Medicinal Chemistry

Medicinal Chemistry is a multifaceted discipline that encompasses synthetic organic chemistry, natural products chemistry, enzymology, chemical biology, structural biology and computational methods, all of which are aimed at the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents. Medicinal chemistry is by nature an interdisciplinary science, and practitioners have a strong background in organic chemistry, coupled with a broad understanding of biological concepts related to cellular drug targets. Scientists in the field are well positioned to work as part of an interdisciplinary team that uses chemical structural principles to design effective drugs and diagnostic agents.

Graduate coursework within the department includes broad exposure to various areas within the pharmaceutical sciences (core curriculum) as well as also intensive specialization within the area of students' research interests. Thus, graduates from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences are well-rounded in all facets of the discipline and capable specialists in the area of their research. The Pharmaceutical Sciences Ph.D. does not require a minor for graduation.

For specifics on registration, academic progress requirements, seminar attendance and presentations, and degree requirements, click the button below to view or download the Wayne State University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Policies and Procedures manual. 

Policies and Procedures

Relevant courses offered by other departments 

  • BMB 7010 General Biochemistry Lecture
  • BIO 6160 Molecular and Cellular Biophysics
  • CHM 6440 Computational Chemistry
  • CHM 7200 Organic Structures and Mechanisms
  • CHM 7220 Organic Reactions and Synthesis
  • CHM 7240 Organic Spectroscopy
  • CHM 7410 Statistical Thermodynamics
  • CHM 7430 Chemical Kinetics
  • CHM 7620 Metabolism: Pathways & Regulations
  • CHM 7640 Molecular Biology
  • CHM 7660 Biomolecular Interactions
  • PPR 7670 Clinical Pharmacokinetics
  • PSL 7010 Graduate Physiology I
  • PSL 7011 Graduate Physiology II
  • PSL 7600 Advanced Cardiovascular Physiology
  • PSL 7660 Neurophysiology
  • PSY 5050 Physiological Psychology
  • PSY 7090 Theories of Learning
  • PSY 7120 Biological Basis of Behavior
  • PSY 8080 Memory & Brain
  • CHE5350 Polymer Science
  • CHE7350 Polymer Solutions
  • CHE7370 Biomaterial Interfaces
  • BME 5310 Engineering Principles of Drug Delivery
  • BME 5320 Colloids and Interfaces: Fundamentals and Biomedical Applications
  • IBS7010 Biomedical Molecular Biology
  • IBS7020 Biomedical Cell Biology
  • PHC7210 Fundamentals of Cancer Biology
  • PHC7220 Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer Development
  • RAD7000 Imaging Physics I
  • BIO5640 Cancer Biology
  • BIO6000 Molecular Cell Biology
  • PSL7215 Nanobioscience
  • MBG7010 Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • BMS 6100 Business of Biotechnology