B.S. in Biochemistry
Beginning in the fall 2013 semester the Departments of Biology and Chemistry of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design will offer an intercollegiate B.S. degree in Biochemistry. This degree program has two different tracks – an ACS track, which is consistent with the academic requirements established by the American Chemical Society for an approved B.S. degree and a non-ACS track, which offers an academic curriculum modeled after the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biologists guidelines. The academic curriculum for the ACS track for intercollegiate B.S. Biochemistry degree program is described below:
Required Curriculum for ACS track
AGBI 199 – Orientation to Biochemistry 1 hour
AGBI 410 – Introduction to Biochemistry 3 hours
AGBI 412 – Introductory Biochemistry Wet Lab 1 hour
BIOL 115 – Principles of Biology 4 hours
BIOL 117 – Introductory Physiology 4 hours
BIOL 219 – The Living Cell 4 hours
BIOL 310 – Advanced Cellular/Molecular Biology 3 hours
MATH 155 – Calculus 1 4 hours
MATH 156 – Calculus 2 4 hours
PHYS 111 and 112 – General Physics 8 hours
STAT 211 – Elementary Statistical Inference 3 hours
CHEM 115 and 116 - Fundamentals of Chemistry* 8 hours
CHEM 215 – Introduction to Analytical Chemistry* 4 hours
(required if CHEM 115 and 116 are taken)
CHEM 233 and 234 - Organic Chemistry 6 hours
CHEM 235 and 236 – Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 hours
CHEM 310 – Instrumental Analysis 3 hours
CHEM 341 – Physical Chemistry: Brief Course 3 hours
CHEM 342 – Experimental Physical Chemistry 1 hour
CHEM 401 – Chemical Literature 1 hour
CHEM 403 – Undergraduate Seminar 1 hour
CHEM 422 – Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 462 – Biochemistry 2 3 hours
CHEM 464 – Biochemistry 2 Laboratory 1 hour
CHEM 497 – Research 3 hours
*or instead of CHEM 115, CHEM 116, and CHEM 215, a student may substitute
CHEM 117 and 118 – Principles of Chemistry 10 hours
Total 76 – 78 hours
Available Biochemistry Elective Courses (9 hours)
CHEM 460 – Forensic Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 514 - Mass Spectrometry Principles and Practice 3 hours
CHEM 516 – Bioanalytical Chemistry 3 hours
CHEM 552 – Biochemical Toxicology 3 hours
BIOL 312 – Introduction to Virology 3 hours
BIOL 313 – Molecular Basis of Cellular Growth 3 hours
BIOL 324 – Molecular Genetics 3 hours
BIOL 325 – Molecular Genetics Laboratory 1 hour
BIOL 335 - Cell Physiology 3 hours
BIOL 348 – Neurobiology 3 hours
BIOL 411 – Introduction to Recombinant DNA 4 hours
BIOL 413 – Molecular Endocrinology 3 hours
BIOL 414 – Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory 1 hour
BIOL 424 - Protein Structure and Function 4 hours
BIOL 425 – Developmental Genetics 3 hours
BIOL 432 – Forensic Biology 4 hours
BIOL 436 – General Animal Physiology 3 hours
BIOL 441 - Vertebrate Microanatomy 5 hours
Other biochemistry electives in agricultural biochemistry, animal physiology, microbiology, genetics, and animal and veterinary sciences are listed in the university undergraduate catalog.
Performance requirements
A grade of C or better must be obtained in all prerequisites for biochemistry, biology, and chemistry courses. These courses include AGBI 410, 412; BIOL 115, 117, and 219; CHEM 115, 116, 215 (or 117, 118), 233, 234, 235, 236, 310, 341, 462, 464, 401); MATH 155, 156; PHYS 111, 112.
To maintain biochemistry major status and to graduate with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry, a student must maintain at least a 2.0 overall GPA and a 2.0 cumulative GPA in coursework in biochemistry, biology, and chemistry.