Program Overview
Biochemistry (BA)
The Department of Chemistry has a long tradition in the College of Arts and Science, dating back well before the founding of the American Chemical Society at New York University in 1876. Professor John W. Draper, the first president of the society and chair of the department, was a remarkable polymath: chemist, physician, philosopher, historian, and pioneering photographer.
The department has undertaken a major development plan, strengthening its faculty, instructional laboratories, course offerings, and research facilities in the areas of physical, biophysical, bioorganic, and biomedical chemistry, as well as in chemical biology, nanoscience, and materials sciences. Qualified undergraduates are strongly encouraged to participate in research as early as their sophomore year of study. The department houses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for its undergraduate chemistry courses.
The department offers majors in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Global Public Health/Science with a concentration in Chemistry. Students have the opportunity to earn either a BA or BS in the Chemistry major. A selection of elective advanced courses, undergraduate and graduate, can be combined (in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies) to provide a broad, varied program of study in chemistry or an undergraduate specialization in organic, biochemical, physical, or theoretical chemistry. The opportunity to participate in scientific research as an undergraduate is one of the most exciting features of a Chemistry major. Research allows you to work alongside graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty to develop new ideas to solve real-world problems and make new discoveries. Many of our students produce results that lead to publications and research is also a great preparation for graduate school and a wide range of chemistry careers.
The programs of study in Chemistry and Biochemistry prepare students for graduate study leading to careers in research, development, and teaching and/or for further study in areas such as medicine, dentistry, basic medical sciences, and allied health fields (including forensic science). In addition, the Chemistry and Biochemistry majors both prepare students for alternative careers, especially when paired with a minor in Economics, Data Science, or Business Studies: for example, patent law, technology investment, or management in the chemical industry.
Honors Program
Students seeking entry into the honors program must obtain the approval of the director of undergraduate studies prior to the end of their junior year. Candidates for a degree with honors in Chemistry must have an overall GPA of 3.65 and a GPA of 3.65 in all required courses for the Chemistry or Biochemistry major. The main requirement for earning an honors degree is the completion of an honors thesis based upon independent experimental or theoretical research. Students interested in research and an honors degree must enroll in CHEM-UA 995 Senior Honors in Chem and CHEM-UA 996 Senior Honors Chemistry (4-8 credits total). The prerequisite for these courses is one semester (or summer) of either CHEM-UA 997 Adv Independent Study & Research or CHEM-UA 998 Adv Independent Study & Research (2-4 credits). A senior thesis based on the work completed in these courses must be prepared, approved by the adviser, and presented in a seminar format during the spring term of the student's senior year.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see the NYU admissions website.
Program Requirements
The major in Biochemistry requires six CHEM-UA core courses (28 credits), four mathematics and physics courses (18 credits), four biochemistry courses (16 credits), and one advanced chemistry elective (4 credits), all completed with a grade of C or better even if they are in other departments. Courses graded Pass/Fail do not count toward the major.
- General Education Requirements:
- First-Year Seminar: 4 credits
- EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry: 4 credits
- Foreign Language: 16 credits
- Texts and Ideas: 4 credits
- Cultures and Contexts: 4 credits
- Societies and the Social Sciences: 4 credits
- Expressive Culture: 4 credits
- Major Requirements:
- General Chemistry Sequence:
- CHEM-UA 125 General Chemistry I & Laboratory: 5 credits
- CHEM-UA 126 General Chemistry II & Laboratory: 5 credits
- Organic Chemistry Sequence:
- CHEM-UA 225 Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory: 5 credits
- CHEM-UA 226 Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory: 5 credits
- Physical Chemistry Courses:
- CHEM-UA 651 Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy: 4 credits
- CHEM-UA 652 Thermodynamics & Kinetics: 4 credits
- Mathematics & Physics Courses:
- MATH-UA 121 Calculus I: 4 credits
- MATH-UA 122 Calculus II: 4 credits
- PHYS-UA 11 General Physics I: 5 credits
- PHYS-UA 12 General Physics II: 5 credits
- Additional Biochemistry Courses:
- CHEM-UA 881 Biochemistry I: 4 credits
- CHEM-UA 882 Biochemistry II: 4 credits
- CHEM-UA 885 Experimental Biochem & Laboratory: 4 credits
- CHEM-UA 890 Advanced Biochemistry: 4 credits
- Electives:
- Advanced Chemistry Elective: 4 credits
- Other Elective Credits: 22 credits
- General Chemistry Sequence:
- Total Credits: 128
Program Notes
- CHEM-UA 140 Mathematics of Chemistry is strongly recommended as preparation for both Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy (CHEM-UA 651) and Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (CHEM-UA 652), as well as for students interested in pursuing chemistry on the graduate level or who have an interest in theoretical chemistry or physical chemistry.
- Students are required to complete the courses in general chemistry, physics, and calculus prior to entry into CHEM-UA 651, 652 (the physical chemistry sequence), which is usually taken in junior year.
- It is strongly advised that advanced-level chemistry course enrollment begin no later than the fifth semester of study. This allows at least three more semesters to complete all major requirements.
Sample Plan of Study
- 1st Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 125 General Chemistry I & Laboratory: 5 credits
- MATH-UA 121 Calculus I: 4 credits
- First-Year Seminar: 4 credits
- Texts and Ideas: 4 credits
- 2nd Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 126 General Chemistry II & Laboratory: 5 credits
- MATH-UA 122 Calculus II: 4 credits
- EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry: 4 credits
- Cultures and Contexts: 4 credits
- 3rd Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 225 Organic Chemistry I & Laboratory: 5 credits
- CHEM-UA 140 Mathematics of Chemistry: 4 credits
- BIOL-UA 11 Principles of Biology I: 4 credits
- Foreign Language: 4 credits
- 4th Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 226 Organic Chemistry II & Laboratory: 5 credits
- Elective: 4 credits
- Elective: 2 credits
- Foreign Language: 4 credits
- 5th Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 881 Biochemistry I: 4 credits
- PHYS-UA 11 General Physics I: 5 credits
- Foreign Language: 4 credits
- Expressive Culture: 4 credits
- 6th Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 882 Biochemistry II: 4 credits
- PHYS-UA 12 General Physics II: 5 credits
- Foreign Language: 4 credits
- Societies and the Social Sciences: 4 credits
- 7th Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 652 Thermodynamics & Kinetics: 4 credits
- CHEM-UA 885 Experimental Biochem & Laboratory: 4 credits
- Advanced Chemistry Elective: 4 credits
- Elective: 4 credits
- 8th Semester/Term:
- CHEM-UA 651 Quantum Mechanics & Spectroscopy: 4 credits
- CHEM-UA 890 Advanced Biochemistry: 4 credits
- Elective: 4 credits
- Total Credits: 128
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of program requirements, students are expected to have acquired:
- A fundamental command of biochemistry, as well as of the subdisciplines of organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry.
- Facility (via elective offerings) in analytical chemistry and/or mathematical and machine computational methods.
- Mastery of laboratory skills in biochemistry and also in organic and physical chemistry.
- Familiarity with contemporary problems in chemistry and the ability to articulate these problems and to propose well-considered solutions.
Policies
Program Policies
Grading and GPA Policy
All courses for the major must be completed with a grade of C or better even if they are in other departments (such as mathematics or physics). Courses graded Pass/Fail do not count toward the major. Students who do not have an average of 2.0 (C) or better in courses required by the department by the time they have completed 64 credits in all courses will be asked to change their major.
Prerequisite Policy
The Department of Chemistry strictly enforces all prerequisites and de-enrolls students from courses for which they do not meet the prerequisites. Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C (not C minus) or better.
Advanced Standing Credit by Exam
AP, IB, and A Level credit by examination in Chemistry is not accepted toward any departmental majors or minors.
Laboratory Policy
Due to the potential hazard of any chemical experimentation, safety goggles, laboratory coats, and other protective gear must be worn at all times in the laboratories (but cannot be worn outside the laboratory). Laboratory equipment loaned to students must be replaced if damaged or broken. Students who do not return borrowed laboratory equipment at the end of a course are charged an additional fee, and their grade may be recorded as incomplete and not released until "checkout" is completed.
School of Engineering courses
No CAS student (whether majoring or minoring in this department or not) is allowed to take Tandon substitute courses for CHEM-UA 125, 126, 127, 128, 129 (General Chemistry); 225, 226, 227, 228 (Organic Chemistry); 651, 652, 661 (Physical Chemistry); 711 (Inorganic Chemistry); or 881, 882, 885, 890 (Biochemistry). However, students pursuing a major in the Department of Chemistry may seek prior permission of the director of undergraduate studies to take advanced electives in the School of Engineering and apply them to the major. This is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These courses count against each student's 16-credit allowance in the other divisions of NYU and cannot be applied to the 64-credit UA residency requirement.
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
College of Arts and Science Policies
A full list of relevant academic policies can be found on the CAS Academic Policies page.