BA in Biochemistry
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Biochemistry requires a minimum of 120 hours of coursework.
Biochemistry majors focus on the intersection of the fields of biology and chemistry to study living organisms at the cellular and molecular levels. It is easy to see how biochemistry applies to biological problems such as medicine and understanding diseases, but biochemistry is central to many other fields, as well, including agriculture (fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides), food science (food safety and preservation, and flavor chemistry), cosmetics, and forensics (DNA analysis).
The BA degree provides students with a strong foundation
- in the traditional subdiscipline of biochemistry in a mathematically less rigorous track
- in laboratory skills emphasizing hands-on training with advanced instrumentation in modern facilities
- in a secondary field as a dual-major combined with for example, a B.S. degree in biology or chemical engineering
Prepares students to
- gain employment in laboratory positions in chemical or biopharmaceutical industries
- enter the business or sales end of the chemical or biopharmaceutical industry
- enter professional programs such as law, business, medicine, and forensic or veterinary science
Students pursuing a chemistry or biochemistry major may not elect the P/NC option in major or related courses, or prerequisites for these courses, except as noted in specific course descriptions. Students pursuing a BS/BA in Biochemistry cannot double major with a BS/BA in Chemistry, or minor in Chemistry. The minor in Green Chemistry and Engineering is permitted.
For the Bachelor of Arts degree in biochemistry, 35 hours of CHEM courses are required. The following courses must be included:
CHEM 1230 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1240 General Chemistry II
CHEM 1280 General Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 1290 General Chemistry Lab II
CHEM 2410 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2420 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 2460 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Non-Majors
CHEM 2470 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II for Non-Majors
CHEM 3310 Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 3360 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 3510 Biochemistry I
CHEM 3520 Biochemistry II
CHEM 3560 Biochemistry Laboratory
CHEM 4570 Biophysical Chemistry
One advanced Biochemistry course: (either CHEM 4500, CHEM 4510, CHEM 4520, CHEM 4530, or CHEM 4580)
The following related courses are also required:
MATH 1750 and MATH 1760, MATH 1830 and MATH 1840, or MATH 1850 and MATH 1860 (Calculus I and II)
PHYS 2070 and PHYS 2080, or PHYS 2130 and PHYS 2140 (Physics I and II)
BIOL 2170 and BIOL 3030 (Fundamentals of Life Science: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance and Cell Biology)
Below is a sample plan of study. Consult your degree audit for your program requirements.
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 1230 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1280 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Calculus For The Life Sciences With Applications I | ||
| Calculus I For Mathematicians, Scientists And Educators | ||
| Single Variable Calculus I | ||
| ENGL 1110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| NSM 1000 | Natural Sciences & Mathematics | 2 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Term | ||
| CHEM 1240 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 1290 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus For The Life Sciences With Applications II | ||
| Calculus II For Mathematicians, Scientists And Educators | ||
| Single Variable Calculus II | ||
| CHEM 1910 | Survey Of Research | 1 |
| ENGL 1130 | College Composition II: Academic Disciplines And Discourse | 3 |
| Social Sciences Core | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Third Term | ||
| CHEM 2410 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2460 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Non-Majors | 1 |
| CHEM 3310 | Analytical Chemistry | 2 |
| PHYS 2070 | General Physics I | 5 |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective: English Literature | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| CHEM 2420 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2470 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II for Non-Majors | 1 |
| CHEM 3360 | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| PHYS 2080 | General Physics II | 5 |
| History Core - College Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| CHEM 3510 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BIOL 2170 | Fundamentals of Life Science: Biomolecules, Cells, and Inheritance | 4 |
| Elementary Foreign Language I 1 | 4 | |
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| CHEM 3520 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3560 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 3030 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| Social Science Core Elective | 3 | |
| Elementary Foreign Language II 1 | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| CHEM 4570 | Biophysical Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 4500 | Advanced Biological Chemistry | 4 |
or select one advanced biochemistry course in the spring semester 2 | ||
| WAC course in major, either | 2 | |
| Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory - WAC | ||
| Advanced Laboratory I | ||
| Humanities/Fine Arts Core Elective II | 3 | |
| Non-US Diversity | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| One advanced bichemistry course, if not already taken in fall. Either: 2 | 4 | |
| Protein Chemistry | ||
| Enzymology | ||
| Nucleic Acid Chemistry | ||
| Bioinorganic Chemistry | ||
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| US Diversity | 3 | |
| Writing Across the Curriculum Course (outside major) | 3 | |
| Electives - to get to 120 hours | 2-3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Total Hours | 120-122 | |
| 1 | FL Foreign Language to be decided by student and adviser. |
| 2 | Listed twice because courses offered in different semesters; only need one course. |
See course catalog for pre- and co-requisites.
Courses which satisfy the College and University degree requirements can be determined by running a degree audit and looking at the list of courses presented as satisfying the requirement. Always try to take courses in which you have an interest.
Students in the Biochemistry BA degree program must be able to conduct and analyze biologically related experimental procedures and explain uncertainties associated with the measurements.
Students in the Biochemistry BA degree program must be able to describe data and results in both written and oral formats.