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 112-113 - (E) General and Analytical Chemistry /CHEM 112L-113L	4.5	4.5
COGNATE (GE QUAN)	MATH 114 - (Q) Calculus I	4
COGNATE	BIOL 141 - (E) (FYOC, FYDT Lab only) General Biology – BIOL 142 - (E) (FYOC, FYDT Lab only) General Biology	4.5	4.5
GE WRTG	WRTG 107 - (FYW) Composition		3
GE FSEM	First Year Seminar ³
		13	12
Second Year
MAJOR	CHEM 232 - (E) Organic Chemistry /CHEM 232L – CHEM 233 - (E) Organic Chemistry /CHEM 233L	4.5	4.5
MAJOR	CHEM 240 - Inorganic Chemistry		3
COGNATE	PHYS 120/PHYS 120L - (E) General Physics I – PHYS 121/PHYS 121L - (E) General Physics II 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
		17.5	17.5
Third Year
MAJOR	CHEM 330 - Organic Chemistry III /CHEM 330L	3.5
MAJOR	CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis /CHEM 370L		5
MAJOR	CHEM 360 - Biophysical Chemistry I /CHEM 360L – CHEM 361 - Biophysical Chemistry II /CHEM 361L	4.5	4.5
MAJOR	CHEM 390 - (EPW) 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
		18	16.5
Fourth Year
MAJOR	CHEM 450 - Biochemistry I – CHEM 451 - Biochemistry II	3	3
MAJOR	CHEM 450L - (EPW) Biochemistry Laboratory	1.5
MAJOR	CHEM 493 - (W) Undergraduate Research – CHEM 494 - (W) Undergraduate Research	1.5	1.5
GE PHIL-T/RS	PHIL ELEC - 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: 120 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 /NEUR 339 )

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.

³The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Thus, the First Year Seminar will not add to the total credits for the semester. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

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 /CHEM 112L-113L	4.5	4.5
COGNATE	BIOL 141 - (E) (FYOC, FYDT Lab only) General Biology – BIOL 142 - (E) (FYOC, FYDT Lab only) 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 - (FYW) Composition		3
GE FSEM	First Year Seminar ³
		13	16
Second Year
MAJOR	CHEM 232 - (E) Organic Chemistry /CHEM 232L – CHEM 233 - (E) Organic Chemistry /CHEM 233L	4.5	4.5
COGNATE	PHYS 120/PHYS 120L - (E) General Physics I – PHYS 121/PHYS 121L - (E) General Physics II	4	4
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
		17.5	14.5
Third Year
MAJOR	CHEM 360 - Biophysical Chemistry I /CHEM 360L	4.5
MAJOR	CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis /CHEM 370L		5
MAJOR	CHEM 450 - Biochemistry I /CHEM 450L – 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
		15	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 ELEC - 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: 121-127 Credits

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

² Advanced biology courses are courses in 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: 120 Credits

Biochemistry Pre-professional Track Curriculum

First Year

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year1

Total: 121-127 Credits

Fourth Year¹