Biochemistry, BS

The department offers two tracks of study for Biochemistry majors. The tracks are similar for the first three semesters, allowing students the option to change between the two tracks within that time frame, should their career goals change. The research track prepares students for graduate study in biochemistry or for a career in which independent research experience would be beneficial. The pre-professional track is more flexible and allows students a greater selection of elective courses in chemistry and biology in order to tailor their course of study to meet their individual career goals. The pre-professional track provides a strong background for students pursuing further studies in law or medicine or career paths not emphasizing research.

Please click here for information on the Accelerated Master’s Degree and Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs .

For more information about the Chemistry department, visit its website.

Biochemistry Research Track Curriculum

	Department and Number - Descriptive Title of Course	Fall Cr.	Spr. Cr.
First Year
MAJOR (GE NSCI)	CHEM 112 - (E) General and Analytical Chemistry	4.5	4.5
COGNATE (GE QUAN)	MATH 114 - (Q) Calculus I	4
COGNATE	BIOL 141 - (E) General Biology –BIOL 142 - (E) General Biology	4.5	4.5
GE WRTG–SPCH	WRTG 107 - Composition –COMM 100 - Public Speaking	3	3
GE C/IL	C/IL 102 - Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE FSEM	INTD 100 - Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED	PHED ELECT - Physical Education		1
		17	16
Second Year
MAJOR	CHEM 232 - (E) Organic Chemistry –CHEM 233 - (E) Organic Chemistry	4.5	4.5
MAJOR	CHEM 240 - Inorganic Chemistry		3
COGNATE	PHYS 120 - (E) General Physics –PHYS 121 - (E) General Physics ²	4	4
GE ELECT	CMPS 134 - Computer Science I	3
GE T/RS	T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible	3
GE PHIL	PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy		3
GE HUMN	HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives	3	3
GE PHED	PHED ELECT - Physical Education	0.5	0.5
		18	18
Third Year
MAJOR	CHEM 330 - Organic Chemistry III	3.5
MAJOR	CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis		5
MAJOR	CHEM 360 - Biophysical Chemistry I –CHEM 361 - Biophysical Chemistry II	4.5	4.5
MAJOR	CHEM 390 - Chemical Literature and Writing –CHEM 391 - Seminar	1	1
COGNATE	COGNATE ELECT - Cognate Electives (210 level or above)¹^,2	3
GE T/RS	T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology	3
GE PHIL	PHIL 210 - Ethics		3
GE S/BH	S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Electives	3	3
GE PHED	PHED ELECT - Physical Education		1
		18	17.5
Fourth Year
MAJOR	CHEM 450 - Biochemistry I –CHEM 451 - Biochemistry II	3	3
MAJOR	CHEM 450L - (W) Biochemistry Laboratory	1.5
MAJOR	CHEM 493 - (W) Undergraduate Research –CHEM 494 - (W) Undergraduate Research	1.5	1.5
GE PHIL-T/RS	PHIL- Philosophy or T/RS ELECT - T/RS Elective	3
GE HUMN	HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives	3	3
GE ELECT	COGNATE ELECT - Cognate Elective (210 level or above)^1,2		3
GE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Elective		3
		12	13.5
	Total: 130 Credits

¹ Cognate electives for the Biochemistry major may be taken in any of the following disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics or Physics and certain Psychology courses (PSYC 210 , PSYC 231 and

PSYC 339 - Psychopharmacology

/
NEUR 339 - Psychopharmacology
)

² For ACS certification, Biochemistry majors must take MATH 114 , MATH 221 , MATH 222 , MATH 341 ; PHYS 140 -PHYS 141 in place of PHYS 120 -PHYS 121 ; and CHEM 440 and CHEM 440L ; and one course from the following: BIOL 250 , BIOL 260 , BIOL 350 , BIOL 361 , or another Biology course approved by the Chemistry Department. BCMB 464 may be used toward the 3- to 5-credit requirement.

Biochemistry Pre-professional Track Curriculum

	Department and Number - Descriptive Title of Course	Fall Cr.	Spr. Cr.
First Year
MAJOR (GE NSCI)	CHEM 112-113 - (E) General and Analytical Chemistry	4.5	4.5
COGNATE	BIOL 141 - (E) General Biology –BIOL 142 - (E) General Biology	4.5	4.5
COGNATE (GE QUAN)	MATH 103 - (Q) Pre-Calculus Mathematics /MATH 114 - (Q) Calculus I	4	4
GE WRTG	WRTG 107 - Composition	3
GE C/IL	C/IL 102 - Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE FSEM	INTD 100 - Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED	PHED ELECT - Physical Education		1
		17	17
Second Year
MAJOR	CHEM 232 - (E) Organic Chemistry –CHEM 233 - (E) Organic Chemistry	4.5	4.5
COGNATE	PHYS 120 - (E) General Physics –PHYS 121 - (E) General Physics	4	4
GE SPCH	COMM 100 - Public Speaking		3
GE T/RS	T/RS 121 - (P) Theology I: Introduction to the Bible	3
GE PHIL	PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy		3
GE HUMN	HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives	3	3
GE S/BH	S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Electives	3
GE PHED	PHED ELECT - Physical Education	0.5	0.5
		18	18
Third Year
MAJOR	CHEM 360 - Biophysical Chemistry I	4.5
MAJOR	CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis		5
MAJOR	CHEM 450 - Biochemistry I –CHEM 451 - Biochemistry II	4.5	3
MAJOR	CHEM 390 - Chemical Literature and Writing	1
GE T/RS	T/RS 122 - (P) Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology	3
GE PHIL	PHIL 210 - Ethics		3
GE S/BH	S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Electives		3
GE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Elective	3
GE PHED	PHED ELECT - Physical Education	1
		16	15
Fourth Year¹
MAJOR	CHEM 490 - Advanced Topics in Biochemistry Capstone		3
MAJOR/COGNATE	CHEM/BIO ELECT - Chem or Bio Elective²	3-5
COGNATE	COGNATE ELECT - Biology Elective²	3-5	3-5
GE PHIL or T/RS	PHIL- Philosophy or T/RS ELECT - T/RS Elective	3
GE HUMN	HUMN ELECT - Humanities Electives	3	3
GE ELECT	FREE ELECT - Free Elective	3	6
		15-19	15-17
	Total: 131-137 Credits

¹ Senior year must contain at least 2 credits of laboratory or research.

² Advanced biology courses are those courses which the Biology Department designates in the cellular, molecular or genetics areas. BCMB 464 may be used toward the 3- to 5-credit requirement.

Biochemistry, BS

Biochemistry Research Track Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Total: 130 Credits

Biochemistry Pre-professional Track Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year1

Total: 131-137 Credits

Fourth Year¹