2022-2023 Undergraduate General Catalog

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Biochemistry Major (ACS)

The foundations of biology are rooted in chemistry, but increasingly advances in scientific endeavor are predicated on the interchange of ideas and concepts across many broad fields of science. This major is designed to provide the student with cross-disciplinary experiences across much of the natural sciences - chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics. The intention is to provide graduates with the ability to readily integrate these disciplines and to provide the tools necessary to break boundaries in scientific exploration. Students in this rigorous, interdisciplinary major are precluded from declaring majors in either chemistry or biology, which will allow a greater capacity to take classes outside of the natural sciences. The major is American Chemical Society (ACS) approved.

70 credit hours

 

Required Courses:

CHEM 117General Chemistry II

4
OR
CHEM 120Accelerated General Chemistry (NS)

4
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I

4
CHEM 202Organic Chemistry II

4
CHEM 222Inorganic Chemistry

4
CHEM 242Analysis

4
CHEM 301Chemical Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics (SI)

4
CHEM 305Biochemistry

4
CHEM 330Medicinal Chemistry (W)

4

Required Supportive Courses

BIOL 120Biological Principles I (NS)

4
BIOL 233Genetics

4
BIOL 234Cell Biology

4
MATH 151Calculus I (MT)

4
MATH 152Calculus II

4
PHYS 221General Physics I (NS)

4
PHYS 222General Physics II

4

Choose 1 BIOL course and 2 CHEM courses from the following options:

BIOL 303/PHYS 303Biological Physics

3
BIOL 346Developmental Biology (W)

4
BIOL 358Molecular Biology

4
BIOL 360Evolution

4
BIOL 364Pharmacology (W)

3
CHEM 302Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, and Spectroscopy

4
CHEM 311Advanced Analytical Chemistry (W)

4
CHEM 331Advanced Organic Chemistry (W)

4
CHEM 341Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

4
CHEM 351Polymers and Materials Science

4

Biochemistry (ACS) Sample Plan of Study

Following is one possible way to complete the major.  

Students should fill in gaps with coursework required for the core curriculum and other majors/minors to take an average of 14 credit hours each fall and spring, and 3-4 credit hours each Interim.  Total credit hours needs to be 124 for degree completion.

First Year

Fall Semester

FYS 110First Year Seminar I (FS)

4
BIOL 120Biological Principles I (NS)

4
CHEM 120Accelerated General Chemistry (NS)

4
MATH 151Calculus I (MT)

4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

FYS 112First Year Seminar: Vocation

1
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I

4
MATH 152Calculus II

4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Second Year

Fall Semester

BIOL 233Genetics

4
CHEM 202Organic Chemistry II

4
PHYS 221General Physics I (NS)

4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Interim

CHEM 222Inorganic Chemistry

4

Spring Semester

CHEM 242Analysis

4
BIOL 234Cell Biology

4
PHYS 222General Physics II

4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Third Year

Fall Semester

CHEM 301Chemical Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics (SI)

4
CHEM 305Biochemistry

4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

CHEM 330Medicinal Chemistry (W)

4
CHEM Elective course at the 300-level

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

CHEM Elective course at the 300-level

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

CHEM Elective course at the 300-level

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4
Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

NOTE: BIOL 3** elective must be either BIOL 303/PHYS 303, BIOL 358, or BIOL 364.