TRIMESTER I

GENERAL CHEMISTRY

PM12
A one-semester course in general chemistry for science related majors and pre-med students. The course will introduce basic concepts in physical and inorganic chemistry.

FOUNDATION BIOLOGY

PM11
Foundation Biology I can be taken in any order and are designed specifically for students in the pre-professional programs. These courses aim to explain the role of macromolecules in the organization of cells and the compartmentalization of metabolic reactions, and the role of the cell cycle with regards to inheritance.

INTEGRATED MATHEMATICS

PM33
This course serves as an introduction to the fundamental concepts of calculus and their applications. It covers limits, derivatives of algebraic and trigonometric functions, applications of the derivative, integration and application of the definite integral. The course consists of lectures and a recitation.

TRIMESTER II

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I

PM21
This course does focus on the relation between Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules, as ‘Essentials in Organic Chemistry’.

Structure is handled during the midterm. Students start to learn and recognize the most important functional groups and to draw (2D and 3D) structures of simple organic molecules and giving them systematic names. Next, they learn to understand and apply the principles of conformational analysis on 5- and 6-membered ring molecules, followed by a chapter on stereochemistry. The midterm ends applying these structural basics to mono-saccharides and steroids.

Reactivity is handled during the finals. In a chapter ‘Understanding Reactivity’ students learn why C-atoms become + or – charged, caused by electronegativity, p-bond extensions (delocalization) and oxidation/reduction.  The last chapter ‘Reaction Types’ shows a clear relation between the kind of functional groups and the expected reaction types. This allows to understand many organic and bio-chemical reaction mechanisms. The finals end by applying these Structure and Reactivity basics to glycolysis as example for understanding metabolism.

HUMAN BIOLOGY

PM22
This course is designed to help the student to develop an understanding of (1) the molecular mechanisms that biological organisms use to store and preserve genetic information, (2) the means by which they use that information to create functional biological structures, and (3) the techniques that are commonly used to manipulate and study these processes in the laboratory. A basic understanding of chemistry, biology, and biochemistry will be assumed. The goal of the accompanying laboratory sessions is to help the student to: (1) develop an understanding of the and study molecular biology in the laboratory, (2) develop an understanding of the technical limitations and potential errors that can be encountered in the laboratory, (3) develop an understanding of the scientific method and the source of the facts studied in lecture, and (4) develop the ability to interpret, organize, and present scientific information.

PHYSICS I

PM13
This course consists basically of linear kinematics, works power and energy, momentum and a brief introduction to heat, thermodynamics and sound. This course is designed for students to understand the basic principles of mechanics, heat and sound. General Physics I does not require the mastery of calculus.

TRIMESTER III

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II

PM31
In ‘Organic Chemistry 2’ the essentials of Structure and Reactivity are applied as ‘Organic Chemistry in Homeostasis’ as a direct background for medical oriented basic disciplines as Bio-chemistry, Physiology and Genetics.

During midterms the topics ‘pH of blood’, ‘amino-acids and proteins’, ’lipids and terpene metabolism’ are treated. During finals the topics are ‘poly-saccharides’ including ‘glycolysis’ and ‘Kreb’s cycle’, ‘nucleic acids’ and ‘enzymes and cofactors’ including ’enzyme-kinetics’.

ENGLISH

PM32
This course fosters the development of fluent, effective and confident writers, it expands the a student’s abilities and versatility in reading, language awareness, and composing for a range of purposes, audiences, and situations, including academic research writing. The course consists of lectures and a recitation.

PHYSICS II

PM23
This course is an introduction to basic principles of electricity, magnetism, electromagnetism, alternating current, electric fields, optics. This course does not require the mastery of calculus.