Biochemistry, B.S.
The interdisciplinary Biochemistry program will enable and prepare students to pursue careers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare, and food and cosmetics, and/or to continue their education and research in life sciences and medicine. Students in the Biochemistry program will learn theoretical fundamentals and hands-on laboratory skills, and will be exposed to the in-depth study of complex chemical changes that occur at the molecular and cellular levels, which is essential to the understanding of life processes. The major focus will be the chemical basis and molecular logic of life, including energy in biological systems, macromolecular structures and functions, information storage and flow, evolution, and homeostasis. In addition, students in the program will engage in professional and ethical conduct and meaningful research to achieve academic excellence.
Program Curriculum
Pre-requisite courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 175 | Enhanced Precalculus | 4 |
| CHEM 100 | Preparation for General Chemistry | 3 |
| PHYS 100 | Preparation for Physics | 3 |
Required courses (total 72 credits)
Mathematics and Physics (17 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 140 | Statistics I | 3 |
| MATH 192 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 |
| MATH 193 | Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | 4 |
| PHYS 140 | Principles of Physics I - Lecture | 3 |
| PHYS 1140 | Principles of Physics I - Laboratory and recitation | 1 |
| PHYS 141 | Principles of Physics II - Lecture | 3 |
| PHYS 1141 | Principles of Physics II - Laboratory and Recitation | 1 |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Chemistry and Biology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 1105 | General Chemistry I Recitation/Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 106 | General Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 1106 | General Chemistry II Recitation/Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 205 | Analytical Chemistry Lec | 3 |
| or CHEM 316 | Instrumental Analysis, Lecture | |
| CHEM 2205 | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| or CHEM 3316 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Laboratory | |
| CHEM 207 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2207 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 208 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2208 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 305 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 307 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 308 | Biochemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 405 | Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 130 | Principles Biology I | 4 |
| BIOL 131 | Principles Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL 230 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 303 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 304 | Genetics | 4 |
| Total Credits | 55 | |
Required elective courses: select from the following courses (total of 7 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 220 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 316 | Instrumental Analysis, Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 3316 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis, Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 401 | Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 420 | Food Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 492 | Chemical Research 2 | 2-3 |
| or CHEM 493 | Chemical Research | |
| or BIOL 350 | Biology Research | |
| or BIOL 450 | Biology Research | |
| BIOL 252 | Evolution: A Biological and Geological Approach | 3 |
| BIOL 301 | General Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 404 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOL 406 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
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Only one research course (CHEM 492/493, BIOL 350/450) may be counted toward major required elective.
The B.S. in Biochemistry program will focus on the development of durable, translatable skills and strong fundamental knowledge. The program enables students to develop life-long learning capability with a vigorous grounding in its core concepts nurtured through a continual, progressive emphasis on critical reasoning skills, experiential learning, and the ability to communicate information and concepts in a clear, accurate, and organized form using both the written and spoken word.
The B.S. in Biochemistry consists of foundation courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics with core courses in biochemistry focusing on the molecular and cellular understanding of biological processes in terms of energy, structure and function, information storage and processing, in the context of the pervasive role of evolution and homeostasis.