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Catalog - Table of Index
Biochemistry Major
College of Arts and SciencesDegree BS, Biochemistry
Department Chair Charles Saladino, Jr., PhD
Biochemistry is an exciting and challenging field of study that combines the worlds of chemistry and biology into a science that explores the chemistry of bio-molecules and those biological processes that support a living system. Modern day biochemistry has reached a level of complexity and uniqueness that allows it to stand apart from both of its ancestral fields. Today's biochemistry operates in the world of life on earth described by classical biology and also probes the complexities of this world on the molecular scale using the concepts and analysis techniques derived from the world of classical chemistry.
The biochemistry major reflects this fusion of both fields as a hybrid of both departments’ curricula, combining the essential knowledge of a BS chemistry with that of biology on the molecular level. We believe that students must first be good chemists before they can be good biochemists. Thus, the program is designed to meet the ACS guidelines for a chemistry major and the ASBMB guidelines for a biochemistry major, making the program highly interdisciplinary between chemistry and biology. The biochemistry program is designed to prepare students for graduate school and the pharmaceutical, biomedical, and bio-technology industries.
At the end of their sophomore year and thereafter, biochemistry majors must have and maintain a GPA of 2.5 in courses required for the major in order to remain in good standing in the program, and a GPA of 3.0 to be recommended for graduate or professional schools. Students must earn three credits doing either a summer internship during their junior year [CHM 490] or by taking research [CHM 460] in (or before) the first semester of their senior year.
Pre-medicine
This specialization provides excellent preparation for professional studies in medicine, veterinary medicine, and related health sciences. It is suggested that BIO 251 and BIO 252 (Comparative Anatomy and Histology I, II) be incorporated into the sequence below. In addition, BIO 301 (Gross Anatomy) and BIO 302 (Neuroscience) are available as senior electives.
Sequence of Required Courses (certain modifications are permitted with approval of Department Chair)
First Year
| First Semester | Total Credits | 17 | Second Semester | Total Credits | 17 |
| CHM 133 | Chemical Principles I | 4 | CHM 134 | Chemical Principles II | 4 |
| BIO 101 | Gen Botany and Bio Principles | 4 | BIO 102 | Zoology | 4 |
| MTH 151 | Calculus I | 3 | MTH 152 | Calculus II | 3 |
| HIS | History Core | 3 | HIS | History Core | 3 |
| ENG | Literature Core | 3 | ENG | Literature Core | 3 |
Sophomore Year
| First Semester | Total Credits | 16 | Second Semester | Total Credits | 17 |
| CHM 243 | Organic Chemistry | 4 | CHM 244 | Organic Chemistry | 4 |
| PHY 221 | Physics I | 4 | PHY 222 | Physics II | 4 |
| BIO 241 | Genetics | 4 | FA | Fine Arts Core | 3 |
| MTH 225 | Calculus III | 4 | PHL | Philosophy Core | 3 |
| CPSSS Core | 3 | ||||
Junior Year
| First Semester | Total Credits | 15 | Second Semester | Total Credits | 14 |
| CHM 353 | Biochemistry I | 3 | CHM 354 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 363 | Biochemistry Lab | 1 | CHM 356 | Physical Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHM 355 | Physical Chemistry I | 4 | CHM 411 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHM 350 | Chemical Literature | 1 | CHM 412 | Instrumental Lab I | 1 |
| FA | Fine Arts Core | 3 | PHL | Philosophy Core | 3 |
| Behav. Sci. Core | 3 | ||||
| Summer | Total Credits | 3 |
| CHM 490 | Chemistry Intership* | 3 |
Senior Year
| First Semester | Total Credits | 14 | Second Semester | Total Credits | 16 |
| Major Elective | 3 | Major Elective | 3 | ||
| BIO 435 | Cell Biology | 3 | BIO 441 | Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| CHM 413 | Instrumental Lab II | 1 | Free elective | 3 | |
| CHM 475 | Chemistry Seminar | 1 | Free elective | 3 | |
| CHM 460 | Research | 3 | RLS | Rel. Stud. Core | 3 |
| RLS | Rel. Stud. Core | 3 | |||
* Student’s are required to take a minimum of 3 credits of either CHM 490 or CHM 460 for graduation.
Total required for graduation 126 credits
Major electives can be taken in either chemistry or biology
| Elective chemistry courses include: | CHM 410 CHM 456 CHM 450 |
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Qualitative Organic Analysis Special Topics |
Elective biology courses include: |
BIO 243 |
General Microbiology Immunology Biology Research Developmental Biology |
