This page is to be used as a planning tool. Your degree audit is the official record of degree requirements. Updated May 2023.
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology BA Requirements
The following schedule is a suggested plan of study for the BA degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.This list does not include the courses needed to meet the General Education requirements. Some courses are also offered during the summer session.There are multiple options to graduate in four years; classes should be chosen in consultation with their Biochemistry and Molecular Biology advisor.
First Year of BA (beginning with CHEM:1070)
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM:1070 General Chemistry I | 4 | CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| MATH:1850 Calculus I1 | 4 | MATH:1850 Calculus II1 | 4 |
Students may begin research in biochemistry at any time: please consult with your advisor
Second Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology | 4 | BIOL:1412 Div. of Form and Function | 4 |
| CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II | 4 | CHEM:2210 Organic Chemistry4 | 3 |
| PHYS:1611 Introductory Physics I4 | 4 |
Third Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BMB:3120 Biochem and Molecular Bio I | 3 | BMB:3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| CHEM:2410 Organic Chemistry Lab4 | 3 | BMB:3140 Experimental Biochemistry | 2 |
| CHEM:2220 Organic Chemistry II4 | 3 | PHYS: 1612 Introductory Physics II (with lab) | 4 |
| Science Elective2 | tbd | BMB:3150 Dev of Senior Research Project5 | 2 |
| BMB:3993 Undergrad Biochemistry Research | tbd |
| Summer Session | |
|---|---|
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergrad Biochem Research3 | 2-3 |
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Science Elective2 | tbd | BMB:4240 Biophysics and Advanced Biochemistry |
3 |
| Science Elective2 | tbd | BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 |
2-3 |
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 |
2-3 |
First Year BA (beginning with CHEM:1110)
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I | 4 | CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| MATH:1850 Calculus I1 | 4 | MATH:1850 Calculus II1 | 4 |
Students may begin research in biochemistry at any time: please consult with your advisor
Second Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology | 4 | BIOL:1412 Diversity of Form and Function | 4 |
| CHEM:2230 Organic Chem I for Majors4 | 4 | CHEM:2240 Organic Chem II for Majors4 | 3 |
| PHYS:1611 Introductory Physics I4 | 4 | CHEM:2420 Org Chem Lab for Majors4 | 3 |
Third Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BMB:3120 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I | 3 | BMB:3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| PHYS: 1612 Introductory Physics II (with lab)3 | 4 | BMB:3140 Experimental Biochemistry | 2 |
| Science Elective2 | tbd | BMB:3150 Development of Senior Research Project5 | 2 |
| BMB:3993 Undergraduate Biochemistry Research | tbd |
| Summer Session | |
|---|---|
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 | 2-3 |
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BMB:4240 Biophysics and Advanced Biochemistry | 3 | BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 |
2-3 |
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 |
2-3 | Science Elective2 | tbd |
| Science Elective2 | tbd |
| Notes |
| Courses listed in italics are optional but may be required in certain cases (e.g. for Honors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology). |
| 1 While Calculus I (MATH:1850) is preferred, students may also take Engineering Math I (MATH:1550) or Calculus for Biological Sciences (MATH:1460). While Calculus II (MATH:1860) is preferred, students may also take Biostatistics (STAT:3510) or Engineering Math II (MATH:1560), or Introduction to Biostatistics (BIOS:4120). |
| 2 Six s.h. of Advanced Science Electives are required for the BA degree. Science electives may be taken at any time; some of the courses may have prerequisites. |
| 3 Students in the BA Program who wish to graduate with honors must also take a total of 6 s.h. of BMB 4999. The number of semester hours of research, in any given semester, will depend upon arrangements between student and research advisor. Prerequisites are Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I and II (BMB 3120 and BMB 3130), Experimental Biochemistry (BMB 3140), and Development of Senior Research Project (BMB 3150) with a B- or better in each course. They should also have prior research experience or Honors Research Practicum or consent of the instructor. |
| 4 Students in the BA program can take either the organic sequence for majors (CHEM:2230, 2240, 2420-recommended) or organic chemistry (CHEM:2210,2220,2410). They can also take either two semesters of Introductory Physics (PHYS:1611,1612 recommended) or College Physics (PHYS:1511,1512). Most students take Physics during either their second or third year or take one semester each year. |
First Year BS (beginning with CHEM:1070)
The following schedule is a suggested plan of study for the BS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.This list does not include the courses needed to meet the General Education requirements. Some of these courses are also offered during the summer session. There are multiple options to graduate in four years; classes should be chosen in consultation with the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology advisor.
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM:1070 General Chemistry I | 4 | CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| MATH:1850 Calculus I1 | 4 | MATH:1850 Calculus II1 | 4 |
Students may begin research in biochemistry at any time: please consult with your advisor
Second Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology | 4 | BIOL:1412 Diversity of Form and Function | 4 |
| CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II | 4 | CHEM:2210 Organic Chemistry3 | 3 |
| PHYS:1611 Introductory Physics I (with lab)3 | 4 |
Third Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BMB:3120 Biochem and Molecular Bio I | 3 | BMB:3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| CHEM:2410 Organic Chemistry Lab3 | 3 | BMB:3140 Experimental Biochemistry | 2 |
| CHEM:2220 Organic Chemistry II3 | 3 | PHYS: 1612 Introductory Physics II (with lab)3 | 4 |
| Science Elective2 | tbd | BMB:3150 Dev of Senior Research Project6 | 2 |
| BMB:3993 Undergrad Biochemistry Research | tbd | BMB:3993 Undergrad Biochemistry Research | tbd |
| Summer Session | |
|---|---|
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergrad Biochem Research4 | 2-3 |
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM:4430 Principles of Physical Chemistry4 | tbd | BMB:4240 Biophysics and Advanced Biochemistry4 |
3 |
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research5 |
2-3 | BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research5 |
2-3 |
| Science Elective2 | Science Elective2 | tbd |
First Year BS (beginning with CHEM:1110)
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM:1110 Principles of Chemistry I | 4 | CHEM:1120 Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| MATH:1850 Calculus I1 | 4 | MATH:1850 Calculus II1 | 4 |
Students may begin research in biochemistry at any time: please consult with your advisor
Second Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL:1411 Foundations of Biology | 4 | BIOL:1412 Diversity of Form and Function | 4 |
| CHEM:2230 Organic Chem I for Majors4 | 4 | CHEM:2240 Organic Chem II for Majors4 | 3 |
| PHYS:1611 Introductory Physics I4 | 4 | CHEM:2420 Org Chem Lab for Majors4 | 3 |
Third Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BMB:3120 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I | 3 | BMB:3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| PHYS: 1612 Introductory Physics II (with lab)3 | 4 | BMB:3140 Experimental Biochemistry | 2 |
| Science Elective2 | tbd | BMB:3150 Development of Senior Research Project5 | 2 |
| BMB:3993 Undergraduate Biochemistry Research | tbd | BMB:3993 Undergraduate Biochemistry Research | tbd |
| Summer Session | |
|---|---|
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 | 2-3 |
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM:4430 Principles of Physical Chemistry3 | 3 | BMB:4240 Biophysics and Advanced Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 |
2-3 | BMB:4999 Advanced Undergraduate Biochemistry Research3 |
2-3 |
| Science Elective2 | tbd | Science Elective2 | tbd |
| Notes |
| 1 While Calculus I (MATH:1850) is preferred, students may also take Engineering Math I (MATH:1550) or Calculus for Biological Sciences (MATH:1460). While Calculus II (MATH:1860) is preferred, students may also take Biostatistics (STAT:3510) or Engineering Math II (MATH:1560), or Introduction to Biostatistics (BIOS:4120). |
| 2 Nine s.h. of Advanced Science Electives and six s.h. of Advanced Research or Laboratory courses are required for the BS degree. Students usually take BMB 4999 to fulfill the Advanced Laboratory requirement; however, any advanced lab course will satisfy the requirement. Science electives may be taken at any time during the curriculum. |
| 3 Students in the BS program can take either the organic sequence for majors (CHEM:2230, 2240, 2420-recommended) or organic chemistry (CHEM:2210,2220,2410). They can also take either two semesters of Introductory Physics (PHYS:1611,1612 recommended) or College Physics (PHYS:1511,1512). Most students take Physics during either their second or third year or take one semester each year. |
| 4 Students in BS program are required to take BMB:4240 and one of the following courses: CHEM 4430, CHEM 4431, or CHEM 4432. |
| 5 A total of 6 s.h. of BMB 4999 are required for honors. The number of semester hours of research, in any given semester, will depend upon arrangements between student and research advisor. Prerequisites are Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I and II (BMB 3120 and BMB 3130), Experimental Biochemistry (BMB 3140), and Development of Senior Research Project (BMB 3150) with a B- or better in each course. They should also have prior research experience or Honors Research Practicum or consent of the instructor. This requirement can also be satisfied by advanced lab courses. |
| 6 Prerequisite for BMB 4999. |