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Biochemistry (B.S.)

Biochemistry is the study of biological molecules and chemical processes that make up all living systems, which in turn relates to the study and understanding of whole organisms. To fully interact with known biochemical information and make future contributions to our molecular understanding of life, students must obtain a broad background in biology and a firm foundation in chemistry, mathematics, and physics.

The program prepares students for professional school (medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine) and graduate school in biochemistry, molecular biology, or another biological science discipline. Graduates will find employment opportunities in university research programs or industrial and government laboratories.

Upon successful completion of the biochemistry program, students will be able to

  • independently conduct and evaluate scientific research;
  • demonstrate effective oral and written scientific communication skills;
  • understand the moral and ethical impact of science on their communities, both local and global;
  • integrate a range of scientific concepts and ideas; and
  • demonstrate an understanding of fundamental biochemistry principles.

Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C- is required in any course within the major courses (biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics) that serves as a prerequisite for a higher-numbered course. Courses in which the minimum grade is not achieved may not be repeated more than once without permission of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics director.

Degree Requirements — Biochemistry

This degree requires a total of 123 credits.

Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements

See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Biochemistry majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: BIO 300 Writing for Science, BIO 368 Advanced Research Methods, and one additional WI course from the Liberal Arts Core or as a university elective. Students should fulfill the third WI course and the GP requirement with a general elective or a Liberal Arts Core course.

Major Requirements

To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.

Major Required Courses

BIO 151General Biology I *

3

BIO 151LGeneral Biology I Lab *

1

BIO 152General Biology II *

3

BIO 152LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

BIO 260Microbiology

3

BIO 260LMicrobiology Lab

1

BIO 262Genetics for Majors *

3

BIO 262LGenetics for Majors Lab

1

BIO 300Writing for Science *

3

BIO 363Cellular Biology

3

BIO 368Advanced Research Methods *

3

BIO 400Internship *

3

BIO 423Pathways in STEM - 4th Year Seminar

3

BIO 441Biochemistry

3

BIO 441LBiochemistry Lab

1

BIO 442Nucleic Acids and Metabolism

3

BIO 449Advanced Molecular Biology

4

CHM 151Principles of Chemistry I *

3

CHM 151LPrinciples of Chemistry I Lab

1

CHM 152Principles of Chemistry II *

3

CHM 152LPrinciples of Chemistry II Lab

1

CHM 221Organic Chemistry I

3

CHM 221LOrganic Chemistry I Lab

1

CHM 222Organic Chemistry II

3

CHM 222LOrganic Chemistry II Lab

1

CHM 441Physical Biochemistry

3

 

MA 171Calculus with Precalculus A *

4

AND

MA 172Calculus with Precalculus B

4

OR

MA 181Calculus I *

4

 

MA 218Probability and Statistics *

3

PHYS 271General Physics I *

3

PHYS 271LGeneral Physics I Lab

1

PHYS 272General Physics II *

3

PHYS 272LGeneral Physics II Lab

1

Major Elective Courses

Six (6) credits from the following (a minimum of 3 credits must be at the 300 level or higher):

BIO 224Endocrinology

3

BIO 250General Botany

3

BIO 272Parasitology

3

BIO 327SLMarine Biology and Tropical Ecology *

4-6

BIO 444Immunology

3

BIO 446Animal Virology

3

Sample Degree Plan — Biochemistry

Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.

Year One — Fall

BIO 151General Biology I *

3

BIO 151LGeneral Biology I Lab *

1

MA 181Calculus I *

4

EN 101Composition I *

3

CNCT 100Connections *

3

BIO 151: NS core course

BIO 151L: DSINQ and NS lab course

MA 181: MT core course

EN 101: WR core course

Year One — Spring

BIO 152General Biology II *

3

BIO 152LGeneral Biology II Lab

1

EN 102Composition II *

3

MA 218Probability and Statistics *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

HI Introductory History (HI-1) core course *

3

EN 102: WR core course

TRS 100: TRS-1 core course

Year Two — Fall

BIO 260Microbiology

3

BIO 260LMicrobiology Lab

1

BIO 300Writing for Science *

3

CHM 151Principles of Chemistry I *

3

CHM 151LPrinciples of Chemistry I Lab

1

EN Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course (GP course recommended if not already completed) *

3

BIO 300: DSINQ and WI course

CHM 151: NS core course

Year Two — Spring

BIO 262Genetics for Majors *

3

BIO 262LGenetics for Majors Lab

1

CHM 152Principles of Chemistry II *

3

CHM 152LPrinciples of Chemistry II Lab

1

PH 100Introduction to Philosophy *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course in a second discipline *

3

PH 100: PH-1 core course

Year Three — Fall

BIO 363Cellular Biology

3

BIO 368Advanced Research Methods *

3

CHM 221Organic Chemistry I

3

CHM 221LOrganic Chemistry I Lab

1

PHYS 271General Physics I *

3

PHYS 271LGeneral Physics I Lab

1

Advanced Social Science (SS-2) core course *

3

BIO 368: WI course

Year Three — Spring

BIO 441Biochemistry

3

BIO 441LBiochemistry Lab

1

CHM 222Organic Chemistry II

3

CHM 222LOrganic Chemistry II Lab

1

PHYS 272General Physics II *

3

PHYS 272LGeneral Physics II Lab

1

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course *

3

Year Four — Fall

BIO 442Nucleic Acids and Metabolism

3

BIO 423Pathways in STEM - 4th Year Seminar

3

One (1) biology elective course

PH Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course *

3

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2), or Advanced History (HI-2) core course - 3rd WI recommended *

3

Biology elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

Year Four — Spring

BIO 400Internship *

3

BIO 449Advanced Molecular Biology

4

CHM 441Physical Biochemistry

3

One (1) biology elective course

Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course *

3

Biology elective course: See Major Requirements above for course selections.

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.