College of Science and Health > Academics > Chemistry and Biochemistry > Undergraduate > Biochemistry (BS) > Major Requirements

Major Requirements

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 Title Quarter Hours
Select one of the following: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
Select one of the following: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 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 261INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS (lecture and lab)4
CHE 300THERMODYNAMICS AND INTRODUCTION TO QUANTUM MECHANICS4
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 Title Quarter Hours
CHE 315PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LAB4
CHE 342
& CHE 343		BIOCHEMISTRY II
and EXPERIMENTAL BIOCHEMISTRY II		4
Select 12 credit hours from any of CHE 250 through CHE 399, excluding CHE 346. One course may be CHE 392, CHE 397, or CHE 398. 112
1

One 300-level biology course may replace an In-Depth Chemistry course in consultation with a student’s academic advisor. Suggested options include BIO 370, BIO 375, and HLTH 320.

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 Title Quarter Hours
BIO 191GENERAL BIOLOGY I FOR SCIENCE MAJORS4
BIO 192GENERAL BIOLOGY II FOR SCIENCE MAJORS4
BIO 193GENERAL BIOLOGY III FOR SCIENCE MAJORS4
BIO 250CELL BIOLOGY4

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 Title Quarter Hours
Sequence One
MAT 147CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS I6
MAT 148CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS II6
MAT 149CALCULUS WITH INTEGRATED PRECALCULUS III6
Sequence Two
MAT 150CALCULUS I4
MAT 151CALCULUS II4
MAT 152CALCULUS III4
Sequence Three
MAT 160CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS I5
MAT 161CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS II5
MAT 162CALCULUS FOR MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE MAJORS III5
Sequence Four
MAT 170CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES I5
MAT 171CALCULUS FOR LIFE SCIENCES II5
MAT 172CALCULUS III WITH DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS5
Sequence Five
MAT 155SUMMER CALCULUS I6
MAT 156SUMMER CALCULUS II6

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 Title Quarter Hours
Sequence One
PHY 170UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I4
PHY 171UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II4
PHY 172UNIVERSITY PHYSICS III4
Sequence Two
PHY 150GENERAL PHYSICS I4
PHY 151GENERAL PHYSICS II4
PHY 152GENERAL PHYSICS III4

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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

 

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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