Facultad de Ciencias

Master's Degree in Organic Chemistry

Welcome to the web page of the Interuniversity Master in organic Chemistry, a Degree taught jointly by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universidad de Barcelona, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela.

It is an official Postgraduate Degree taken over two years (120 ECTS), which combines the teaching and research experience of four of the most prestigious departments of our country in this field, and the experience of research institutions and leading companies in their respective areas.
The substantial development achieved in Organic Chemistry in recent decades and its central position in relation to interdisciplinary areas of maximum importance at the present time (Biological Chemistry, synthesis, nanotechnology, new materials, catalysis, etc…), makes it one of the most active disciplines within the current scientific panorama. Its capacity to provide solutions in the development of consumer goods (medicines, plastics, textiles, food, etc…), in the diagnosis and treatment of environmental problems, or in the interpretation of biological processes, mean that Organic Chemistry has a training profile which is in high demand in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries.

Objectives

The man objective of the Master in Organic Chemistry is to provide advanced training in the most relevant chemical-organic themes at the present time, which can be useful for those interested in the research field and those who wish to work in the numerous industries related to Organic Chemistry. With these objectives in mind, the Master has three routes:

• Synthesis and Production (S)
• Chemistry of Biomolecules and Medicines (B)
• Design of Properties and Materials (D)

General Objectives:

• Specialised training of the student in all the fields of Organic Chemistry.
• To prepare the student to carry out research work in Organic Chemistry in order to access research centres in:
• Pubic Institutions (Universities, Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) , etc…)
• Industrial R&D&I Departments.
• To provide the student with training to access:
• Industries in the Chemical Sector.
• Industries in the Pharmaceutical Sector.

Specific Objectives:

• Theoretical and practical training.
• Training of professionals and researchers in Chemistry.
• Mastery in the fields of synthesis, isolation and purification of organic compounds.
• Knowledge of all the tools used today in the development of Organic Chemistry:
• Methods and strategies for the synthesis and design of properties.
• Spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques for structural determinatio and organic analysis.
• Computational methods applied to Organic Chemistry.
• Techniques for accessing scientific documentation and technological monitoring.
• Techniques for the presentation and publication of information.
• Protection of intellectual property.
• Experimental procedures for work in laboratories.
• Production protocols.
• Experimental techniques and advances separation.
• Standardisation systems for the quality of processes and products.

Recommended access profile

The student profile requires previous training in Chemistry (former system Graduate, Graduate or similar level) or in related fields of knowledge: Graduates in Pharmacy, in Chemical Engineering, in Biochemistry and other similar academic profiles:

• Graduates or former system Graduates in Chemical Sciences or Technologies.
• Graduates in related areas (Pharmacy, Biology, Environment, Materials Sciences, etc.)
• Chemical Engineers.
• Professionals in the chemical industries and related industries.
• Students of the 2nd cycle of current former system Degrees who comply with the prerequisites set out in the postgraduate access regulations (Master/Doctorate)

Competences of the Graduate and Occupational Opportunities

The training programme of the Master will provide the students who pass the programme with the following generic competences and/or professional capacities:

• Decision taking and holding leadership positions.
• Capacity for the analysis, evaluation and comparison of relevant alternatives in professional work.
• The capacity for self-learning, and the in-depth broad analysis and study of a theme.
• The capacity to obtain, order and synthesise information.
• The capacity to assimilate and emphasise the key points in a theme, the diagnosis of a problem and/or proposal for alternative solutions.
• The development of all the tasks required by the Departments of R&D&I.
• Leadership and coordination in projects.
• The capacity to create, innovate and transfer results.
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and foreseeable changes.
• The capacity to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• The capacity to communicate effectively, using adequate presentation tools at meetings, oral presentations or through written documentation.

The Master in Organic Chemistry also provides the proper training to access the Doctorate in areas of Chemistry, Materials Sciences and Life Sciences, and this, therefore, constitutes the first stage of a teaching career and/or a research career for admission to Spanish or international Universities or Centres.

As experts in any of the specialisation areas of the (S, B, D), the students who pass these studies will have acquired the proper training to address problems of organic synthesis, Medical and Bioorganic Chemistry, as well as to design compounds with new properties. They will also have acquired skills in instrumental techniques, organic analysis and structural determination, as well as in the use of design, simulation and molecular calculation programmes, and in the handling of databases. They will also be capacitated to optimise production processes and their scaling, as well as to develop the analytical and validation stages required by the general process. Therefore, they will be excellent candidates to join the pharmaceutical industry, the petrochemical industry and the materials industry, among others. They will also have an appropriate profile to join other types of companies (consulting firms, R&D business departments, etc.). Decision taking and holding leadership positions.

Cross-discipline competences:

• Interpersonal teamwork.
• Communication: coherent argumentation, clarity and fluidity in presentations, adaptation to the audience, etc.
• Development and self-learning: information management, organisation of work and time. Relationship with the environment; taking care of the environment, putting forward alternative methods which reduce the environmental impact.