Biochemistry Course Planner
Sample four-year course planner for the traditional track
1st Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 111L Introductory Chemistry I | CHEM 112L Introductory Chemistry II |
| First-Year Seminar | BIOL 183L Cellular Basis of Life |
| MATH 131 Calculus I* | MATH 132 Calculus II* |
| Elective | Elective |
*It is possible to complete the biochemistry major starting from QLIT 101 or another math placement result. Consult the Chemistry major course planner and the department chair for options. The biochemistry major requires math through Calculus II (MATH 132), but students who intend to pursue graduate work are encouraged to take additional math courses, for example Linear Algebra (MATH 228), Calculus III (MATH 231), and/or Differential Equations (MATH 234).
2nd Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 211L Elementary Organic Chem I | CHEM 212L Elementary Organic Chem II |
| BIOL 182L Evolution of Life | BIOL 224L Genetics or BIOL 226L Molecular Biology or BIOL 227L Cell Biology or BIOL 308L Microbiology |
| CHEM 313 Principles of Inorganic Chem | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
3rd Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 311L Analytical Chemistry | CHEM 320L Biological Chemistry** |
| PHYS 141L Mechanics & Heat | PHYS 231L Electricity Magnetism Waves |
**Students can take BIOL 317L in place of CHEM 320L.
4th Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 309L Physical Chemistry I | CHEM 316L Physical Biochemistry |
| CHEM 300+ level Elective or BIOL 200+ level Elective |
Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
Students intending to pursue graduate work in biochemistry should take as many elective courses as possible.
Interested in study away? It’s possible! Talk to the department chair, Prof. Michelle Kovarik, [email protected] about options.
Sample four-year course planner for the neurobiochemistry track
1st Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 111L Introductory Chemistry I | CHEM 112L Introductory Chemistry II |
| First-Year Seminar | BIOL 183L Cellular Basis of Life |
| MATH 131 Calculus I* | MATH 132 Calculus II* |
| Elective | Elective |
*It is possible to complete the biochemistry major starting from QLIT 101 or another math placement result. Consult the Chemistry major course planner and the department chair for options. The biochemistry major requires math through Calculus II (MATH 132), but students who intend to pursue graduate work are encouraged to take additional math courses, for example Linear Algebra (MATH 228), Calculus III (MATH 231), and/or Differential Equations (MATH 234).
2nd Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 211L Elementary Organic Chem I | CHEM 212L Elementary Organic Chem II |
| BIOL 182L Evolution of Life | NESC 201L Principles of Neuroscience |
| PSYC 261 Brain and Behavior | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
3rd Year
| Fall | Spring |
| CHEM 311L Analytical Chemistry | CHEM 320L Biological Chemistry** |
| PHYS 141L Mechanics & Heat | PHYS 231L Electricity Magnetism Waves |
| CHEM 313 Principles of Inorganic Chem | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
** Students can take BIOL 317L in place of CHEM 320L.
4th Year
| Fall | Spring |
| Core elective† | CHEM 316L Physical Biochemistry |
| Second elective‡ | CHEM 401 Neurochemistry and CHEM 405 Neurochemistry Lab |
| Elective | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
†The core elective can be chosen from BIOL 324, ENGR 311, ENGR 316, ENGR 346, NESC 210 or NESC 362.
‡ The second elective can be chosen from the core electives or from BIOL 224L, BIOL 226L, BIOL 227L, CHEM 309L, CHEM 312L, CHEM 410, CHEM 425 (1.0 credit), or CHEM 498/499.
Students intending to pursue graduate work in biochemistry should take as many elective courses as possible.
Interested in study away? It’s possible! Talk to the department chair, Prof. Michelle Kovarik, [email protected] about options.
