Biochemistry Major

This program is intended for students who wish to use the undergraduate major in chemistry as preparation for further study and/or employment in medicine, dentistry, or any of the other life sciences: biochemistry, molecular biology, forensic chemistry, clinical chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, toxicology, industrial hygiene and other health-related fields.  To serve such a variety of career goals, the program offers multiple tracks, which may differ in some requirements and options.

Required Courses

CH 141 - 142 *	General Chemistry I and II	8 credit hours
CH 143 - 144 *	General Chemistry Lab I and II	2 credit hours
CH 151H*	Chemical Principles	4 credit hours
CH 153*	Chemical Principles Lab	1 credit hour
CH 221 - 222	Organic Chemistry I and II	6 credit hours
CH 223 - 224	Organic Chemistry Lab I and II	2 credit hours
CH 261	Analytical Chemistry	3 credit hours
CH 263	Analytical Chemistry Lab	1 credit hour
CH 361 **	Introductory Physical Chemistry	3 credit hours
CH 365-366**	Physical Chemistry I and II	6 credit hours
CH 367	Physical Chemistry Lab I	2 credit hour
CH 435 - 436	Biochemistry I and II	7 credit hours
CH 437	Biochemistry Lab	1 credit hour
CH 478 A & B	Chemistry Seminar	0 credit hour
BL 155 - 156	Principles of Biology I and II	6 credit hour
BL 157 - 158	Principles of Biology Lab I and II	2 credit hours
MT 135-136****	Calculus / Anal. Geom. I and II	8 credit hours
PH 125 - 126	General Physics I and II	6 credit hours
PH 125L-126L	General Physics Lab I and II	2 credit hours

In addition, three upper division electives in chemistry or biology, at least one of which is chemistry must be taken.

The upper division elective in CH could be 3 cr. of CH399, undergraduate research, which can be partially fulfilled in summer, spring or fall.

* Students entering with a rigorous background in chemistry may elect to take CH151 and CH153
   as substitutes for the CH141-144 sequence.

** Either CH 361 or the CH 365-366 sequence will satisfy this requirement.

For other tracks, the common sequence, plus one upper-division chemistry elective and two upper-division biology electives must be taken.

The upper-division biology electives may be selected from BL 213, 250-250L, 254-254L, 308-308L, 310-310L, 360-360L, 410, 440, 450-450L, 465, 471, 475 or other courses approved by the chemistry department chair.  Premedical students are strongly advised to select BL213 as one elective.

**** For the biochemistry major, MT228 (Biostatistics) may be substituted for MT136 (Calculus II) with chair permission.

While not required, CH 399 (Undergraduate Research) is strongly recommended.

A Typical Four Year Schedule
For a Pre-Medical/ Biochemistry Major

NOTES:

CH 365-368 are recommended for students considering graduate school in a chemistry related area.

BL213 is not required (it is a BL elective), but this is the recommended first BL elective.

*  -  Two semesters of Chemistry Seminar (CH478) are required of all chemistry majors.

Core Courses  =  One or more core courses as schedule allows.

128 Total credit hours are needed to graduate.

This website updated: Aug 29, 2011