Chemistry and Biochemistry
Graduate Co-ordinator: Stephen Cheng, PhD
Department Description
The Department offers programs leading to MSc and PhD degrees in the following areas: analytical/physical chemistry including nuclear magnetic resonance and chromatography-mass spectrometry, biophysics of biological interfaces, chemogenomics, enzymology/chemical biology, environmental chemistry, inorganic/organometallic chemistry, proteomics and bioinformatics, supramolecular organic photochemistry and photophysics, synthetic organic chemistry, and theoretical/computational chemistry.
Master of Science (MSc) in Biochemistry (thesis)
The Master's program consists of the following minimum credit-hour requirements listed below. In addition, it is mandatory for all students to:
- Attend all department seminars each semester they are on campus
- Present a department seminar and two progress reports on their research
- Complete and defend a research thesis
| BIOC 800 |
3 credit hours
|
| BIOC 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| BIOC 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| BIOC 901 |
21 credit hours
|
| Total |
30 credit hours
|
*Only one of these courses can be given by the student's supervisor. Courses outside of a student's discipline may be substituted with the permission of the Department Head.
Note: Students with less than our recommended undergraduate background for graduate study may be accepted as a qualifying MSc student, with additional supplementary undergraduate course(s) assigned to them.
Master of Science (MSc) in Chemistry (thesis)
The Master's program consists of the following minimum credit-hour requirements listed below. In addition, it is mandatory for all students to:- Attend all department seminars each semester they are on campus
- Present a department seminar and two progress reports on their research
- Complete and defend a research thesis
| CHEM 800 |
3 credit hours
|
| CHEM 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 8xx* | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 901 |
21 credit hours
|
| Total |
30 credit hours
|
*Only one of these courses can be given by the student's supervisor. Courses outside of a student's discipline may be substituted with the permission of the Department Head.
Note: Students with less than our recommended undergraduate background for graduate study may be accepted as a qualifying MSc student, with additional supplementary undergraduate course(s) assigned to them.
PhD Programs
The Doctorate program may be entered in one of three ways:
- Entrance after a completed MSc
- Entrance after a completed BSc
- Transfer from our MSc program (See FGSR Calendar/Program Changes and Program Transfers)
The Doctorate program consists of the following minimum credit-hour requirements listed below. In addition, it is mandatory for all students to:
- Attend all department seminars each semester they are on campus
- Present two department seminars and three progress reports on their research
- Complete and defend a research thesis
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry (after MSc)
| BIOC 800* | 3 or 0 credit hours |
| BIOC 801 |
3 credit hours
|
| BIOC 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| BIOC 8xx** |
3 credit hours |
| BIOC 901* | 48 or 51 credit hours |
| Total |
60 credit hours
|
*A student may be granted an exemption from CHEM 800 by the Department Head if the student can show that he/she has successfully completed an equivalent course. If granted the exemption, the student would be expected to complete an additional three credit hours of CHEM 901.
**Courses from outside of a student's discipline may be substituted with the permission of the Department Head.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry (after BSc)
| BIOC 800* |
3 or 0 credit hours
|
| BIOC 801 |
3 credit hours
|
| BIOC 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| BIOC 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| BIOC 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| BIOC 901* |
75 or 78 credit hours
|
| Total |
90 credit hours
|
*A student may be granted an exemption from CHEM 800 by the Department Head if the student can show that he/she has successfully completed an equivalent course. If granted the exemption, the student would be expected to complete an additional three credit hours of CHEM 901.
**Courses from outside of a student's discipline may be substituted with the permission of the Department Head.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry (after MSc)
| CHEM 800* | 3 or 0 credit hours |
| CHEM 801 |
3 credit hours
|
| CHEM 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 901* | 48 or 51 credit hours |
| Total |
60 credit hours
|
*A student may be granted an exemption from CHEM 800 by the Department Head if the student can show that he/she has successfully completed an equivalent course. If granted the exemption, the student would be expected to complete an additional three credit hours of CHEM 901.
**Courses from outside of a student's discipline may be substituted with the permission of the Department Head.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry (after BSc)
| CHEM 800* |
3 or 0 credit hours
|
| CHEM 801 |
3 credit hours
|
| CHEM 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 8xx** | 3 credit hours |
| CHEM 901* |
75 or 78 credit hours
|
| Total |
90 credit hours
|
*A student may be granted an exemption from CHEM 800 by the Department Head if the student can show that he/she has successfully completed an equivalent course. If granted the exemption, the student would be expected to complete an additional three credit hours of CHEM 901.
**Courses from outside of a student's discipline may be substituted with the permission of the Department Head.
Courses
BIOC 800 Comprehensive Review in Biochemistry (3)
Students read in-depth in a selected field of biochemistry to prepare a written review and a presentation of present knowledge and current research in the topic selected. A high standard of writing is required. An oral examination will be conducted by a committee of the department. The student must consult the BIOC 800 Coordinator regarding the selection of a topic and details of this course requirement.
BIOC 801 Research Proposal (3)
Students are required to submit a research proposal involving an original idea for a research project that has not yet been undertaken. The topic must be approved by the BIOC 801 Coordinator and be distinct from the student’s research problem. The student is required to defend the proposal before a committee of the department.
BIOL 901 Research (3-15)
Thesis research.
BIOC 821 (340) Physical Biochemistry (3)
This upper level course serves to introduce the student to physical biochemistry, the study of biological systems using physical techniques. We will investigate the principles that underscore each physical technique and the biological questions that each method can address. Emphasis will be placed on techniques that apply to protein systems.
BIOC 822 Biochemical Control Mechanisms (3)
Control mechanisms for the regulation of metabolic pathways and biosynthesis of macromolecular components in procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms, examined in terms of regulation of enzyme synthesis and activity as well as the regulation of RNA and DNA synthesis.
BIOC 827AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Biochemistry (3)
Advanced topics in biochemistry related to student and staff interest: nucleic acids, vitamins, co-enzymes, enzymes and biophysics. May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.
CHEM 800 Comprehensive Review in Chemistry (3)
Students read in-depth in a selected field of chemistry to prepare a written review and a presentation of present knowledge and current research in the topic selected. A high standard of writing is required. An oral examination will be conducted by a committee of the department. The student must consult the CHEM 800 Coordinator regarding the selection of a topic and details of this course requirement.
CHEM 801 Research Proposal (3)
Students are required to submit a research proposal involving an original idea for a research project that has not yet been undertaken. The topic must be approved by the CHEM 801 Coordinator and be distinct from the student’s research problem. The student is required to defend the proposal before a committee of the department.
CHEM 817AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Analytical Chemistry (3)
Topics in advanced analytical chemistry related to student and staff interests. This course may be repeated for credit if different topics are discussed on the second occasion.
Topics in advanced inorganic chemistry related to student and staff interest. May be repeated for credit if topic is different.
CHEM 840 Physical Organic Chemistry (3)
Reactivity and structure of organic molecules. Relation between mechanisms, stereochemistry, electronic structure and linear free energy.
CHEM 841 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3)
Advanced concepts in organic synthesis including discussions on modern strategies and synthetic methodologies.
CHEM 847AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Structural Organic Chemistry (3)
Advanced topics related to student and staff interest: May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.
CHEM 857AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Physical Chemistry (3)
Specialized topics related to student and staff interest, such as surface chemistry and polymer chemistry. May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.
CHEM 858 Topics in Spectroscopy (3)
Specialized topics in spectroscopy related to student and staff interest. Suggested topics may include: Raman, IR, UV, circular dichroism, fluorescence, high-resolution, time-resolved, or single-molecule spectroscopy.
CHEM 860 Advanced Quantum Chemistry (3)
Electronic structure of molecules, molecular orbital theory, semi-empirical methods, abinitio methods, molecular mechanisms, use of computer programs.
CHEM 867AA-ZZ Selected Topics in Theoretical Chemistry (3)
Specialized topics related to student and staff interest. May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.
CHEM 901 Research (3-15)
Thesis research.