Course Coordinator:Tianfang Wang (twang@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
Medicinal Organic Chemistry extends the concepts covered in CHM202 Organic Chemistry. The course includes biological stereochemistry, reactions of heteroaromatics, advanced analytical and spectroscopic techniques, pericyclic reactions, the retro-synthesis approach to target compounds and natural product chemistry for drug discovery. There will be special emphasis on examples relevant to the Graduate Medical Schools Admission Test. By the end of this course, you will have an advanced knowledge of organic reactions and designing of organic syntheses.
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Online learning materials | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Fortnightly 2 hour on-campus tutorial | 2hrs | Week 2 | 6 times |
| Laboratory 1 – Fortnightly 3 hour on-campus practical | 3hrs | Week 1 | 6 times |
300 Level (Graduate)
12 units
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Plan and conduct laboratory experiments | Empowered |
| 2 | Apply and explain mechanisms and reactions in Organic Chemistry | Knowledgeable |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
CHM202
Not applicable
Not applicable
You must have an introductory knowledge of Organic Chemistry
Not applicable
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
In week 4, your tutorial participation and progress with understanding the chemical concepts will be informally assessed, and the opportunity given for student feedback.
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Practical / Laboratory Skills | Individual | 30% | 3 x 500 - 800 words |
Refer to Format | To Supervisor |
| All | 2 | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 30% | 1 hour, 800 words |
Refer to Format | In Class |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours, 1000 words |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Laboratory reports and assignment | |||||||
| Goal: | Laboratory skills are an essential of organic chemistry. The laboratory classes develop practical skills in planning and conducting experiments safely. Report writing is extended. |
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| Product: | Practical / Laboratory Skills | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | Submit: 3 lab reports in weeks 5, 9 and 12. Standard Scientific Report Title, Abstract, Experimental Procedure, Discussion, References |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Mid trimester exam | |||||||
| Goal: | This exam will focus on theory and mechanism of organic reactions |
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| Product: | Examination - not Centrally Scheduled | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | Submit in week 6 in tutorial time. Individual written exam covering the first half of trimester's work. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Problem solving |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Final exam | |||||||
| Goal: | Demonstrate and apply knowledge of organic mechanisms and reactions |
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| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||
| Format: | Individual examination during central exam period |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Problem solving |
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A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Paula Yurkanis Bruice | 2025 | Organic Chemistry | 9th | n/a |
| Recommended | Graham L. Patrick | 2023 | An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry | 7th | n/a |
Safety glasses, laboratory coat and covered shoes must be brought to laboratory classes
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.
The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
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