Program Overview
Biochemistry, BS
(Certified by the American Chemical Society)
The BS degree in biochemistry is appropriate for students interested in the medical fields, graduate study in chemistry or biochemistry, or employment in the biochemical, pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries. All courses in the major core, major electives and supporting courses must be taken in the traditional grading mode (A-F). Undergraduate research is required for the BS degree in biochemistry. Transcripts will be noted as approved by the American Chemical Society.
Program Learning Outcomes
By the completion of our degree programs, students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Apply both the concepts and mathematics of basic thermodynamic properties and the three laws thermodynamics. This includes enthalpy, entropy and free energy (ΔG = ΔH – TΔS)
- Differentiate between thermodynamics and kinetics as it pertains to the fate of a reaction.
- Identify the components of solutions and utilize their knowledge prepare and dilute solutions.
- Describe and the concepts of acids and bases, neutralization and buffers and apply those concepts to chemistry problems.
- Utilize stoichiometry, write appropriate chemical equations to describe chemical processes, to categorize chemical reactions, and gain a fundamental understanding of chemical reactivity.
- Appropriately manipulate and interpret data.
- Work safely and ethically in lab including maintaining a good lab notebook, performing basic lab skills, designing and troubleshooting experiments, and reporting conclusions.
- Effectively utilize instrumentation and computer.
- Describe and utilize basic chemical bonding theory including drawing Lewis dot structures, recognizing hybrid orbitals, and molecular orbital theory.
- Read and interpret chemical literature and communicate science effectively in both oral and written formats
- Implement career planning
Learning Outcomes Specific for BS Biochemistry
- Implement advanced lab techniques and skills.
- Implement experiments for a novel research problem and demonstrate scientific independence.
- Describe and apply the relationship between structure and function for biological molecules and how these relationships dictate chemical reactivities in metabolism and life.
Degree Requirements
See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.
General Education Requirements (48 units)
See the “General Education ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.
Major Core Requirements
- CHEM 115A - General Chemistry Unit(s): 5
- CHEM 115B - General Chemistry Unit(s): 5
- CHEM 255 - Quantitative Analysis Unit(s): 4
- CHEM 310A - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 310B - Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 315 - Introduction to Research Methods in Chemistry Unit(s): 1
- CHEM 316 - Research Methods in Chemistry Unit(s): 2
- CHEM 325 - Inorganic Chemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 335A - Organic Chemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 335B - Organic Chemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 336A - Organic Chemistry Lab I Unit(s): 2
- CHEM 401 - Senior Integrated Lab Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 441 - Biochemical Methods Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 445 - Structural Biochemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 446 - Metabolic Biochemistry Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 475 - Instrumental Analysis Unit(s): 3
- CHEM 497 - Research Seminar Unit(s): 1
Biology Courses
- BIOL 130 - Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 321 - Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Physiology Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 325 - Molecular and Cellular Lab Techniques Unit(s): 1
Major Elective
Choose 1, 4-unit course from the following:
- CHEM 496 - Selected Topics Unit(s): 1-4
- BIOL 338 - Environmental Microbiology Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 340 - General Bacteriology Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 342 - Molecular Genetics Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 344 - Cell Biology Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 348 - Plant Physiology Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 349 - Animal Physiology Unit(s): 4
- BIOL 383 - Virology Unit(s): 4
Supporting Courses
- MATH 161 - Differential and Integral Calculus I Unit(s): 4
- MATH 211 - Differential and Integral Calculus II Unit(s): 4
- PHYS 114 - Introduction to Physics I Unit(s): 4 OR
- PHYS 210A - General Physics Unit(s): 3
- PHYS 116 - Introductory Laboratory Experience Unit(s): 1 OR
- PHYS 209A - General Physics Laboratory Unit(s): 1
- PHYS 214 - Introduction to Physics II Unit(s): 4 OR
- PHYS 210B - General Physics Unit(s): 3
- PHYS 216 - Introductory Laboratory Unit(s): 1 OR
- PHYS 209B - General Physics Laboratory Unit(s): 1
Total Units Required: 120
Total GE unit: 48 Total Major Core units: 50 _(includes 6 units that also count for GE Total Support units: 15 (includes 3 units that also count for GE) Biology units: 6 Major Elective units: 4 Elective units: 6 Total Units Required for Graduation: 120
Program Roadmaps
Biochemistry, BS, Sample Four-Year Plan Biochemistry, BS, Sample Two-Year Plan