Major Requirements
Course Requirements
Common Core
All students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry must complete a common core of courses in the department. These courses are consistent with the requirements of all degree programs accredited by the American Chemical Society. The courses in the common core consist of:
Introductory Courses
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
Common Core
All students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in chemistry must complete a common core of courses in the department. These courses are consistent with the requirements of all degree programs accredited by the American Chemical Society. The courses in the common core consist of:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| 4-6 |
CHE 130
& CHE 131 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | |
CHE 120
& CHE 131 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY IP
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | |
| 4-6 |
CHE 132
& CHE 133 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | |
CHE 122
& CHE 133 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY IIP
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | |
CHE 134
& CHE 135 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY III
and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III | 4 |
The department occasionally offers General Chemistry in the summer. In this case, the combination of CHE 136/CHE 137 and CHE 138/CHE 139 may substitute for the three-quarter sequences above.
Foundation Courses
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
CHE 204
& CHE 205 | ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
and ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
CHE 230
& CHE 231 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 4 |
CHE 232
& CHE 233 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II | 4 |
CHE 234
& CHE 235 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY III
and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III | 4 |
| CHE 261 | INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS (lecture and lab) | 4 |
| CHE 300 | THERMODYNAMICS AND INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS | 4 |
CHE 320
& CHE 321 | INTERMEDIATE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
and INTERMEDIATE INORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
CHE 340
& CHE 341 | BIOCHEMISTRY I
and EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY I | 4 |
In-Depth Courses
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| CHE 315 | PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LAB | 4 |
CHE 342
& CHE 343 | BIOCHEMISTRY II
and EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY II | 4 |
| 1 | 12 |
Biology
One year of General Biology and a course in Cell Biology, all offered by the Department of Biological Sciences, are required to earn a baccalaureate degree in biochemistry:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| BIO 191 | GENERAL BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | 4 |
| BIO 192 | GENERAL BIOLOGY II FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | 4 |
| BIO 193 | GENERAL BIOLOGY III FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | 4 |
| BIO 250 | CELL BIOLOGY | 4 |
Calculus
One year of calculus is required to earn a baccalaureate degree in biochemistry. This may be accomplished by completing any one of the following five course sequences offered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| MAT 147 | CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I | 6 |
| MAT 148 | CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II | 6 |
| MAT 149 | CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III | 6 |
| MAT 150 | CALCULUS I | 4 |
| MAT 151 | CALCULUS II | 4 |
| MAT 152 | CALCULUS III | 4 |
| MAT 160 | CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS I | 5 |
| MAT 161 | CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS II | 5 |
| MAT 162 | CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS III | 5 |
| MAT 170 | CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I | 5 |
| MAT 171 | CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II | 5 |
| MAT 172 | CALCULUS III WITH DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS | 5 |
| MAT 155 | SUMMER CALCULUS I | 6 |
| MAT 156 | SUMMER CALCULUS II | 6 |
Students interested in earning credit for multi-variable calculus should not take the MAT 170/ MAT 171/MAT 172 sequence. Business calculus cannot be substituted for any of the sequences above.
Physics
One year of general physics is required to earn a baccalaureate in biochemistry. This may be accomplished by completing one of the following three-course sequences offered by the Department of Physics:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| PHY 170 | UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHY 171 | UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II | 4 |
| PHY 172 | UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III | 4 |
| PHY 150 | GENERAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| PHY 151 | GENERAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| PHY 152 | GENERAL PHYSICS III | 4 |
Open Electives
Open elective credit is also required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.
Departmental Program Requirements
The following enrollment-related policies are fully enforced by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- All students enrolling in the first course of a General Chemistry sequence must independently meet a minimum mathematics requirement. See the course descriptions for General Chemistry for up-to-date information.
- All prerequisite chemistry courses must be completed with a C- or better. Students not meeting this requirement may be removed from course rosters before the start of an academic session. This requirement may be waived only with departmental consent.
- The department offers lower-level sequences several times each academic year. Due to potentially small class sizes, upper-level courses may be scheduled every other year. Students should consult with their faculty academic advisor to develop a program they can complete in a timely fashion.
Departmental Program Requirements
The following enrollment-related policies are fully enforced by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- All students enrolling in the first course of a General Chemistry sequence must independently meet a minimum mathematics requirement and successfully complete the General Chemistry placement examination. See the course descriptions for General Chemistry for up-to-date information.
- All prerequisite chemistry courses must be completed with a C- or better. Students not meeting this requirement may be removed from course rosters before the start of an academic session. This requirement may be waived only with departmental consent.
- The department offers lower-level sequences several times each academic year. Due to potentially small class sizes, upper-level courses are typically scheduled every other year. Students should consult with their faculty academic advisor to develop a program they can complete in a timely fashion.
Sequencing and Prerequisites
Students should begin their General Chemistry and General Biology sequences in their freshman year provided they have an adequate mathematics background. Students not yet prepared for calculus should take the prerequisite courses in their first year. The Calculus and Physics sequences should be taken no later than their sophomore and junior year, respectively. The Organic Chemistry sequence, Analytical Chemistry and Instrumental Analysis should be taken in the sophomore year. The Biochemistry sequence should be taken in their junior year. Advanced courses in Chemistry and courses in biology may be taken as soon as students have met the appropriate prerequisites.
Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.
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