Curriculum for the B.S. in Biochemistry
Students pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry must complete:
- University Core Requirements
- BSNES Core Requirements
- Biochemistry Major Requirements
- Biochemistry Co-Requisites
To graduate, a student needs a minimum of 126 credit hours.
View the suggested curriculum sequence.
University Core Requirements
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| UCOR 101 | Thinking and Writing Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| UCOR 102 | Imaginative Literature and Critical Writing | 3 |
| UCOR 132 | Basic Philosophical Questions | 3 |
| UCOR 14X | Theology | 3 |
| COSC 030 | Research/Info Skills | 1 |
| Course in Ethics | 3 | |
| Course in Creative Arts | 3 | |
| Course in Faith and Reason | 3 | |
| Course in Global Diversity | 3 | |
| Course in Social Justice | 3 |
View a complete list of University Core Requirements.
BSNES Core Requirements
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| ENGL 302W | Science Writing | 3 |
| HIST 307 | History of Science | 3 |
| SPRG 105 | Career Development Seminar | 1 |
| Math Credits | 10 | |
| General Elective Credits | 6 |
B.S. Biochemistry Major Requirements
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| CHEM 121/121L | General Chemistry I & Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 122/122L | General Chemistry II & Lab | 5 |
| CHEM 211H/211HL | Organic Chemistry I Honors & Honors Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 212H/212HL | Organic Chemistry II Honors & Honors Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 230L | Research Lab Techniques | 1 |
| CHEM 423 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 321 | Physical Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 401 | General Biochemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 402 | General Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 325L/325R | Integrated Lab I | 4 |
| CHEM 475 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 490W | Undergraduate Research - strongly recommended | |
| CHEM 425L/425R | Integrated Lab II | 4 |
B.S. Biochemistry Co-Requisites
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| BIOL 111/111L | General Biology I & Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 112/112L | General Biology II & Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 467 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| MATH 115 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 116 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 211 | General Analytical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | General Analytical Physics II | 4 |
| BIOL xxx | Biology Electives (300 or 400 level) | 3 |
| MATH 225 | Biostatistics (acceptable for science programming requirement) | 3 |
| MATH 335 | Biostatistics II | 3 |
American Chemical Society's Professional Requirements
To meet the American Chemical Society's requirements for Professional Certification, B.S. students in Biochemistry must take CHEM 312, MATH 314, and an additional chemistry elective.
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| CHEM 322 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 422 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| Additional Recommendations | ||
| CHEM 490 | Undergraduate Research | 1 or 2 |
The University will offer various courses each semester to satisfy the UCOR requirements. UCOR courses can be taken in any sequence throughout the undergraduate curriculum.
Science Writing (ENGL 302W) must be taken before Integrated Lab I (CHEM 325L/325R).
Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors: All students must take 121, 122, 230L, 423, 325R, 325L, 425R, 425L, 475. Biology 111/111L, 112/112L. Mathematics 115, 116.
B.S. Biochemistry: All students must take 211H, 212H, 211HL, 212HL, 321,322, 401, 402, 508,. Physics 211, 212. two 400-500 level Science/Math electives of 3 or 4 credits each, and Math 225,335.
*Biology electives include any course between the 300-400 level. Chemistry electives include any course numbered CHEM 275, 312, 412, 391, 503, 504, 534, 540, 546, 548, 565, 574, 585, 586, 587. Math electives must be at the 300-400 level.
Note: Undergraduate research (CHEM 490) is strongly encouraged, especially during the junior-senior year.
Requirements for the Minor
A minor in Biochemistry consists of 121, 122, and a minimum of 12 credits selected from Department courses numbered 200 or above. Normally, 211, 211L, 212, 212L, 401, and 402 will constitute a minor in Biochemistry. Individual course prerequisites must be satisfied.