Biochemistry, B.S.

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The Biochemistry major will provide students with a rigorous foundation in biochemistry, including significant experiential learning through undergraduate research and other cooperative experiences. Biochemical research with chemistry or biology faculty will prepare students to pursue scientific graduate studies, enter the biochemical workforce, or pursue careers related to healthcare. The biochemistry major is designed to maximize student readiness while maintaining flexibility, to allow students to customize components of their coursework to best align with their goals. The curriculum has been designed to meet the recommendations outlined by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Biochemistry must complete a minimum of 120 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for First Year Seminar and all courses taken as part of Foundations. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

The General Education Requirements of the college require students to successfully complete First Year Seminar, Foundations (FCO 103 will be a required co-requisite with FCO 105 for students who have a high school GPA below 3.20), Disciplinary Perspectives, and a Constellation. Students who enter the college with 30 credit hours completed will not take a First Year Seminar course and therefore must take an additional 3 credits for graduation. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation.

In addition, students majoring in Biochemistry, must earn a grade of 2.0 or higher in all required courses in the major.

General Education Requirement

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Communications course:
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
Advanced Communication course:
FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
Quantitative Fluency course:

Satisfied by major (MAT 171)
Choose 3 credits of the following American Citizenship courses:
ECO 201 Principles of Economics (Micro) 3 credit hours
HIS 111 American History from Colonization to Civil War 3 credit hours
HIS 112 American History from Civil War to Global Power 3 credit hours
PHL 245 American Philosophical Thought 3 credit hours
PS 101 American Government and Citizenship 3 credit hours
REL 269 American Religious Thought and Culture 3 credit hours
Choose 3 credits of the following Global Citizenship courses or the student has the option to complete this requirement by successfully completing 6 credits of the same foreign language:
ECO 200 Principles of Economics (Macro) 3 credit hours
G 100 World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
HIS 102 The West in the World 3 credit hours
PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:
FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
REL 265 World Religions 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours
OR
WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours
Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:
ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours
Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:
ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
ENT 150 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 credit hours
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours
Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (CHM 134 and CHM 135, CHM 136 and CHM 137 OR CHM 146 and CHM 147, CHM 234 and CHM 235, CHM 338 and CHM 339)

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation except for Education majors.

Required Major Courses:

6 credits of Major electives

Students will select at least 6 additional credits from any BIO or CHM course offerings. At least 3 credits must be at or above 300-level and at least 3 credits must contain a laboratory component. These courses must be different from the course taken to fulfill the Biology Elective. In consultation with the academic advisor students may select courses to support post-graduation goals such as medical or professional school.

Elective Courses (6 credits minimum)

Students may choose any credits totaling at least 6 to ensure that the 120 credits required to complete the degree have been met.

Suggested Course Sequence:

Freshman Year (31 credits)

Fall Semester
BIO 142 Molecules, Genes and Cells 4 credit hours
CHM 100 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
Spring Semester
BIO 240 Genetics 4 credit hours
BIO 241 Genetics Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 102 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHM 137 General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
OR
CHM 146 Advanced Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHM 147 Advanced Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours

Sophomore Year (29 credits)

Fall Semester
BIO 290 Biostatistics 3 credit hours
CHM 190 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 235 Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 111 General Physics I Lab 0 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Spring Semester
CHM 192 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 237 Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
PHY 113 General Physics II Lab 0 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship Course 3 credit hours

Junior Year (33 credits minimum)

Fall Semester
BIO 350 Biochemistry I 4 credit hours
BIO 351 Biochemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 200 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 324 Physical Chemistry for Biosciences 3 credit hours
CHM 330 Introduction to Chemical Research 2 credit hours
Biology elective or Major elective 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Spring Semester
BIO 352 Biochemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 212 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives courses 6 credit hours

Senior Year (27 credits minimum)

CHM 290 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 300 Senior Chemistry Seminar 0.5 credit hour
BCM 400 Applied Biochemistry 4 credit hours
Experiential Learning course 1 credit hour

Biology elective or Major elective courses 6 credit hour
Elective courses 6 credit hours
Constellation courses 9 credit hours