Biochemistry Major Requirements
Chemistry and Biochemistry General Course Descriptions
Biochemistry Class Listing
Biochemistry Yearly Course Planner
Biochemistry
PROFESSOR CURRAN, Chairman
The Biochemistry major is offered by the Chemistry Department and consists of the following one-semester
courses: Chemistry 208L, 211L, 212L, 309L, 313, 316L; Physics 231L; Mathematics 132; Biology 228L or 227L
or 221L; Biology 317L; and one elective course. The elective may be selected from any course in Chemistry
at the 300 level or above or in Biology at the 200 level or above. Students must take any laboratories
associated with courses used to satisfy the elective requirement. Independent study and research may not
be used to meet this requirement. Choice of electives should be made on the basis of the individual
students educational objectives and after consultation with the student”s major adviser. The Senior
exercise for the Biochemistry major is Chemistry 316L. A grade of at least C- must be obtained in
all required courses.
For further information concerning progress towards the major please consult the description of the
Chemistry major. Biochemistry majors may choose a curriculum that meets the requirements for certification
to the American Chemical Society as satisfying its criteria for undergraduate training in Chemistry.
Students wishing to be so certified must take Chemistry 312L or 314L and Chemistry 404.
Students interested in the health professions and contemplating a major in Biochemistry should consult a Chemistry
Department staff member as soon as possible after arriving on campus.
Those students undertaking off-campus programs of study who wish to have a course or courses counted toward partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the Biochemistry major must present in writing a complete description of such
courses for prior approval by the Chair of the Department. If approved, credit will be granted only after a satisfactory
demonstration of completed work has been presented to the Chair of the Department. This must include a certified transcript from the institution.
Advanced Placement -Students who have secured an advanced placement grade in Chemistry of 4 or 5 may receive one course credit. (This course credit may not be counted toward the chemistry or biochemistry major.)
Honors - Honors will be awarded to students with a B+ average (3.33 or better) in all courses required for the major.
A student must also complete at least one course credit of laboratory research (Chemistry 425) approved by the
Chemistry Department and earn a grade of at least B+.
Senior Thesis - A Senior Thesis requires a substantial amount of laboratory work. Students contemplating writing
a thesis should therefore consult with their research advisors in their junior year. A Chemistry Department
Thesis Application Form (available from the Chemistry Secretary) must be submitted to the Chair of the
Department by the fifth Monday of the fall semester of their senior year. Chemistry faculty members will evaluate
applications. Students whose thesis applications are approved will enroll in Chemistry 499-Senior Thesis for
1.0 credit in the spring semester of their senior year and participate in the departmental seminar series.