science courses you have already taken. If you complete any of the courses listed below, you may receive transfer credit and your first year course load may be lighter. However, due to the block registration nature of MCPHS programs, entering the first year of the program with transfer credits will not change the total length of your program. Courses, other than elective courses, may not be moved forward in your schedule.

Required Courses For Entry to Year II:

Linked courses are available through the MCPHS School of Professional Studies. 

  • General Biology I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • General Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Calculus I & II (8 credits)
  • Expository Writing I & II (6 credits)
  • Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)

Required Courses For Entry to Year III:

  • Organic Chemistry I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Analytical Chemistry with lab (4 credits)
  • Physics I & II with lab (8 credits)
  • Statistics (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Basic Statistics, Biostatistics, Psychological Statistics, Economic Statistics)
  • Speech (3 credits)
  • American Culture, Identity, and Public Life (3 credits) (Acceptable substitutions include Introduction to Sociology or upper-level sociology course)

Additional Courses Accepted for Transfer Credit:

  • Humanities elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include Literature, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Ethics, Religious Studies, Select Fine Arts, Advanced Level Languages)
  • Social Science elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include History, Political Science/Government, Anthropology, Upper-level Sociology, American Studies, Women Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Economics)
  • Behavioral Sciences Elective (3 credits) (Acceptable courses include any upper-level psychology course)

Year I-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

BIO 150L

Biology I Laboratory

1

BIO 151

Biology I: Cell and Molecular Biology

3

CHE 131

Chemical Principles I (w/ Lab)

4

LIB 111

Expository Writing I

3

MAT 151

Calculus I

3

ITM 101

Introduction to the Major

1

TOTAL


15

Year I-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

BIO 152

Biology II: Biology of Organisms (w/ Lab)

4

CHE 132

Chemical Principles II (w/ Lab)

4

LIB 112

Expository Writing II

3

LIB 133*

American Culture, Identity and Public Life

3

MAT 152

Calculus II

3

TOTAL


17

*May be taken either semester.

Year II-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHE 231

Organic Chemistry I (w/ Lab)

4

LIB 120*

Introduction to Psychology

3

MAT 261

Statistics

3

PHY 270

Foundations of Physics I

3

PHY 272L

Foundations of Physics I Laboratory

1


Distribution Elective**

3

TOTAL


17

*May be taken either semester.

Year II-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHE 232

Organic Chemistry II

3

CHE 234L

Organic Chemistry II Laboratory

1

CHE 314

Analytical Chemistry (w/ Lab)

4

INF 210

Survey of Literature of Chemistry

1

LIB 252

Introduction to Speech

3

PHY 274

Foundations of Physics II (w/ Lab)

4

TOTAL


16

Year III-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHE 3XX

Instrumental Analysis (w/ Lab)

4

CHE 365

Thermodynamics and Kinetics (w/ Lab)

4

LIB 512

Healthcare Ethics

3

PSB 331

Biochemistry I

3


Distribution Elective**

3

TOTAL


17

Year III-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHE 340

Inorganic Chemistry (w/ Lab)

4

CHE 367

Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Structure (w/ Lab)

4

CHE 4XX

Stereochemistry

 3

PSB 332

Biochemistry II

3

CHE 333L

Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory

1

TOTAL


15

Year IV-Fall

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHE 4XX

Advanced Organic Chemistry

4

CHE 4XX

Spectroscopic Analysis (w/ Lab)

3

PSB 346

Physico-Chemical Properties of Drug Molecules

3


Distribution Elective**

3


Advanced Chemistry Elective***

3

TOTAL


16

Year IV-Spring

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHE 445L

Experimental Techniques in Chemistry

2

CHE 450

Pharmaceutical Chemistry I (w/ Lab)

4

CHE 4XX

Seminar

1


Advanced Chemistry Elective***

5-6

TOTAL


12-13

Total credits to complete Bachelor of Science degree requirements: 125 semester hours.

Advanced Chemistry Electives***

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

CHEM 347

Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (w/ lab) (Simmons)

4

CHE 435

Green Chemistry (w/ Lab)

3

CHE 437

Computational Methods in Chemistry

 3

CHE 470

Characterization of Solids

3

CHE 530

Undergraduate Research Project

2

PSB 802

Chemistry of Macromolecules

3

PSB 815

Drug Metabolism

3

PSB 820

Advanced Medicinal Chemistry I

3

PSB 822

Enzyme Kinetics

2

PSB 851

Bio-Organic Chemistry

2

Our students learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields and are committed to the success of each student. Discover our full list of Chemistry faculty. 

  • To provide an opportunity for students to earn a BS in Chemistry in 4 years or a BS in chemistry/MS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 5 years, with a strong knowledge base in the general principles of chemistry as well as concepts and applications in pharmaceutical chemistry.
  • To provide opportunities for the development and demonstration of communication, critical thinking, information literacy, and research design skills.
  • To provide curricular and experiential opportunities for students to explore the wide range of career options or graduate training options within and related to chemistry.
  • To provide individualized academic advising and career mentoring for all majors from the point of entry into the program through graduation.

The mission of the chemistry program is to provide a graduate with the intellectual, experimental, and interactive skills to participate effectively in the chemical sciences enterprise. The program grounds the student in the molecular perspective of chemistry and encourages students to extend their understanding through the basic precepts of the scientific method. It also fosters in the student the high-order professional skills of communication, teamwork, and desire to learn that are hallmarks of the successful, modern chemist.

Students accepted into the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program are eligible to earn a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in conjunction with their undergraduate degree through a five-year dual degree program. If accepted into the dual degree program, the MS coursework will begin in the fall of the student's fourth year.

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Curriculum

COURSE TITLE SEMESTER HOURS

Year G1–Fall (BS/MS)
CHE 731 Advanced Organic Chemistry  4
CHE 714 Spectroscopic Analysis (w/ Lab)  3
PSB 346  Physio-Chemical Properties of Drug Molecules  3
  Distribution Elective  3
  Advanced Chemistry Elective  3
Semester Total  16

Year G1–Spring (BS/MS)
CHE 445L Experimental Techniques in Chemistry  2
CHE 450 Pharmaceutical Chemistry I (w/ Lab)  4
CHE 710 Seminar  1
CHE 880 Research  
CHE 885 Literature Based Research  3
  Advanced Chemistry Elective  2-3
Semester Total  12-13

Year G1–Summer
CHE 880 Research  
CHE 885 Literature Based Research  3
Semester Total  3

Year G2–Fall
CHE 711 Seminar  1
CHE 751 Pharmaceutical Chemistry II (w/ Lab)  4
CHE 810 Heterocyclic Chemistry  2
CHE 880 Research  
CHE 885 Literature Based Research  3
Semester Total  10

Year G2–Spring*
CHE 825 Internship  9
Semester Total  9

Year G2–Summer
CHE 880 Research
CHE 885 Literature Based Research  3
Semester Total  3
*CHE 825 Internship could be taken in either of the three semesters: G1-Summer, G2-Spring, or G2-Summer. Research will be taken in the other two semesters.  

Elective Options
CHE 347 Advanced Topics in Biochemistry at Simmons (w/ Lab)  4
CHE 435 Green Chemistry (w/ Lab)  3
CHE 437 Computational Methods in Chemistry  3
CHE 470 Characterization of Solids  3
CHE 530 Undergraduate Research Project  2
PSB 802 Chemistry of Macromolecules  3
PSB 815 Drug Metabolism  3
PSB 820 Advanced Medicinal Chemistry I  3
PSB 822 Enzyme Kinetics  2
PSB 851 Bio-Organic Chemistry  2
 

Alumni Spotlight: Wenli Liang

Alumni Wenli Liang.

Now an associate scientist II at Biogen in Cambridge, MA, Liang reflects on her time at MCPHS, where she says she gained the skills and knowledge she would need to thrive in her future career.

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