Chemistry Major (Biochemistry Option)

Students seeking to pursue a pre-professional track (such as Medical, Pharmacy, Veterinary or Physician Assistant programs) are encouraged to complete the Biochemistry option without ACS accreditation. If the student has any ambition to pursue a graduate program in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Engineering or other related field, the ACS accredited option is highly preferable and strongly recommended.

Note: In addition to completing the following required courses, students must fulfill the General Education Requirements. Major requirements and/or General Education Requirements may be changed by official action of the faculty.

Under “Recommended Sequence” below, a number indicates the year during which it is recommended that the course be taken (i.e., 1-first year; 2-second year, etc.); a letter indicates that the course should be taken during a particular semester (i.e., F-Fall; S-Spring). This is a recommended sequence which will be individualized based on the course rotation schedule and in consultation with the faculty advisor.

Required courses

Department	Course Number	Credits	Course Title	Recommended Sequence Year/Semester
BIO	121	4	Principles of Biology	1F
BIO	122	4	Principles of Biology II	1S
BIO	215	4	Microbiology	3
BIO	315	4	Cell and Molecular Biology or BIO 326, Histology and Molecular Biology	3
BIO	406	4	Genetics	4S
CHE	121	3	General Chemistry I	1F
CHE	121L	1	Laboratory for General Chemistry I	1F
CHE	206	4	Inorganic Chemistry	1S
CHE	206L	1	Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry	1S
CHE	211	4	Organic Chemistry I	2F
CHE	212	4	Organic Chemistry II	2S
CHE	301	4	Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics	3F
CHE	311	4	Analytical Chemistry	4F
CHE	312	5	Instrumental Analysis	4S
CHE	321*	3	Biochemistry I	3F
CHE	321L	1	Biochemistry Lab	3F
CHE	322	3	Biochemistry II	3S
CHE	327	1	Advanced Spectroscopy Lab	3S
CHE	385	1	Chemistry Seminar I	3F
CHE	399	1-5	Undergraduate Research	1, 2, 3 or 4
CHE	485	1	Chemistry Seminar II	4F
CHE	499	1	Capstone Research	4
MAT	108	3	Intermediate Algebra	1F
MAT	205	4	Functions and Trigonometry	1S
MAT	211	4	Calculus I	2F
MAT	212	4	Calculus II	2S
PHY	201	4	Introductory Physics I or PHY 211, General Physics I	2F
PHY	202	4	Introductory Physics II or PHY 212, General Physics II	2S

There are 85-89 credits required for this major. Prerequisite courses may be necessary and the General Education Requirements must be completed.

* All majors in the biochemistry option must earn a C or better in CHE 321.

For certification by American Chemical Society

Department	Course Number	Credits	Course Title
CHE	302	3	Physical Chemistry: Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy (4F)
MAT	213	3	Calculus III
MAT	218	3	Linear Algebra or MAT 406: Differential Equations