Course Description

Course Name

Chemistry for Medical Students

Session: VCPS3118

Hours & Credits

18 Host University Units

Prerequisites & Language Level

None

Taught In English

  • There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

Overview

This course is offered by the Department of Chemistry for first year medical students (pre-med international students will need approval on-site.) It does not qualify as a first year
course in the Faculty of Science. It is an introductory course in chemistry specifically designed to provide first-year medical students with knowledge of the fundamental aspects of chemical theory. At the same time the course is used as a diagnostic tool to explore students' scientific knowledge and the possible need
for intervention. The course comprises 60 formal contact hours during which selected topics in physical and organic chemistry that are relevant to biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, chemical pathology and medical microbiology are covered. Topics have been selected to equip students with the basic understanding of those key chemical principles they require for the medical programme.
The formal contact sessions are augmented by a practical course and weekly tutorial sessions that run in parallel with the lectures. Specific support activities are
provided to those students who show difficulty in understanding the scientific domain. During the practical course, students are required to demonstrate that they are able to use a variety of laboratory techniques with precision and accuracy. The practical course also seeks to expose students to the methods used in the
acquisition, recording and manipulation of scientific data and expects students to derive inferences from such data. At the start of the course, students are provided with details of the weekly timetable and scheduled learning activities.
DP requirements: To qualify to sit for the summative assessment (final examination) students have to meet the DP requirements, which entail attending and
completing practical sessions; attending tutorial sessions and writing weekly tutorial tests; completing worksheets; writing class tests and taking the practical
examination.
Absence on the ground of illness requires a medical certificate. Validity of absence on grounds of personal or other problems will be considered on an
individual basis. A student who misses a test for approved medical or compassionate reasons will be required to write a deferred test.

*Course content subject to change