Available courses

Computational Chemistry (Winter 2025)

The course focuses on learning the principles of computational chemistry and computer-based molecular design. Both molecular mechanical and quantum mechanical models are covered. Students will learn a variety of commonly used techniques, such as geometry optimization, location of transition states, conformational analysis, and the prediction of molecular and spectroscopic properties. Students will learn basics of implementing key algorithms, such as Newton-Raphson minimization, and normal mode analysis of vibrational motions.

Students also will become familiar with different software packages, including MOLDEN for general model building, Gaussian, Dalton and PSI4 for quantum chemical calculations, TINKER for general molecular mechanics calculations, and BOSS for liquid simulations.

Students who complete the course are expected to be able to ask questions that can be solved with modern computational approaches and choose right computational tools to assist in their current or future research.

Chemical Kinetics (Fall 2024)

This course aims to introduce the laws and theories governing rates of chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms. Empirical treatment of reaction rates, and quantitative analysis of kinetics data will be emphasized. We will cover several examples of gas-phase and solution-phase reactions, and outline principles of catalysis. We will look at the analysis of more complex mechanisms, such as the consecutive and reversible reactions. On the theoretical front, collision theory and transition state theory will be introduced.

Drug Design: 162A (Fall 2024)

This course aims to teach principles that govern the process of modern drug discovery and development. Students in the course follow a path similar to that taken by real-life drug developers by learning important elements of the drug design process in a logical order.

Drug Design 162B (Winter 2025)

Mission statement

To teach principles that govern the process of modern drug discovery and development. Students in the course follow a path similar to that taken by real-life drug developers by learning important elements of the drug design process in a logical order.

Organic Chemistry (Winter 2025)

The Course:

CHEM 109C is the last course of a three-course sequence (CHEM 109A-B-C).  The CHEM 109 sequence provides the students fundamentals of organic chemistry and is mainly intended for students in the field of chemistry and biology. 

The current course, CHEM W 109C, focuses on:

1)    Structure and reactions of organic compounds found commonly in living organisms: carbohydrates, amino acids, peptides, heterocyclic molecules, nucleotides, and coenzymes.  These topics make up the bulk of the course

2)     Principles of chemical and biochemical catalysis with focus on chemistry of coenzymes and enzymes.  Organic chemistry of biochemical processes in the living cell will be discussed.

Students who have successfully completed CHEM W 109C should be well prepared for subsequent college-level biochemistry courses.  Because of a strong overlap between CHEM W 109C material and the new MCAT 2015 requirements, students completing this course are also in a strong position to tackle the “Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems” section of the new MCAT.