Biochemistry (BS)

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the major in Chemistry requires completion of CHEM 202 (or equivalent course from another institution) with a grade of C or better. 

The Application for Major form can be found on the Arts & Sciences Advising Center website.

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements * *31
The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement:
General Chemistry I - S
Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL
Calculus I - QR
Fundamentals of Physics I - S
Introductory Laboratories I - SL

*This degree requires the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  To complete the degree in the minimum number of hours listed on the Overview tab, some hours from the General Education Requirements must be satisfied by courses defined by the unit and/or program. If additional hours taken within the program also satisfy General Education requirements, students may need to take additional electives to satisfy the minimum hours required for the degree. 

College/School Requirements

Arts & Sciences Requirements
GEN 100Student Success Center First Year Experience1
or GEN 101 Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
Foreign Language 16-8
ENGL 303Scientific and Technical Writing - WR3
PHIL 321Ethics3
or PHIL 323 Medical Ethics
or PHIL 325 Feminist Medical Ethics - AH, D1
or PHIL 328 Environmental Ethics
WR--two approved courses at the 300-level or above 2, 3
Minimum Total Hours13-15
1

Completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on language taken.

2

Satisfies 3 credit hours of electives in Humanities or Social Sciences at the 300-level or above requirement; requirement is in addition to courses counted toward General Education.

3

ENGL 303 and CHEM 470 satisfy the WR course requirements.

Program/Major Requirements

Departments of Chemistry and Biology
CHEM 201General Chemistry I - S 43
CHEM 202General Chemistry II - S3
CHEM 207Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL 41
CHEM 208Introduction to Chemical Analysis II - SL1
CHEM 209Introduction to Chemical Analysis III1
CHEM 210Introduction to Chemical Analysis IV1
CHEM 341Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 343Organic Chemistry Laboratory I2
CHEM 344Organic Chemistry Laboratory II2
CHEM 425Instrumental and Statistical Analysis3
CHEM 441Elements of Physical Chemistry3
or CHEM 465 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 470Physical Chemistry Laboratory - WR 32
CHEM 545Biochemistry I3
CHEM 546Biochemistry Laboratory2
CHEM 547Biochemistry II3
Undergraduate Research or Cooperative Internship 53
BIOL 240Unity of Life - S 43
BIOL 242Diversity of Life - S3
BIOL 329Cellular and Molecular Biology3
BIOL 330Genetics and Molecular Biology3
BIOL 331Genetics and Molecular Biology: Laboratory2
BIOL 350Biostatistics3
CHEM/BIOL Electives - see table below (at least 3 hours in CHEM)9
Minimum Total Hours65
Chemistry/Biology Electives
(At least 3 hours must be in CHEM):
Instrumental and Statistical Analysis Laboratory - WR
Practicum in Chemistry Education - CUE
Inorganic Chemistry
Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds - WR
Contemporary Methods of Organic Synthesis and Analysis - CUE
Contemporary Methods of Inorganic Synthesis and Analysis - WR
Theory and Application of Computational Chemistry
Bio-Organic Phenomena
Histology
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant - CUE
Microbiology
Microbial Physiology - WR, CUE
Microbiology Laboratory
Principles of Physiology
Medicinal Plant Biochemistry - WR, CUE
Gene Structure and Function - WR
Supporting Courses
MATH 205Calculus I - QR4
MATH 206Calculus II4
Complete one of the following sequences:8-10
Sequence 1:
Fundamentals of Physics I - S
Fundamentals of Physics II - S
Fundamentals of Physics Lab I - SL
Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory II - SL
Sequence 2:
Introductory Laboratories I - SL
Introductory Laboratories II - SL
Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S
Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light
Minimum Total Hours16-18
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement):
Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following:
Undergraduate Research - WR, CUE
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Cooperative Internship in Chemistry - CUE, WR
Practicum in Chemistry Education - CUE
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Contemporary Methods of Organic Synthesis and Analysis - CUE
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Undergraduate Research (WR) - WR, CUE
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant - CUE
Microbial Physiology - WR, CUE
Medicinal Plant Biochemistry - WR, CUE

Flight Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
CHEM 207 Introduction to Chemical Analysis I - SL 1
CHEM 208 Introduction to Chemical Analysis II - SL 1
BIOL 240 Unity of Life - S 3
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities – AH 3
 Hours15
Spring
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
CHEM 209 Introduction to Chemical Analysis III 1
CHEM 210 Introduction to Chemical Analysis IV 1
BIOL 242 Diversity of Life - S 3
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
MATH 205 Calculus I - QR 4
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
CHEM 341 Organic Chemistry I 3
CHEM 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2
BIOL 329 Cellular and Molecular Biology 3
PHYS 221 Fundamentals of Physics I - S 3
PHYS 223 Fundamentals of Physics Lab I - SL 1
MATH 206 Calculus II 4
 Hours16
Spring
CHEM 342 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHEM 344 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2
PHYS 222 Fundamentals of Physics II - S 3
PHYS 224 Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory II - SL 1
BIOL 330 Genetics and Molecular Biology 3
BIOL 331 Genetics and Molecular Biology: Laboratory 2
 Hours14
Year 3
Fall
CHEM 545 Biochemistry I 3
CHEM 546 Biochemistry Laboratory 2
PHIL 321 Ethics 3
BIOL 350 Biostatistics 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
 Hours17
Spring
CHEM 547 Biochemistry II 3
CHEM 441 Elements of Physical Chemistry 3
CHEM 470 Physical Chemistry Laboratory - WR 2
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Historical Perspective - SBH 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours14
Year 4
Fall
CHEM 425 Instrumental and Statistical Analysis 3
Undergraduate Research or Cooperative Internship 3
CHEM/BIOL elective 3
ENGL 303 Scientific and Technical Writing - WR 3
Foreign Language 1 3-4
 Hours15-16
Spring
CHEM/BIOL elective 3
CHEM/BIOL elective 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral US Diversity - SBD1 3
Free Elective 3
Foreign Language 2 3-4
 Hours15-16
 Minimum Total Hours121-123

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

  1. Log into your ULink account.
  2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
  3. Select the appropriate report.
    1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
    2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
    3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.