2016-2017 Catalog

Major Requirements

BIOLOGY COMPONENT

(5 courses)

BIO 130Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology

4

BIO 349Biochemistry I

4

Students must select one course from the list below:

BIO 105Marine Biology

4

BIO 106Biology of California

4

BIO 110Organisms on Earth

4

BIO 115General Zoology

4

Students must select one course from the list below:

BIO 221Molecular Biology

4

BIO 224Genetic Analysis

4

BIO 226Cell Biology

4

Students must select one course from the list below:

BIO 320Developmental Biology

4

BIO 323Histology

4

BIO 325Microbial Diversity

4

BIO 326Molecular Evolution and Phylogenomics

4

BIO 330Immunology

4

BIO 333Neurobiology

4

BIO 336Microbial Pathogenesis

4

CHEMISTRY COMPONENT

(6 courses)

CHEM 220Organic Chemistry I

4

CHEM 221Organic Chemistry II

4

CHEM 240Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry

4

CHEM 350Biochemistry

4

Students must select one course from the list below:

CHEM 120Foundations of General Chemistry

4

CHEM 130Advanced Placement General Chemistry

4

Students must select one course from the list below:

CHEM 300Physical Chemistry I

4

CHEM 301Biophysical Chemistry

4

MATHEMATICS COMPONENT

Students are required to take both courses listed below:

Calculus 1Scientific Modeling and Differential Calculus

Calculus 2Scientific Modeling and Integral Calculus

PHYSICS COMPONENT

Students are required to select one option (2 required courses) from the list below:

Option 1 -

PHYS 110Introductory Mechanics

4

PHYS 120Introductory Electricity and Magnetism

4

Option 2 -

PHYS 115General Physics I

4

PHYS 125General Physics II

4

SENIOR SEMINAR

Students are to enroll in BICH 490 (2 units) each semester of their senior year.

WRITING REQUIREMENT

Students majoring in Biochemistry will satisfy the final component of Occidental College's writing requirement by completing a research paper during the fall semester of BICH 490, Senior Seminar. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. Students should meet with the Biochemistry Program chair for detailed information about the writing requirement process.

COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT

The student must pass the Graduate Record Examination in Biochemistry at the 50th percentile rank or the American Chemical Society undergraduate examination in Biochemistry at the 50th percentile rank. The student will also satisfactorily write a research paper and present a seminar during the senior year on an area of current research in the field of Biochemistry to an audience of Occidental students and faculty. A student can earn distinction in Biochemistry with a 75th percentile rank and a distinguished paper and seminar presentation.

HONORS

In addition to the requirements for College honors, the student will successfully defend a written thesis based upon the outcome of his or her laboratory research effort as an undergraduate. See the Honors Program for more information.