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New Minor:
P00821
Catalog Description of Minor:
MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY MINOR: Health and Community Track ¿ 26 credits
Course Number Course Title Credit Hours Frequency
CH 104, 105, 106 Introductory Chemistry 12 annually
HE 325 Nutrition 4 annually
CH322 Medicinal Chemistry and Pharm 4 alternate years
CH345 Introduction to Toxicology 3 alternate years
CH347 Biochemistry of CAM** 3 alternate years
**Biochemistry of Complementary and Alternative Medicines
Justification for adding the minor
The purpose of developing a new minor program in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology: Health and Community Track is to diversify course offerings and provide access to specialized fields of study related to healthcare for WOU students. As a large percentage of our population is advancing in age, the growth of jobs centered around the healthcare industry is estimated to generate 3.2 million new jobs between 2008 and 2018, or 22% of all anticipated new jobs (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010). This is largely in response to the nations rising elderly population. Thus, WOU has an obligation to its students to provide educational tracks to ensure that WOU graduates will be competitive within this job market. It is evident that WOU is responding to this demand with the availability of our Pre-Nursing/Nursing program partnership with OHSU, the development of a Community Health Education Major, and our recent commitment to create a new Gerontology Program within the Psychology Division. With very little overhead (no new hires; no additional office or lab space required; and only an increase in 7 credit hours of new coursework) we can facilitate the development of this complementary program that will provide a healthcare-related minor option for other major programs on campus, including Gerontology, Nursing (if possible?), Community Health Education, Health Sciences, Exercise Science, and Psychology.
Polling data evaluating interest for the Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Minor Option (Health and Community Track), showed high interest among Health Science Majors (42%), Psychology Majors (23%), and Pre-nursing students (38%) for potential enrollment in the program in the fall of 2011. In addition, the newly proposed Gerontology Major within the Psychology Department would be expected to generate additional student interest in this minor option, pending its approval.
Overall, the new Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Emphasis Program is an economical way to increase diversity and course offerings at WOU. It targets education in one of the fastest growing economic sectors of our country (Health-Related Fields) and thus, will be attractive program to students. The installation of the program at WOU is mainly based on course infrastructure that is already in place at WOU and does not require hiring of additional faculty members, or use of additional office or lab space. The program only requires the addition of two emphasis courses (7 credits) which can be supported through funds generated by student enrollment in the program. This program will also help to offset faculty costs for several of the upper division chemistry courses currently offered by increasing student enrollment.
The program will utilize existing facilities available within the Natural Science Building to complete core and emphasis coursework. The new Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology Course will be offered during winter term, requiring the use of an additional classroom 2 days a week for 2 hour blocks. The new Biochemistry of Complementary and Alternative Medicines Course will be offered every other year during the spring term opposite of the Introduction to Toxicology Course that is currently offered. No new lab or office space will be required to facilitate this program.
Approval Queue
| Step |
Approver |
Decision |
Timestamp |
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1 - Department |
Arlene Courtney |
Approved | January 25 2011 |
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2 - Division |
Steve Taylor |
Approved | January 25 2011 |
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3 - Division Curriculum |
Laurie Burton |
Approved | January 31 2011 |
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4 - Library Dean |
Allen McKiel |
Approved | February 01 2011 |
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5 - Curriculum Committee |
Robert Monge |
Approved | February 15 2011 |
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6 - Faculty Senate |
Gavin Keulks |
Approved | March 08 2011 |
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7 - Dean |
Stephen Scheck |
Approved | March 15 2011 |
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8 - Provost |
Kent Neely |
Approved | March 16 2011 |
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9 - President |
Dianna Nickelson |
Approved | March 17 2011 |
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Attached Files:
| New_Minor_MedChem-Health and Community.doc |
|
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