Complementary Courses

3 credits Cell Biology/Function

- ANAT/BIOC 212: Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function

- BIOL 201: Cell Biology and Metabolism

*Details available in the U1 Courses tab

Please note, the following page reflects the requirements for the major program and some requirements may differ depending on factors such as CEGEP, or transfer credits. There are 27 credits total of complementary courses required for the major program. Please contact undergradstudies.pharmacology@mcgill.ca for more information.

3 credits Physical Chemistry

- CHEM 203: Survey of Physical Chemistry

- CHEM 204: Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1

*Details available in the U2 Courses tab

3 credits Statistics

- MATH 203: Principles of Statistics 1

- PSYC 204: Introduction to Psychological Statistics

- BIOL 373: Biometry

*Details available in the U2 Courses tab

9 credits 500-level PHAR

- PHAR 503. Drug Discovery and Development 1
-PHAR 505. Structural Pharmacology
-PHAR 562. Neuropharmacology
-PHAR 563. Endocrine Pharmacology
-PHAR 504. Drug Discovery and Development 2
-PHAR 508. Drug Discovery and Development 3
-PHAR 510. New Advances in Antimicrobial
PHAR 540. Advances in Industrial Biotechnology
PHAR 565. Epigenetic Drugs and Targets

*Details available in the U3 Courses tab

9 credits Upper-Level Science

-ANAT 321. Circuitry of the Human Brain.
-ANAT 322. Neuroendocrinology.
-ANAT 365. Cellular Trafficking.
-ANAT 381. Experimental Embryology.
-ANAT 458. Membranes and Cellular Signaling.
-BIOC 458. Membranes and Cellular Signaling.
-BIEN 510. Engineered Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications.
-BIOC 312. Biochemistry of Macromolecules.
-BIOC 450. Protein Structure and Function.
-BIOC 470. Lipids and Lipoproteins in Disease.
-BIOC 454. Nucleic Acids.
-BIOC 458. Membranes and Cellular Signaling.
-BIOL 300. Molecular Biology of the Gene.
-BIOL 303. Developmental Biology.
-BIOL 306. Neural Basis of Behaviour.
-BIOL 314. Molecular Biology of Cancer.
-BIOT 505. Selected Topics in Biotechnology.
-CHEM 302. Introductory Organic Chemistry 3.
-CHEM 334. Advanced Materials.
-CHEM 462. Green Chemistry.
-CHEM 502. Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry.
-CHEM 503. Drug Discovery.
-CHEM 522. Stereochemistry.
-CHEM 552. Physical Organic Chemistry.
-COMP 204. Computer Programming for Life Sciences.
-EXMD 401. Physiology and Biochemistry Endocrine Systems.

-EXMD 504. Biology of Cancer.
-EXMD 509. Gastrointestinal Physiology and Pathology.
-EXMD 511. Joint Venturing with Industry.
-HGEN 400. Genetics in Medicine.
-MIMM 387. The Business of Science.
-MIMM 414. Advanced Immunology.
-MIMM 466. Viral Pathogenesis.

-NEUR 310. Cellular Neurobiology.
-PARA 410. Environment and Infection.
-PATH 300. Human Disease.
-PHAR 503. Drug Discovery and Development 1.
-PHAR 504. Drug Discovery and Development 2.
-PHAR 505. Structural Pharmacology.
-PHAR 508. Drug Discovery and Development 3.
-PHAR 510. New Advances in Antimicrobial.
-PHAR 522D1. Fundamentals of Disease Therapy.
-PHAR 522D2. Fundamentals of Disease Therapy.
-PHAR 524. Clinical Mentorship.
-PHAR 540. Advances in Industrial Biotechnology .
-PHAR 562. Neuropharmacology.
-PHAR 563. Endocrine Pharmacology.
-PHAR 565. Epigenetic Drugs and Targets.
-PHAR 599D1. Pharmacology Research Project.
-PHAR 599D2. Pharmacology Research Project.
-PHGY 311. Channels, Synapses and Hormones.
-PHGY 312. Respiratory, Renal, and Cardiovascular Physiology.
-PHGY 313. Blood, Gastrointestinal, and Immune Systems Physiology.
-PHGY 314. Integrative Neuroscience.
-PHGY 425. Analyzing Physiological Systems.
-PHGY 520. Ion Channels.
-PHGY 524. Chronobiology.
-PPHS 501. Population Health and Epidemiology.
-PSYC 302. Pain.
-PSYC 305. Statistics for Experimental Design.
-PSYC 311. Human Cognition and the Brain.
-PSYC 318. Behavioural Neuroscience 2.
-PSYT 301. Issues in Drug Dependence.
-PSYT 455. Neurochemistry.
-PSYT 500. Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders.
-REDM 410. Writing Research Articles.

There are many classes to choose from for Upper-Level Sciences on the list below and therefore lots of flexibility to choose courses based on your personal or career interests and aspirations. Be sure to verify that you have the necessary pre-requisites and/or co-requisites for the classes you would like to take.

Complementary Course

Spotlights

ANAT 321

Pros:

Multiple choice exam questions
Exams focus on understanding rather than memorization
Easy to do well if you take the time to understand everything
Amazing prof (Dr. Ragsdale from PHGY 209)

Cons:

Additional assigned readings that will get tested on

Grading scheme:

Online quiz: 5%
Midterm: 35%
Final: 60%
NOTE: this is the scheme from Fall 2025

Course average: A-

ANAT 322

Pros:

Interesting content
Quizzes are representative of exam questions

Cons:

Content is very dense
Some profs do not explain the content very well

Grading scheme:

Quizzes: 10%
Midterm: 40%
Final: 50%
NOTE: this is the scheme from Winter 2026

Course average: B+

BIOL 306

Pros:

Quizzes and assignments are online and can be redone
Non-cumulative final
Focus on understanding rather than memorization

Cons:

Ecology content that may not overlap with pharmacology courses
Some professors have slides with only images

Grading scheme:

Exercises: 4%
Quizzes: 12%
Assignments: 20%
Midterm: 30%
Final: 34%
NOTE: this is the scheme from Fall 2025

Course average: A-

CHEM 302

Pros:

Much smaller than CHEM 212/222, more attention for each student
Professor and TAs are very helpful
Exam questions are very similar to ones covered in class

Cons:

Concepts may be hard to understand
Lots of reactions to memorize

Grading scheme:

Quizzes (3): 10%
Midterms (2): 50%
Final: 40%
NOTE: this is the scheme from Fall 2025

Course average: B

MIMM 387

Pros:

Easy to do well on assignments and presentation
Non-cumulative final
Lots of interesting guest lecturers
Multiple choice exams

Cons:

Large differences in question styles depending on the lecturer
Student presentations get tested on exams

Grading scheme:

Assignments: 5%
Presentation: 20%
Midterm: 35%
Final: 50%
NOTE: this is the scheme from Winter 2026

Course average: A-

**Note: all above statements are student feedback from polls and forms, none are official statements about the course from the university or PILS

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