Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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).

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

Program-Specific Degree Requirements: To be eligible for graduation, 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

Communication 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
PS 101 American Government and Citizenship 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Global Citizenship courses or students have 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

Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (CHM 134 and CHM 135 , and 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. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement.

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

BCM 400 Applied Biochemistry 4 credit hours
BIO 142 Molecules, Genes and Cells 4 credit hours
BIO 240 Genetics 4 credit hours
BIO 241 Genetics Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 290 Biostatistics 3 credit hours
BIO 350 Biochemistry I 4 credit hours
BIO 351 Biochemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 352 Biochemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 100 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 102 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
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
CHM 190 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 192 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 200 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 212 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 235 Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 237 Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 290 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 300 Senior Chemistry Seminar 0.5 credit hour
CHM 324 Physical Chemistry for Biosciences 3 credit hours
CHM 330 Introduction to Chemical Research 2 credit hours
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 111 General Physics I Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
PHY 113 General Physics II Lab 0 credit hours

Biology Elective Course

Students must complete 3-4 credits of the following:

BCM 415 Medicinal Biochemistry 3 credit hours
BIO 330 Microbiology 4 credit hours
BIO 332 Developmental Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 354 Immunology 4 credit hours AND
BIO 355 Immunology Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 358 Cell and Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 360 Neurobiology 4 credit hours
BIO 364 Virology 4 credit hours

Experiential Learning

Students must complete a minimum of 2 credits of the following:

BIO 406 Biology Research I 1 credit hour
BIO 407 Biology Research II 1 credit hour
BIO 408 Biology Research III 1 credit hour
BIO 409 Biology Research IV 1 credit hour
CHM 461 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
CHM 462 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
CHM 463 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
CHM 464 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours

Major Electives

Students must complete 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.

General Elective Courses

Students must complete 5 credits of free elective courses

Suggested Course Sequence:

Freshman Year

Fall Semester (15.5 credit hours)
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 (15.5 credit hours)
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

Fall Semester (14.5 credit hours)
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 (14.5 credit hours)
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

Fall Semester (15.5 credit hours)
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 (17.5 credit hours)
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

Fall Semester (12.5 credit hours)
CHM 290 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
BCM 400 Applied Biochemistry 4 credit hours
Experiential Learning courses 2 credit hours
Constellation courses 3 credit hours
Biology elective or Major elective courses 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (14.5 credit hours)
CHM 300 Senior Chemistry Seminar 0.5 credit hour
Biology elective or Major elective courses 3 credit hours
Elective courses 5 credit hours
Constellation courses 6 credit hours