Chemistry and Biochemistry

BIOCHEMISTRY/CHEMISTRY (CH31)

Requirements for the BIOCHEMISTRY/CHEMISTRY B.S. Degree

The Biochemistry/Chemistry major deals with the chemical processes in living organisms, including structure and function of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids.  It is suitable for those planning to go to graduate school as well as medical, dental, veterinary, and other professional schools.  It is also suitable at the bachelor’s level for jobs in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical field.  Note the requirement for six courses in biochemistry, including two advanced electives. If you do not wish to take so much biochemistry, you should major in Chemistry and use electives to take the desired number of biochemistry courses.  

 

The following courses must be taken for a letter grade:

Lower-Division Requirements

  1. General chemistry including laboratory (CHEM 6A-6C or 6AH-6CH, and 7L, or equivalent).
  2. Calculus (MATH 20A-20D, or equivalent).
  3. Calculus-based physics including laboratory (PHYS 2A-2B and 2D or equivalent, and either 2BL, 2CL or 2DL.  PHYS 2CL is recommended and is accessible without PHYS 2C.  PHYS 2CL is the prerequisite for CHEM 105A).

 Upper-Division Requirements

  1. Three quarters of organic chemistry (CHEM 140A, 140B or BH, 140C or CH).
  2. Two quarters of physical chemistry (CHEM 126-127 recommended, or the equivalent).
  3. One quarter of inorganic chemistry (CHEM 120A).
  4. Three quarters of biochemistry (CHEM 114A-C).
  5. Six laboratory courses (CHEM 100A, 143AH or 143A, 143B, 105A, either 108 or 109, and one additional upper division chemistry. 
  6. Two elective courses from the following list: CHEM 104/204, 113/213, 114D, 116, 118, 125/225, 157/257, 164, 165, 166, 221, 280.
  7. One additional elective course chosen from among all of the upper-division and graduate courses offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (except non-letter-graded courses) or from the following list of courses offered by the Division of Biological Sciences (some biology courses will require additional coursework to fulfill prerequisites): BICD 100, BICD 110, BICD 140, BIMM 114, BIMM 120, BIPN 100, BIPN 102, BIPN 140. Other electives, including CHEM 195 and CHEM 199, may be arranged by petition.


Suggested Program for Biochemistry/Chemistry B.S. Major

(Talk to your college for planning general education courses.)

Many courses have enforced prerequisites or are offered once per year.

FALL

WINTER

SPRING
FRESHMAN YEAR
CHEM 6A CHEM 6B CHEM 6C
MATH 20A MATH 20B CHEM 7L

BILD 1**
 MATH 20C



SOPHOMORE YEAR
CHEM 100A*
 CHEM 140B Chem 143B
CHEM 140A
 CHEM 143AH CHEM 140C
MATH 20D PHYS 2B PHYS 2D
PHYS 2A

JUNIOR YEAR
CHEM 114A* CHEM 126 CHEM 105A
CHEM 127
 CHEM 114B CHEM 114C
PHYS 2CL




SENIOR YEAR
CHEM 120A Elective Lab***
 Elective Lab***
Elective
 Elective
 Elective 



* Best time to study abroad. Education Abroad Program deadlines for upcoming year vary by country. See EAP website. See the Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Advisor for assistance in planning to study abroad.
** Recommended, but not required.
*** One of these must be CHEM 108 or 109.

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