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Student Name:_______________________ Advisor Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Biochemistry, B.S.

Major Requirements

Credit Hours: 71+

In addition to completing the requirements for this major, students must also complete the degree requirements specified in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Courses within this major may also satisfy general education requirements. Please consult the Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Requirements for more information.

Required Courses

Students will complete 8 credit hours from CHEM 111/CHEM 111L, CHEM 112/CHEM 112L OR 5 credit hours from HONS 190 HONS 190L.

Course NameTerm TakenGrade
CHEM 111 Principles of Chemistry (3)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 111L 


Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): MATH 111 or equivalent

CHEM 111L Principles of Chemistry Laboratory (1)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 111 

CHEM 112 Principles of Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 111/CHEM 111L; MATH 111 or equivalent


Corequisite(s): CHEM 112L 

CHEM 112L Principles of Chemistry Laboratory (1)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 111/CHEM 111L, MATH 111 or equivalent


Corequisite(s): CHEM 112 

CHEM 220 Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112 and CHEM 112L 


Corequisite(s): CHEM 220L 

CHEM 220L Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (2)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 220 

CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 112 and CHEM 112L or their equivalents.


Corequisite(s): CHEM 231L.

CHEM 231L Introduction to Organic Chemistry Laboratory Techniques (1)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 231.

CHEM 232 Organic Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 231 and CHEM 231L.


Corequisite(s): CHEM 232L.

CHEM 232L Organic Synthesis and Analysis (1)

Prerequisite(s): Both CHEM 231 and CHEM 231L.


Corequisite(s): CHEM 232.

CHEM 311 Inorganic Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 232 and CHEM 232L 

CHEM 341 Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, MATH 220 


Corequisite(s): CHEM 341L 

CHEM 341L Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics Laboratory (1)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 341.

CHEM 342 Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, MATH 220 


Corequisite(s): CHEM 342L 

CHEM 342L Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Laboratory (1)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 342.

CHEM 351 Biochemistry I -Biological Macromolecules (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 232 and CHEM 232L.

CHEM 352 Biochemistry II -Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351 

CHEM 354L Biochemistry Lab (1)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): CHEM 351.

CHEM 490 Chemistry and Biochemistry Seminar (1)

Prerequisite(s): Junior rank or higher

CHEM 492 Senior Seminar (1)

Prerequisite(s): Senior rank

Notes:

  • Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 190/HONS 190L in lieu of CHEM 111/CHEM 111L and CHEM 112/CHEM 112L. 
  • Honors students can take the alternative sequence of HONS 192/HONS 192L in lieu of CHEM 231/CHEM 231L. 
  • Honors students can take the alternative sequence of  HONS 293/HONS 293L in lieu of CHEM 232/CHEM 232L. 

Complete two of the following courses for a minimum of three lab credit hours:

Course NameTerm TakenGrade
CHEM 312L Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory (1)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): CHEM 311 

CHEM 355 Research Methods in Biochemistry (2)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 354L 

CHEM 371 Chemical Synthesis and Characterization (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, CHEM 232, CHEM 232L.

CHEM 421L Instrumental Lab (1)

Corequisite(s): CHEM 421 

CHEM 422L Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (1)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): CHEM 422.

CHEM 423 Bioanalytical Chemistry (2)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, CHEM 351 

CHEM 432 Industrial Chemistry (2)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, CHEM 232, CHEM 232L 

CHEM 435 Materials and Polymers (2)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, CHEM 232, CHEM 232L 

CHEM 481 Introductory Research I (2)

Complete one course from the following:

Course NameTerm TakenGrade
CHEM 353 Chemical Biology (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351 

CHEM 356 Biochemical Basis of Disease (2)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351 

CHEM 358 Nucleic Acids in Research, Biotechnology, and Medicine (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351 or BIOL 312 or instructor’s permission

CHEM 421 Instrumental Methods of Analysis (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, CHEM 232, CHEM 232L


Corequisite(s): CHEM 421L 

CHEM 422 Environmental Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 220, CHEM 220L, CHEM 231, CHEM 231L

CHEM 431 Advanced Organic Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 232 and CHEM 232L 

CHEM 360 Biophysical Chemistry (3)

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 351, MATH 120

Biology Requirement

Course NameTerm TakenGrade
BIOL 111 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (3)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): BIOL 111L 

BIOL 111L Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology Lab (1)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): BIOL 111 

BIOL 112 Evolution, Form, and Function of Organisms (3)

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 111 and BIOL 111L 


Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): BIOL 112L 

BIOL 112L Evolution, Form, and Function of Organisms Lab (1)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): BIOL 112 

BIOL 312 Molecular Biology (3)

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 111, BIOL 111L, BIOL 112, BIOL 112L, BIOL 211(or BIOL 213), and one of year chemistry. CHEM 232 can be substituted for BIOL 211.

BIOL 312L Molecular Biology Laboratory (1)

Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): BIOL 312, or permission of instructor.

Notes:

  • Honors students can take the alternative sequence of HONS 151/HONS 151L in lieu of BIOL 111/BIOL 111L.
  • Honors students can take the alternative sequence of HONS 152/HONS 152L in lieu of BIOL 112/BIOL 112L.

Physics Requirement

Course NameTerm TakenGrade
PHYS 111 General Physics I (3)

Corequisite(s): PHYS 111L.


Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): MATH 120 or equivalent or permission of the instructor.

PHYS 111L General Physics I Lab (1)

Corequisite(s): PHYS 111 or permission of instructor

PHYS 112 General Physics II (3)

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 111 or HONS 157.


Corequisite(s): PHYS 112L.


Prerequisite(s) or Corequisite(s): MATH 220 or equivalent or permission of the instructor.

PHYS 112L General Physics II Lab (1)

Corequisite(s): PHYS 112 or permission of instructor

Notes:

  • Honors students can take the alternative sequence of HONS 157/HONS 157L in lieu of PHYS 111/PHYS 111L. 
  • Honors students can take the alternative sequence of HONS 158/HONS 158L in lieu of  PHYS 112/PHYS 112L. 

Mathematics Requirement:

Course NameTerm TakenGrade
MATH 120 Introductory Calculus (4)

Prerequisite(s): Placement or C- or better in MATH 111 

MATH 220 Calculus II (4)

Prerequisite(s): MATH 120 or HONS 115 

Notes:

  • Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 115 in lieu of MATH 120.
  • Honors students can take the alternative course of HONS 215 in lieu of MATH 220.

Notes:

  • All junior and senior chemistry majors are strongly encouraged to attend the scheduled departmental seminars.
  • Students who have completed PHYS 101 Introductory Physics I (3) and PHYS 102 Introductory Physics II (3) before declaring a chemistry major or biochemistry may satisfy this requirement by taking additional related courses. Please see the department chair for the list of courses.
  • Students are encouraged to participate in independent research with a faculty member (through CHEM 397, CHEM 481, CHEM 482, or CHEM 499A and CHEM 499B or over the summer).
  • No more than 4 credit hours from CHEM 381 may be applied towards the program requirements.
  • No more than 12 credit hours from CHEM 399 may be applied towards the program requirements.
  • No more than 12 credit hours from CHEM 483 may be applied towards the program requirements.
  • No more than 12 credit hours from CHEM 483L may be applied towards the program requirements.
  • No more than 2 credit hours from CHEM 490 may be applied towards the program requirements.  

Coursework Meeting Major Requirements Excluded from the Major GPA Calculation

The following courses are excluded: BIOL 111, BIOL 111L, BIOL 112, BIOL 112L, BIOL 312, BIOL 312L, HONS 151, HONS 151L, HONS 152, HONS 152L, HONS 157, HONS 157L, HONS 158, HONS 158L, HONS 115, HONS 215, MATH 120, MATH 220, PHYS 111, PHYS 111L, PHYS 112, PHYS 112L 

Notes: This worksheet is not intended to replace face-to-face advising.