Biochemistry Major
The Department of Chemistry offers a Bachelor’s of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry with a major in biochemistry. This page provides details on the major requirements. At the bottom of the page, additional requirements for the ACS certified Chemistry Degree can be found.
Sample Plans for Degree Progress Towards the B.S. in Chemistry with a Major in Biochemistry
Sample First Year Plans for starting the BS in Chemistry
2-year completion plans (primarily for transfer students) for the Chemistry Degree or ACS-Certified Degree
Required Entrance Level Courses and Prerequisite Courses
| Course | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Chemistry I with Lab (CHEM 111) | 4 |
offered fall and summer terms, a trailer for students completing CHEM 101 in the fall is offered in spring semester prerequisite for CHEM 112 with C- or better grade students must complete the chemistry placement test before registering for CHEM 111 Fulfills the Natural Sciences Gen Ed |
| General Chemistry II with Lab (CHEM 112) | 4 |
offered spring and summer terms, a trailer for students completing CHEM 111 in the spring is offered in fall semester prerequisite for all upper-level chemistry courses Fulfills Natural Sciences Gen Ed |
| Introductory Biology Course – either BIOL 121 or BIOL 125 | 4 |
offered fall semester and summer term (BIOL 121) prerequisite for BIOL 132 or BIOL 126 |
| Introductory Biology II Course – either BIOL 132 or BIOL 126 | 4 |
offered spring semester and summer term (BIOL 132) prerequisite for BIOL 340 and 341 |
| Calculus I (MATH 121) | 4 |
offered fall and spring semesters prerequisite for Calculus II Fulfills Quantitative Reasoning Gen Ed |
| Calculus II (MATH 122) | 4 |
offered fall and spring semesters prerequisite for Physical Chemistry I (CHEM 383) |
| General Physics with Lab (PHYS 101) or University Physics with Lab (PHYS 105) | 4 |
offered fall semester and summer term (PHYS 101) prerequisite for PHYS 102 or PHYS 106 PHYS 105 is Writing Intensive |
| General Physics II with Lab (PHYS 102) or University Physics with Lab (PHYS 106) | 4 |
offered spring semester and summer term (PHYS 102) prerequisite for Physical Chemistry I (CHEM 383) PHYS 106 is Writing Intensive |
Major Requirements
| Course | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Organic Chemistry I with Lab (CHEM 211) | 4 |
offered fall semesters prerequisite: CHEM 112 with a C or better |
| Organic Chemistry II with Lab (CHEM 212) | 4 |
offered spring semesters prerequisite: CHEM 211 with a C or better |
| Biochemistry I Lecture (CHEM 317) | 3 |
offered fall semesters prerequisite: CHEM 212 with a grade of C or above Digital intensive |
| Biochemistry I Laboratory (CHEM 319) | 1 |
offered fall semesters and occasionally spring semesters co-requisite: CHEM 317 Writing intensive |
| Biochemistry II Lecture (CHEM 318) | 3 |
offered spring semesters prerequisite: CHEM 317 with a grade of C or above |
| Biochemistry II Laboratory (CHEM 320) | 1 |
offered spring semesters co-requisite: CHEM 318 Writing intensive |
| Physical Chemistry I Lecture (CHEM 383A) | 3 |
offered fall semesters prerequisites: MATH 122, PHYS 102 or PHYS 106, and a grade of C or better in CHEM 112 |
| Senior Seminar (CHEM 453) | 2 |
offered spring semesters prerequisite: graduating majors with major GPA of 2.0 or higher or with permission of the department Speaking Intensive |
| Cellular Biology (BIOL 340) | 4 |
offered fall semesters prerequisites: CHEM 112 with grade of C- or above, BIOL 126 or 132 with a grade of C- or above |
| Genetics with Lab (BIOL 341) | 4 |
offered spring semesters prerequisites: CHEM 112 with grade of C- or above, BIOL 126 or 132 with a grade of C- or above |
| Upper level Biology course – complete one of the following courses: BIOL 342, 440, 443, 444, or 471 (approval required) | 3 | offerings and prerequisites vary depending on course |
Recommended Elective Courses
Depending on their career goals, students are strongly encouraged to complete some additional elective courses such as:
- CHEM 253 or CHEM 254 Chemical Analysis I or II
- BIOL 430 Molecular Biology of the Gene
- BIOL 432 Virology
- BIOL 471 Microbiology
ACS-Certified Biochemistry Major
Students wishing to earn an American Chemical Society (ACS) certified biochemistry major must complete CHEM 253, 254, 343, and 345.