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.

71 credit hours

Required Courses: 32 credit hours

CHEM 117	General Chemistry II	4
	OR
CHEM 120	Accelerated General Chemistry (NS)	4
CHEM 201	Organic Chemistry I	4
CHEM 202	Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM 222	Inorganic Chemistry	4
CHEM 242	Analysis	4
CHEM 301	Chemical Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics (SI)	4
CHEM 305	Biochemistry	4
CHEM 330	Medicinal Chemistry (W)	4

Required Supportive Courses: 28 credit hours

BIOL 120	Biological Principles I (NS)	4
BIOL 233	Genetics	4
BIOL 234	Cell Biology	4
MATH 151	Calculus I (MT)	4
MATH 152	Calculus II	4
PHYS 221	General Physics I (NS)	4
PHYS 222	General Physics II	4

Choose 1 BIOL course and 2 CHEM courses from the following options: 11-12 credit hours

BIOL 303/PHYS 303	Biological Physics	3
BIOL 346	Developmental Biology (W)	4
BIOL 358	Molecular Biology	4
BIOL 360	Evolution	4
BIOL 364	Pharmacology (W)	4
CHEM 302	Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, and Spectroscopy	4
CHEM 311	Advanced Analytical Chemistry (W)	4
CHEM 331	Advanced Organic Chemistry (W)	4
CHEM 341	Advanced Inorganic Chemistry	4
CHEM 351	Polymers 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 110	First Year Seminar I (FS)	4
BIOL 120	Biological Principles I (NS)	4
CHEM 120	Accelerated General Chemistry (NS)	4
MATH 151	Calculus I (MT)	4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

CHEM 201	Organic Chemistry I	4
MATH 152	Calculus II	4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Second Year

Fall Semester

BIOL 233	Genetics	4
CHEM 202	Organic Chemistry II	4
PHYS 221	General Physics I (NS)	4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Interim

CHEM 222

Inorganic Chemistry

Spring Semester

CHEM 242	Analysis	4
BIOL 234	Cell Biology	4
PHYS 222	General Physics II	4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Third Year

Fall Semester

CHEM 301	Chemical Thermodynamics, Equilibrium and Kinetics (SI)	4
CHEM 305	Biochemistry	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 330	Medicinal 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.