Master of Science in Chemistry

Brief Description of the Major Field

The program will allow the student to acquire a strong and comprehensive background
in the traditional areas of chemistry at the masters level with specialization in a
particular branch of chemistry. It prepares the student for the practice of chemistry as a
pure science or as interfaced with the other disciplines
Prospective Students
Those who wish to teach chemistry courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels
and those who want to undertake and supervise research and development activities in
chemistry and related areas in the academe, research institutions and industry.
Opportunities
Graduates become eligible to handle key positions in government, academic and
private institutions. They can be employed as managers, supervisors, faculty members,
researchers and consultants
Specialization
Analytical Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry

Requirements and Mechanics to Graduate
The program requires 6 units of thesis, 1 unit of seminar in Chemistry and 24 units of
course work (12 units of core courses - one course each in the traditional areas of
chemistry namely analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and
physical chemistry; 3 units of courses in the student's area of specialization; 9 units of
cognate courses in agricultural chemistry, biochemistry, environmental studies, physics,
mathematics or computer science)
Core Courses

Course
Course Title Units Prerequisite/s
Semester

Number Offered

CHEM 205 Intermediate Physical Chemistry 3 CHEM 115 or COI 1

CHEM 220 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 CHEM 120 or COI 1

CHEM 230 Research Techniques in Chemistry 3 CHEM 112.1 or COI 1

CHEM 242 Organic Reaction Mechanism 3 CHEM 44 or COI 1



Specialized Courses
Course
Course Title Units Prerequisite/s
Semester
Number Offered
CHEM 211 Quantum Chemistry 3 CHEM 205 or COI 1
CHEM 214 Molecular Thermodynamics 3 CHEM 205 or COI 2
CHEM 215 Advanced Physical Chemistry 3 CHEM 111 or COI

CHEM 216 Chemical Kinetics 3 CHEM 205 or COI 2

CHEM 225 Organometallic Chemistry 3
CHEM 120 and
1 CHEM 140 or COI
CHEM 227 Bioinorganic Chemistry 3
CHEM 120 and
2 CHEM 160 or
CHEM 161 or COI

CHEM 231 Chromatography 3
CHEM 112 and
2 CHEM 137 or COI
CHEM 232 Spectrochemical Methods of Analysis 3
CHEM 112 and
2 CHEM 137 or COI
CHEM 233 Electroanalytical Chemistry 3
CHEM 112 and
1 CHEM 137 or COI
CHEM 244 Organic Synthesis 3 CHEM 242 or COI 2
CHEM 246 Heterocyclic Compounds 3 CHEM 44 or COI 1
CHEM 252 Chemistry of Natural Products 3 COI 2
CHEM 254 Physical Biochemistry 3
CHEM 160 (or 161)
1
CHEM 102 or
CHEM 112
CHEM 260 Intermediary Metabolism I 3 CHEM 160 or 1
CHEM 161 or COI
CHEM 261 Intermediary Metabolism II 3
CHEM 160 or
2 CHEM 161 or COI
CHEM 262 Lipid Chemistry 3
CHEM 160 or
1 CHEM 161
CHEM 263 Analytical Biochemistry 3
CHEM 32 and
1,2 CHEM 160.1 or COI
CHEM 265 Enzyme Chemistry 3
CHEM 111 and
2
CHEM 160 or
CHEM 161 or COI
CHEM 266 Chemistry of Nucleic Acids 3
CHEM 160 or
2 CHEM 161
CHEM 267 Advanced Biochemistry 3
CHEM 160 or
1,2 CHEM 161 or COI
CHEM 268 Carbohydrate Chemistry 3
CHEM 160 or 1
CHEM 161

CHEM 269 Protein Chemistry 3
CHEM 160 or 2
CHEM 161

CHEM 273 Chemical Toxicology 3
CHEM 160 or 1,2
CHEM 161 or COI

CHEM 275 Enzyme Technology 3
CHEM 178 and 1
CHEM 265 or COI

CHEM 290 Special Problems 1 to 3 COI 1,2
CHEM 291 Special Topics 1 to 3 COI 1,2
CHEM 299 Graduate Seminar 1

1,2,S
CHEM 300 Master's Thesis 6














Master of Science in Biochemistry
Brief Description of the Major Field
The program seeks to provide manpower for both biochemical research and instruction.
It is envisioned to provide a core of professionals that will provide leadership in
conducting independent research in various areas of biochemistry.
Prospective Students
Graduates of biology, food science, zoology, botany, biochemistry, chemistry,
agricultural chemistry, chemical engineering and closely related degrees. Those who
want to teach biochemistry courses in the undergraduate and graduate level (masteral)
and be involved in research activities in biochemistry and biotechnology.
Opportunities
Graduates of the program are qualified to teach undergraduate and graduate (masteral
level) biochemistry courses. They can also do research on biochemical problems in
agriculture and biotechnology. They can find employment in government research
institutions, industrial establishments and in colleges or universities that offer chemistry,
biochemistry and affiliate programs.
Requirements and Mechanics to Graduate
The program requires 9 units of biochemistry core courses (CHEM 260, CHEM 261 and
CHEM 263)
6 units of major courses (CHEM 162, 254, 262, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 273, 274, 275,
290, 291 or related courses CHEM 154, 227, 246, 252)
9 units of minor courses in any of the following minor fields: microbiology, botany,
genetics, food science, horticulture, animal science, agronomy, entomology, agricultural
chemistry, forestry, plant pathology, verinary medicine, chemistry, applied nutrition,
molecular biology, computational science and agricultural biotechnology.
1 unit of graduate seminar on biochemistry
and 6 units of thesis. (thesis problem should involve the application of biochemical
principles and techniques)
Core Courses

Course
Number Course Title Units Prerequisite/s
Sem.
Offered
CHEM 260 Intermediary Metabolism I 3
CHEM 160 or
CHEM 161 or COI 1
CHEM 261 Intermediary Metabolism II 3
CHEM 160 or
CHEM 161 or COI 2
CHEM 263 Analytical Biochemistry 3
CHEM 32 and
CHEM 160.1 or COI 1,2

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Brief Description of the Major Field
Molecular biology is fundamental to many disciplines and biotechnology and its
applications have become very important and useful in these disciplines. UPLBs
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBB) Program is an interdisciplinary program,
encompassing many disciplines and involves all colleges of UPLB. It has offered the MS
MBB degree since 1990 and the PhD degree since 2002. The MBB program addresses
the increasing need of industry, academe and government for high caliber graduates in
the field. These graduates, being well grounded in the theoretical and applied aspects of
MBB, can provide the leadership and manpower to plan, direct and implement research,
education as well as production and regulatory aspects of molecular biology and
biotechnology and their applications especially in food, agriculture, industry and
environment.
Prospective Students
The MS MBB program is open to students who are BS graduates of disciplines in the
physical and life sciences such as chemistry, biology, agriculture, and other related
degree programs. The PhD program is open to students who have MS degrees in MBB
or allied courses. In both cases there are foundation courses which need to be
completed to be admitted as regular students (for more information, please contact the
UPLB Graduate School or the MBB contact person).
Opportunities
Institutions involved in biologicals, pharmaceuticals, fermentation, food and feed
processing, diagnostics, plant and animal breeding and production, etc., are
increasingly requiring graduates of molecular biology and biotechnology with advanced
degrees to assume important and critical roles in teaching, research, production and
management. Regulatory and monitoring agencies in the different departments of the
national government such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade
and Industry, etc., are also in need of specialists in MBB. Students are also exposed to
bioentrepreneurship and may opt to be involved in entrepreneurial pursuits.

Areas of Specialization
Students major in the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of any of the traditional
fields of discipline. The students also take courses in their cognate disciplines. In the
past ten years, MBB students have conducted their theses in areas/disciplines such as
biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, plant breeding, plant biology, and plant pathology.
Requirements for Graduation
For the MS MBB program, 21 units of major courses (17 core and 4 other courses), 9
units of cognate and 6 units of thesis, for a total of 37 units, are required for
graduation.For the PhD MBB program, a total of 39 units are required: 18 units of major
courses (12 core and 6 other courses), 9 units of cognate, and 12 units of
dissertation. One and two units of seminar for the MS and PhD programs, respectively,
are also required.Other requirements of the UPLB Graduate School are also in effect.
These include for the MS: comprehensive examination and final defense of thesis; for
PhD, qualifying examination, comprehensive written and oral examination, and the final
dissertation defense.
Core Courses for the MS MBB Program
Course No.
Title
Units Prerequisite
Semeste
r offered
MBB 201/BIO 201 Advanced Molecular Biology 3 BIO 101 1,2
CHEM 261 Intermediary Metabolism II 3 CHEM 160 2
MBB 206 Research Techniques in Molecular Biology I 3 MBB 201/BIO201 1,2
MBB 211 Biocomputing in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology 2 COI 1
MBB 240 Industrial Biotechnology 3
MATH 26, CHEM
160, MCB1 1
MBB 292 Biotechnology and Society 3 Senior standing 2
MBB 299 Graduate Seminar (1) 1,2
Total 17

Other Major MBB Courses
Course No.
Title
Units Prerequisite
Semester
offered
MBB 224/SOIL 224 Biotechnology of Soil-Microbe-Plant Interactions 3
SOIL 120 or MCB
150 and BIO 101;
or COI 2
MBB 225/BOT 225 Biotechnology of Plant Secondary Metabolites 3
BOT 20 and
CHEM 160; or COI 2
MBB 229/VMCB 229
Biotechnology in Immunoprophylaxis and
Diagnostics 2
VMCB 221 or
VPAR 234 or COI 1
MBB 235/FPPS 235 Forest Products Biotechnology 3 FPPS 131 or COI 2
MBB251/PPTH 251 Molecular Plant-Pathogen Interactions 3
PPTH 101 and
BIO 101 2

MBB267/ ANSC 267 Animal Reproductive Biotechnology 3 ANSC 260 or COI 2
MBB 268/FBS 268 Molecular Phylogenetics 3
BIO 101 & any
basic course in
Systematics (BOT
140, ZOO 140 or
FBS 167) 2
MBB 273/ENTOM 273 Insect Molecular Biology 3
ENT 120 and BIO
101; or COI 2
Master of Science in Agricultural Chemistry
Brief Description of the Major Field
Designed to provide students chemistry concepts, theories and principles needed to
conduct research relevant to agro-industrial development.

Prospective Students
Those who wish to teach agricultural chemistry courses at the undergraduate and
graduate levels and those who want to undertake and supervise research and
development activities involving the application of chemistry in concerns related to
agriculture in the academe, industries and government agencies.

Opportunities
Graduates become eligible to handle key positions in government, academic and
private institutions. They can be employed as managers, supervisors, faculty members,
researchers and consultants.

Requirements and Mechanics to Graduate
The program requires 24 units of course work (9 units of core courses, 6 units of major
courses, 9 units of course work in the minor area), 1 unit of graduate seminar and 6
units of thesis.
Major courses can be any ACHM or CHEM courses.
Minor courses must be chosen from any field of specialization in agriculture or forestry.
Thesis problem must be an application of chemistry to the minor field.
Core Courses
9 units of core courses must be satisfied by selecting 3 out of the 5 courses listed below.
Course
Number Course Title Units Prerequisite/s
Semester
Offered
CHEM 205 Intermediate Physical Chemistry 3 CHEM 115 or COI
1
CHEM 220 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 3 CHEM 120 0r COI 1
CHEM 230 Research Techniques in Chemistry 3
CHEM 112.1
or COI 1
CHEM 242 Organic Reaction Mechanism 3 CHEM 44 or COI 1
CHEM 260 Intermediary Metabolism I 3
CHEM 160 or
CHEM 161 or COI 1