Biochemistry

The department offers two tracks of study for biochemistry majors. The tracks are similar for the first three semesters, allowing students the option to change between the two tracks within that time frame, should their career goals change. The research track prepares students for graduate study in biochemistry or for a career in which independent research experience would be beneficial. The pre-professional track is more flexible and allows students a greater selection of elective courses in chemistry and biology in order to tailor their course of study to meet their individual career goals. The pre-professional track provides a strong background for students pursuing further studies in law or medicine or career paths not emphasizing research.

Minor in Biochemistry

The minor in Biochemistry includes Organic Chemistry (6 credits), Biochemistry (3 credits), Biophysical Chemistry (3 credits) and Chemistry laboratory (3 credits).

Biochemistry ResearchTrack Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR (GE NSCI)		CHEM 112-113		General Analytical Chem. I-II	4.5	4.5
COGNATE (GE QUAN)		MATH 114		Analysis I	4
COGNATE		BIOL 141-142		General Biology I-II	4.5	4.5
GE WRTG - SPCH		WRTG 107 - COMM 100		Composition - Public Speaking	3	3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE FSEM		INTD 100		Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					17	16
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		CHEM 232-233		Organic Chemistry I-II	4.5	4.5
MAJOR		CHEM 240		Inorganic Chemistry		3
COGNATE		PHYS 120-121 2		General Physics I-II	4	4
GE ELECT		CMPS 134		Computer Science I	3
GE T/RS		T/RS 121		Theology I	3
GE PHIL		PHIL 120		Introduction to Philosophy		3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education	.5	.5
					18	18
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		CHEM 330		Organic Chem. III	3.5
MAJOR		CHEM 370		Instrumental Analysis		5
MAJOR		CHEM 360-361		Biophysical Chemistry I-II	4.5	4.5
MAJOR		CHEM 390-391		Chem. Literature - Seminar	1	1
GE ELECT		COGNATE ELECT 1,2		Cognate Electives (210 level or above)	3
GE T/RS		T/RS 122		Theology II	3
GE PHIL		PHIL 210		Ethics		3
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Electives	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education Elective		1
					18	17.5
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		CHEM 450-451		Biochemistry I-II	3	3
MAJOR		CHEM 450L		Biochemistry Lab	1.5
MAJOR		CHEM 493-494		Undergraduate Research	1.5	1.5
GE T/RS or PHIL		T/RS or PHIL		Philosophy or T/RS Elective	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE ELECT		COGNATE ELECT 1,2		Cognate Elective (210 level or above)		3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Elective		3
					12	13.5
					Total: 130 Credits
1 Cognate electives for the Biochemistry major may be taken in any of the following disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics or Physics and certain Psychology courses (PSYC 210, 231 and PSYC 384: Psychopharmacology) 2 For ACS certification, Biochemistry majors must take MATH 114, 221, 222, 341; PHYS 140-141 in place of PHYS 120-121; and CHEM 440 and 440L; and one course from the following: BIOL 250, 260, 263, 350, 361, or another Biology course approved by the Chemistry Department.

Biochemistry Pre-Professional Track Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR (GE NSCI)		CHEM 112-113		General Analytical Chem. I-II	4.5	4.5
COGNATE		BIOL 141-142		General Biology I-II	4.5	4.5
COGNATE (GE QUAN)		MATH 103/114		Pre-Calculus - Analysis I	4	4
GE WRTG		WRTG 107		Composition	3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE FSEM		INTD 100		Freshman Seminar	1
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					17	17
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		CHEM 232-233		Organic Chemistry I-II	4.5	4.5
COGNATE		PHYS 120-121		General Physics I-II	4	4
GE SPCH		COMM 100		Public Speaking		3
GE T/RS		T/RS 121		Theology I	3
GE PHIL		PHIL 120		Introduction to Philosophy		3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Elective	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education Elective	.5	.5
					18	18
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		CHEM 360		Biophysical Chemistry	4.5
MAJOR		CHEM 370		Instrumental Analysis		5
MAJOR		CHEM 450-451		Biochemistry I-II	4.5	3
MAJOR		CHEM 390		Chem. Literature	1
GE T/RS		T/RS 122		Theology II	3
GE PHIL		PHIL 210		Ethics		3
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Elective		3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Elective	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					16	15
				FOURTH YEAR 1
MAJOR		CHEM ELECT		Adv. Topics-Biochemistry		3
MAJOR/COGNATE		CHEM/BIO ELECT		CHEM or BIOL Elective 2	3-5
COGNATE ELECT		COGNATE ELECT		Biology Elective 2	3-5	3-5
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL - T/RS ELECT		Philosophy or T/RS Elective	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Elective	3	3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Electives	3	6
					15-19	15-17
					Total: 131-137 Credits
1 Senior year must contain at least 2 credits of laboratory or research. 2 Advanced biology courses are those courses which the Biology Department designates in the cellular, molecular or genetics areas.