Chemistry for the Health Professions

MGH Institute of Health Professions via edX Microbachelors

Overview

Our MicroBachelors in Chemistry is designed to build essential chemistry knowledge and problem-solving skills for learners preparing to enter a for-credit college-level chemistry course. Whether you’re returning to school after time away, exploring science for the first time, or seeking a refresher to strengthen your academic confidence, this program offers a structured and supportive learning experience that facilitates success.

Across four carefully designed courses—Foundations in Thermodynamics, Elements, Chemicals, and Reactions, Organic Compounds, and Gases and Electrochemistry—you will explore engaging lectures, practice problems, and stimulating assessments that mirror the expectations of credit-bearing coursework. Each course integrates practical application of chemistry in healthcare, aiming to demonstrate the relevance of foundational science in health and make clear links to professional fields.

The program balances a flexible approach with a rigorous academic experience. It is ideal for anyone looking to solidify their chemistry foundation before committing to the demands of a full-credit course. By the end of the program, you will have a strong grasp of chemistry fundamentals as well as the academic habits needed for future success. You will gain confidence in the scientific vocabulary, laboratory concepts, and data analysis common to introductory chemistry courses.

Syllabus

Courses under this program:
Course 1: Foundations of Thermodynamics

In this course, we will explore the foundational concepts of chemistry through the lens of energy, matter, and their roles in health sciences. By the end of this course, students will be able to apply fundamental chemical principles to describe matter, perform quantitative measurements, analyze chemical reactions, and explain the role of energy in chemical systems.

Course 2: Elements, Chemicals, and Reactions

Chemistry is often called the central science because it connects the physical world to the biological systems that sustain life. In this course, we will build a strong foundation in the structure and behavior of matter, starting with the arrangement of electrons in atoms and moving through the periodic trends that govern element properties, the formation of chemical compounds, and the transformations that occur in chemical reactions. By the end of this course, students will be able to explain the electronic structure of atoms, interpret periodic trends, write and name chemical formulas, and apply stoichiometric principles to solve problems related to chemical quantities.

Course 3: Organic Compounds

Understanding the chemistry behind biological systems is essential for any student entering a health profession. In this course, we will introduce the fundamental principles of general and organic chemistry with a focus on their relevance to the structure and function of biological molecules. By the end of this course, students will be able to classify and analyze organic compounds based on their functional groups and reactivity, and apply fundamental concepts to understand the structure and function of key biomolecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Course 4: Gases and Electrochemistry

In this course, students will explore the fundamental principles governing the behavior of gases and the essential concepts of electrochemistry. By the end of this course, students will be able to analyze and apply the principles of gas behavior to predict and calculate properties of gases, and use electrochemical concepts to determine cell potentials, reaction spontaneity, and the effects of concentration on redox reactions.

Courses

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5 weeks, 3-6 hours a week, 3-6 hours a week
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In this course, students will explore the fundamental principles governing the behavior of gases and the essential concepts of electrochemistry. The course begins with an introduction to the basic properties of gases, focusing on measurable characteristics such as pressure, volume, and temperature. Students will apply key gas laws—Boyle’s Law, Charles’ Law, and Avogadro’s Law—to explain the relationships between these variables and solve problems using the Ideal Gas Law. Additionally, the course covers Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures and its real-world applications, as well as calculations involving the molar mass of gases and deviations from ideal gas behavior under certain conditions.

The second part of the course covers redox reactions and electrochemistry, where students will define oxidation and reduction, balance redox reactions, and explore the operation of galvanic cells. Using standard reduction potentials, students will predict the spontaneity of redox reactions and understand the relationship between cell potential, Gibbs free energy, and reaction spontaneity. Lastly, students will apply the Nernst equation to calculate cell potential under non-standard conditions.
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5 weeks, 3-6 hours a week, 3-6 hours a week
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In this course, we will explore the foundational concepts of chemistry through the lens of energy, matter, and their roles in health sciences. From understanding how atoms combine to form molecules to exploring how energy drives chemical reactions, we will build a practical framework for interpreting the chemical behavior of the world around you, especially as it relates to biological systems. Whether you're preparing for future coursework in health professions or brushing up on essential concepts, this course offers engaging explanations, real-world applications, and opportunities to practice your skills.

This self-paced course is comprised of instructional video content, step-by-step follow-along “watch me solve” problem videos, and assessments to reinforce your learning (Assessments available to Verified Track learners only).

The course consists of 12 sequential lessons that progress logically from measurements and atomic theory to bonding, reactions, and energy changes. Each lesson builds on prior material and reinforces core concepts to help you develop a solid foundation in chemistry.
- Lesson 1. The Importance of Thermodynamics in Health Sciences
- Lesson 2. Measurements in Chemistry
- Lesson 3. Uncertainty in Measurements
- Lesson 4. Problem-Solving and Dimensional Analysis
- Lesson 5. Classification of Matter
- Lesson 6. Physical vs. Chemical Properties and Changes
- Lesson 7. The Atomic Theory and Structure of the Atom
- Lesson 8. Elements, Molecules, and Ions
- Lesson 9. Energy and Its Role in Chemical Systems
- Lesson 10. Chemical Reactions and Energy Changes
- Lesson 11. Chemical Bonding
- Lesson 12. Molecular Geometry
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5 weeks, 3-6 hours a week, 3-6 hours a week
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Chemistry is often called the central science because it connects the physical world to the biological systems that sustain life. In this course, we will build a strong foundation in the structure and behavior of matter, starting with the arrangement of electrons in atoms and moving through the periodic trends that govern element properties, the formation of chemical compounds, and the transformations that occur in chemical reactions. Whether you're preparing for advanced coursework, pursuing a career in health or science, or simply curious about the materials that make up our world, this course will equip you with the essential tools to understand and apply chemical principles in meaningful ways.

This self-paced course is comprised of instructional video content, step-by-step follow-along “watch me solve” problem videos, and assessments to reinforce your learning (assessments available to Verified Track learners only).

The course is organized into 10 lessons that you should complete in order, as each subsequent lesson builds on the previous one.
- Lesson 1: Introduction to Electron Configurations
- Lesson 2: Valence Electrons and Chemical Reactivity
- Lesson 3: Organization of the Periodic Table
- Lesson 4: Periodic Trends and Their Significance
- Lesson 5: Writing and Interpreting Chemical Formulas
- Lesson 6: Naming Compounds
- Lesson 7: Chemical Reactions
- Lesson 8: Types of Chemical Reactions
- Lesson 9: The Mole and Molar Mass
- Lesson 10: Stoichiometry and Reaction Calculations
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5 weeks, 3-6 hours a week, 3-6 hours a week
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Understanding the chemistry behind biological systems is essential for any student entering a health profession. In this course, we will introduce the fundamental principles of general and organic chemistry with a focus on their relevance to the structure and function of biological molecules. We will begin with acids, bases, pH, and buffer systems, where we will see that these concepts underlie everything from blood chemistry to enzyme function. We will then transition to foundational organic chemistry, covering hydrocarbons, functional groups, and the structure of key biomolecules like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

This self-paced course is comprised of instructional video content, step-by-step follow-along “watch me solve” problem videos, and assessments to reinforce your learning (assessments available to Verified Track learners only).

The course is organized into 11 lessons that you should complete in order, as each subsequent lesson builds on the previous one.
- Lesson 1: Acids and Bases
- Lesson 2: Strong vs. Weak Acids and Bases
- Lesson 3: pH and pKa
- Lesson 4: Buffers and Equilibrium
- Lesson 5: Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- Lesson 6: Alkanes
- Lesson 7: Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds
- Lesson 8: Functional Groups Overview
- Lesson 9: Carbohydrates and Lipids
- Lesson 10: Proteins and Amino Acids
- Lesson 11: Nucleic Acids