Program Overview

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Biochemistry, BS (L&S)

Biochemistry is a broad science that studies the molecules and chemistry of life. It focuses on the structure, properties, and interactions of molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, sugars, and lipids. The aim of biochemistry is to understand how these molecules participate in the processes that support the various functions of the living cell. These studies are essential for understanding disease and finding cures, improving agriculture and the production of food and biofuels, and producing innovation in biotechnology.

How to Get in

Students may declare the major via an appointment with the undergraduate advisor at any time. The Biochemistry major is offered through either the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) or the College of Letters & Science (L&S). Students interested in the differences or transferring between CALS and L&S should meet with the advisor to discuss this in more detail.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. The requirements include:

• BreadthHumanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• BreadthNatural Science: 4 to 6 credits
• BreadthSocial Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B
• Ethnic Studies
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B

College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Science (BS)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The requirements include:

• Mathematics: Complete two courses of 3+ credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level in MATH, COMP SCI, or STAT subjects.
• Language: Complete the third unit of a language other than English.
• L&S Breadth: Complete 12 credits of Humanities, 12 credits of Social Science, and 12 credits of Natural Science.
• Liberal Arts and Science Coursework: Complete at least 108 credits.
• Depth of Intermediate/Advanced Coursework: Complete at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level.
• Major: Declare and complete at least one major.
• Total Credits: Complete at least 120 credits.
• UW-Madison Experience: Complete both 30 credits in residence overall and 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
• Quality of Work: Maintain a 2.000 GPA in all coursework at UWMadison and a 2.000 GPA in Intermediate/Advanced level coursework at UWMadison.

Requirements for the Major

The major in Biochemistry requires the completion of the following courses:

Mathematics

Complete one of the following options:

• MATH 221 and MATH 222: Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 and 2
• MATH 171, MATH 217, and MATH 222: Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I, Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II, and Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2

Chemistry

Complete the following courses:

General Chemistry

• CHEM 103 and CHEM 104: General Chemistry I and II
• or CHEM 109: Advanced General Chemistry
• or CHEM 115 and CHEM 116: Chemical Principles I and II

Organic Chemistry

• CHEM 343: Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 344: Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 345: Organic Chemistry II

Analytical Chemistry

• Complete one of the following courses:
  • CHEM 327: Fundamentals of Analytical Science
  • CHEM 329: Fundamentals of Analytical Science
  • CHEM 116: Chemical Principles II

Physical Chemistry

• Complete one of the following courses:
  • CHEM 665: Biophysical Chemistry
  • CHEM 561: Physical Chemistry I

Biology

Students must complete either Option A (introductory + upper-level biology) or Option B (Biocore) for 16 total credits of biological science coursework.

Option A (Introductory and Upper-Level Biology)

Complete one of the following introductory biology options:

• BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 and BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152: Introductory Biology
• BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101, BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102, and BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130: Animal Biology, Animal Biology Laboratory, and General Botany

And complete at least 6 credits of upper-level biological science coursework from the following list:

• AGROECOL 370: Grassland Ecology
• AGROECOL 377: Global Food Production and Health
• ANAT&PHY 335: Physiology
• ANAT&PHY 337: Human Anatomy
• ANAT&PHY 435: Fundamentals of Human Physiology
• AN SCI/FOOD SCI 305: Introduction to Meat Science and Technology
• AN SCI/DY SCI/NUTR SCI 311: Comparative Animal Nutrition
• AN SCI 314
• AN SCI/DY SCI 320: Animal Health and Disease
• AN SCI/DY SCI 361: Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Genetics
• AN SCI/DY SCI 362: Veterinary Genetics
• AN SCI/DY SCI 363: Principles of Animal Breeding
• AN SCI/DY SCI 370: Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development
• AN SCI/DY SCI 414: Ruminant Nutrition & Metabolism
• AN SCI 415: Application of Monogastric Nutrition Principles
• AN SCI 431: Beef Cattle Production
• AN SCI 432: Swine Production
• AN SCI/DY SCI 434: Reproductive Physiology
• AN SCI 503
• AN SCI 508
• AN SCI 511
• AN SCI 512
• AN SCI/FOOD SCI 515: Commercial Meat Processing
• AN SCI/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 520: Ornithology
• AN SCI/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 521: Birds of Southern Wisconsin
• AN SCI/BOTANY/ENTOM 473: Plant-Insect Interactions
• AN SCI/BOTANY 500: Plant Physiology
• AN SCI/ENTOM/PL PATH 505: Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects
• AN SCI/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516: Conservation Biology
• AN SCI/BOTANY/GENETICS/M M & I/PL PATH 655: Biology and Genetics of Fungi
• B M E/MED PHYS/PHMCOL-M/PHYSICS/RADIOL 619: Microscopy of Life
• B M I/STAT 541: Introduction to Biostatistics
• B M I/COMP SCI 576: Introduction to Bioinformatics
• BOTANY 300: Plant Anatomy
• BOTANY 305: Plant Morphology and Evolution
• BOTANY 330: Algae
• BOTANY/PL PATH 332: Fungi
• BOTANY 400: Plant Systematics
• BOTANY 401: Vascular Flora of Wisconsin
• BOTANY/F&W ECOL 402: Dendrology: Woody Plant Identification and Ecology
• BOTANY/ANTHRO/ZOOLOGY 410: Evolutionary Biology
• BOTANY 422: Plant Geography
• BOTANY 455: The Vegetation of Wisconsin
• BOTANY/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 460: General Ecology
• BOTANY/ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 473: Plant-Insect Interactions
• BOTANY/AMER IND/ANTHRO 474: Ethnobotany
• BOTANY 500: Plant Physiology
• BOTANY/ENTOM/PL PATH 505: Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects
• BOTANY/ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL/ZOOLOGY 516: Conservation Biology
• BOTANY/PL PATH 563: Phylogenetic Analysis of Molecular Data
• BOTANY/GENETICS/M M & I/PL PATH 655: Biology and Genetics of Fungi
• CHEM 575: Advanced Topics in Chemistry (Topics in Chemical Biology)
• CRB 625: Stem Cell Seminar
• CRB 640: Fundamentals of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology
• CRB 675: Topics in Cell and Regenerative Biology
• DY SCI 378: Lactation Physiology
• DY SCI 535: Dairy Farm Management Practicum
• ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 302: Introduction to Entomology
• ENTOM 321: Physiology of Insects
• ENTOM 331: Taxonomy of Mature Insects
• ENTOM 351: Principles of Economic Entomology
• ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 371: Medical Entomology: Biology of Vector and Vector-borne Diseases
• ENTOM 432: Taxonomy and Bionomics of Immature Insects
• ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 540: Theoretical Ecology
• ENTOM/GENETICS/ZOOLOGY 624: Molecular Ecology
• ENVIR ST/LAND ARC 361: Wetlands Ecology
• ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 471: Introduction to Environmental Health
• ENVIR ST/POP HLTH 502: Air Pollution and Human Health
• ENVIR ST/F&W ECOL 515: Natural Resources Policy
• ENVIR ST/ATM OCN 520: Bioclimatology
• FOOD SCI/MICROBIO 324: Food Microbiology Laboratory
• FOOD SCI/MICROBIO 325: Food Microbiology
• FOOD SCI 410: Food Chemistry
• FOOD SCI 440: Principles of Food Engineering
• FOOD SCI 511: Chemistry and Technology of Dairy Products
• FOOD SCI 514: Integrated Food Functionality
• FOOD SCI 550: Fermented Foods and Beverages
• FOOD SCI 611: Chemistry and Technology of Dairy Products
• F&W ECOL 300: Forest Measurements
• F&W ECOL 306: Terrestrial Vertebrates: Life History and Ecology
• F&W ECOL 318: Principles of Wildlife Ecology
• F&W ECOL 335
• F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360: Extinction of Species
• F&W ECOL 379: Principles of Wildlife Management
• F&W ECOL 401
• F&W ECOL 410: Silviculture: Applied Forest Ecology
• F&W ECOL/A A E 430: Decision Methods for Natural Resource Managers
• F&W ECOL/SURG SCI 548: Diseases of Wildlife
• F&W ECOL 550: Forest Ecology
• F&W ECOL 561: Wildlife Management Techniques
• F&W ECOL/LAND ARC/ZOOLOGY 565: Principles of Landscape Ecology
• F&W ECOL 590: Integrated Resource Management
• F&W ECOL 655: Animal Population Dynamics
• GEN&WS 533: Special Topics in Gender and Biology
• GENETICS 466: Principles of Genetics
• GENETICS 467: General Genetics 1
• GENETICS 468: General Genetics 2
• GENETICS 525: Epigenetics
• GENETICS 545: Genetics Laboratory
• GENETICS/MD GENET 565: Human Genetics
• GENETICS 566: Advanced Genetics
• M M & I 301: Pathogenic Bacteriology
• M M & I 341: Immunology
• M M & I/ENTOM/PATH-BIO/ZOOLOGY 350: Parasitology
• M M & I/PATH-BIO 528: Immunology
• M M & I 554: Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism
• MED PHYS/H ONCOL 410: Radiobiology
• MED PHYS/B M E/H ONCOL/PHYSICS 501: Radiation Physics and Dosimetry
• MICROBIO 303: Biology of Microorganisms
• MICROBIO 304: Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
• MICROBIO 305: Critical Analyses in Microbiology
• MICROBIO/AN SCI/BOTANY 335: The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans
• MICROBIO 345: Introduction to Disease Biology
• MICROBIO 357: General Bioinformatics for Microbiologists
• MICROBIO/SOIL SCI 425: Environmental Microbiology
• MICROBIO 450: Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms
• MICROBIO 470: Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines
• MICROBIO 520: Planetary Microbiology: What Life Here Tells Us About Life Out There
• MICROBIO/SOIL SCI 523: Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry
• MICROBIO 525: Field Studies of Planetary Microbiology and Life in the Universe
• MICROBIO 526: Physiology of Microorganisms
• MICROBIO 527: Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology
• MICROBIO 551: Capstone Research Project in Microbiology
• MICROBIO 626: Microbial and Cellular Metabolomics
• NEURODPT 629: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Memory
• NTP/NEURODPT 610: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
• NTP/NEURODPT/PSYCH 611: Systems Neuroscience
• NUTR SCI 332: Human Nutritional Needs
• NUTR SCI/A A E 350: World Hunger and Malnutrition
• NUTR SCI 379: Introduction to Epidemiology
• NUTR SCI 431: Nutrition in the Life Span
• ONCOLOGY 401: Introduction to Experimental Oncology
• ONCOLOGY/M&ENVTOX/PHM SCI/PHMCOL-M/POP HLTH 625: Toxicology I
• PHM SCI 310: Drugs and Their Actions
• PHM SCI/B M E 430: Biological Interactions with Materials
• PHYSICS/B M E/MED PHYS/PHMCOL-M/RADIOL 619: Microscopy of Life
• PL PATH 300: Introduction to Plant Pathology
• PL PATH 517: Plant Disease Resistance
• PL PATH 559: Diseases of Economic Plants
• PL PATH 602: Ecology, Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases
• PL PATH 622: Plant-Bacterial Interactions
• PL PATH/M M & I/ONCOLOGY 640: General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses
• PLANTSCI 300: Cropping Systems
• PLANTSCI 302: Forage Management and Utilization
• PLANTSCI 320: Environment of Cultivated Plants
• PLANTSCI 338: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
• PLANTSCI 340: Plant Genome Engineering and Editing
• PLANTSCI 501: Principles of Plant Breeding
• PLANTSCI/ATM OCN 532: Environmental Biophysics
• PLANTSCI 550: Molecular Approaches for Crop Improvement
• PSYCH 454: Behavioral Neuroscience
• PSYCH 513: Hormones, Brain, and Behavior
• PSYCH 612: Neuropharmacology
• SOIL SCI 323: Soil Biology
• SOIL SCI 326: Plant Nutrition Management
• SOIL SCI/F&W ECOL 451: Environmental Biogeochemistry
• SOIL SCI/CIV ENGR/M&ENVTOX 631: Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects
• ZOOLOGY 300: Invertebrate Biology and Evolution
• ZOOLOGY 301: Invertebrate Biology and Evolution Lab
• ZOOLOGY 304: Marine Biology
• ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 315: Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources
• ZOOLOGY 316: Laboratory for Limnology-Conservation of Aquatic Resources
• ZOOLOGY 425: Behavioral Ecology
• ZOOLOGY 430: Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates
• ZOOLOGY 470: Introduction to Animal Development
• ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 510: Ecology of Fishes
• ZOOLOGY/ENVIR ST 511: Ecology of Fishes Lab
• ZOOLOGY/PSYCH 523: Neurobiology
• ZOOLOGY/GEOSCI 542: Invertebrate Paleontology
• ZOOLOGY 555: Laboratory in Developmental Biology
• ZOOLOGY 570: Cell Biology
• ZOOLOGY 603: Endocrinology
• ZOOLOGY 611: Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology
• ZOOLOGY 612: Comparative Physiology Laboratory
• ZOOLOGY/ANTHRO/PSYCH 619: Biology of Mind

Option B (Biocore)

Biocore is an honors-level, integrated sequence of lecture and lab courses that covers introductory and intermediate biology topics. Students must apply and be accepted to the program to take Biocore classes.

• Complete the following lecture courses:
  • BIOCORE 381: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics
  • BIOCORE 383: Cellular Biology
  • BIOCORE 485: Principles of Physiology
  • BIOCORE 587: Biological Interactions
• Complete two of the following lab classes:
  • BIOCORE 382: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory
  • BIOCORE 384: Cellular Biology Laboratory
  • BIOCORE 486: Principles of Physiology Laboratory

Physics (Calculus-Based)

Complete one of the following options:

• PHYSICS 207 and PHYSICS 208: General Physics
• PHYSICS 201 and PHYSICS 202: General Physics

Biochemistry

One set of introductory coursework and the capstone course are required, for a total of three BIOCHEM courses.

Introductory Courses

Select one of the following options:

• BIOCHEM 507 and BIOCHEM 508: General Biochemistry I and II
• or BIOCHEM 501: Introduction to Biochemistry And one of the following advanced biochemistry electives:
• BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 510: Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
• BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 560: Principles of Human Disease and Biotechnology
• BIOCHEM/M M & I 575: Biology of Viruses
• BIOCHEM 601: Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function
• BIOCHEM/B M I/BMOLCHEM/MATH 609: Mathematical Methods for Systems Biology
• BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MICROBIO 612: Prokaryotic Molecular Biology
• BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MD GENET 620: Eukaryotic Molecular Biology
• BIOCHEM/BOTANY 621: Plant Biochemistry
• BIOCHEM 625: Mechanisms of Action of Vitamins and Minerals
• BIOCHEM/GENETICS 631: Plant Genetics and Development
• BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 645: Molecular Control of Metabolism and Metabolic Disease

Capstone

• BIOCHEM 551: Biochemical Methods

Residence and Quality of Work

• 2.000 GPA in all BIOCHEM and major courses
• 2.000 GPA on at least 15 upper-level major credits in Residence
• 15 credits in BIOCHEM, taken on campus

Honors in the Major

Students may declare Honors in the Biochemistry Major in consultation with their Biochemistry undergraduate advisor. To be admitted to Honors in the Major in Biochemistry, students must have declared a major in Biochemistry and have a 3.300 overall university GPA.

Honors in the Major in Biochemistry: Requirements

To earn honors in the major in biochemistry, students must satisfy the requirements for the major as well as the following requirements. All courses used for honors in the major requirements must receive "B" or better grades to fulfill requirements.

• Earn a 3.300 University GPA
• Earn a 3.300 GPA for all BIOCHEM courses, and all courses accepted in the major
• Complete BIOCHEM 507 and BIOCHEM 508 for Honors
• Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis for 6 credits total
• Complete at least 14 credits of any combination of the following coursework:
  • Honors courses that would fulfill the Biology or Biochemistry requirements in the major
  • Statistics coursework: STAT 301, STAT 371, or STAT/B M I 541
  • Biochemistry elective coursework beyond the major requirements: NUTR SCI/BIOCHEM 510, BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 560, M M & I/BIOCHEM 575, BIOCHEM 601, MATH/B M I/BIOCHEM/BMOLCHEM 609, MICROBIO/BIOCHEM/GENETICS 612, MD GENET/BIOCHEM/GENETICS 620, BOTANY/BIOCHEM 621, BIOCHEM 625, BIOCHEM/GENETICS 631, BIOCHEM/NUTR SCI 645
  • Honors coursework in MATH, CHEM, or PHYSICS

Math

• MATH 341: Linear Algebra
• MATH 375: Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra
• MATH 376: Topics in Multi-Variable Calculus and Differential Equations
• MATH 521: Analysis I
• MATH 522: Analysis II
• MATH 541: Modern Algebra
• MATH 542: Modern Algebra

Chemistry

• CHEM 109: Advanced General Chemistry
• CHEM 115: Chemical Principles I
• CHEM 116: Chemical Principles II
• CHEM 343: Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM 345: Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM 344: Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• CHEM 329: Fundamentals of Analytical Science
• CHEM 547: Advanced Organic Chemistry
• CHEM 561: Physical Chemistry I
• CHEM 563: Physical Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHEM 562: Physical Chemistry II
• CHEM 564: Physical Chemistry Laboratory II
• CHEM 665: Biophysical Chemistry

Physics

• PHYSICS 201: General Physics
• PHYSICS 202: General Physics
• PHYSICS 207: General Physics
• PHYSICS 208: General Physics
• PHYSICS 241: Introduction to Modern Physics
• PHYSICS 247: A Modern Introduction to Physics
• PHYSICS 248: A Modern Introduction to Physics
• PHYSICS 249: A Modern Introduction to Physics

University Degree Requirements

• Total Degree: To receive a bachelor's degree from UWMadison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits.
• Residency: Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UWMadison.
• Quality of Work: Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing.

Learning Outcomes

The Biochemistry major learning outcomes are:

1. Identify the fundamental biochemical principles that underlie all biological processes.
2. Communicate biochemical knowledge in both written reports and oral presentations to scientists and non-scientists.
3. Evaluate how biochemistry relates to other scientific disciplines and to contemporary issues in our society.
4. Demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility in scientific research.
5. Design and conduct quantitative experiments and/or interpret data to address a scientific question.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests.

Sample Biochemistry Four-Year Plan

Freshman

• Fall: CHEM 103 or 109, MATH 221, Communications Part A, BIOCHEM 100
• Spring: CHEM 104, MATH 222, BIOCHEM 207, Social Science Breadth Sophomore
• Fall: ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151, CHEM 343, Literature Breadth, Social Science Breadth
• Spring: ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152, CHEM 344, CHEM 345, Ethnic Studies Junior
• Fall: BIOCHEM 507, PHYSICS 207 or 201, Humanities Breadth, Electives
• Spring: BIOCHEM 508, PHYSICS 208 or 202, CHEM 327, Literature Breadth Senior
• Fall: CHEM 665 or BIOCHEM 551, Upper-Level Biology, Social Science Breadth, Electives, BIOCHEM 691 or 681
• Spring: BIOCHEM 551 or CHEM 665, Upper-Level Biology, Humanities Breadth, Electives, BIOCHEM 692 or 682

Advising and Careers

Declare or Cancel This Major

Contact the academic advisor assigned to your last name.

How to Seek Advising

• To schedule an appointment with the advisor, use Starfish.
• Send an email with brief questions to the advisor.
• Drop-in advising hours for quick questions, on a first-come, first-serve basis, are posted on the Biochemistry/Microbiology Undergraduate Advising Hub website each semester.

Career Examples

• Take your skills to a rewarding career in product development, quality control, hospitals, biotechnology, university labs, pharmaceuticals, forensics, and more.
• Pursue a professional degree in medical, dental, or veterinary school, using your background in biochemistry to aid your admission and success.
• Build on your research experience and continue graduate studies in biochemistry or a related field to shape a career in academia as a professor or in industry.
• Use your science background to inform patent law, science policy and ethics, sales and marketing for science and technology companies, scientific article publishing, and related fields.

SuccessWorks

SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.

Wisconsin Experience

The following opportunities can help students connect with other students interested in biochemistry, build relationships with faculty and staff, and contribute to out-of-classroom learning:

• The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) UWMadison Student Chapter is a student organization for students interested in biochemistry.
• Several biochemistry faculty members offer experiential study abroad programs, where students can immerse themselves in research or global health field experiences.
• Students are encouraged to get involved in research, whether in the biochemistry department or through other life science or chemistry-related departments.