Biochemistry, BS
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (315002BS)
More on the Biochemistry major
Chemistry is an experimental science that seeks to understand the structure and function of molecules. Chemists synthesize new materials, and study their properties and how they interact with other compounds. The BS degree offered by the department prepares students for independent laboratory work and research.
The following information has official approval of The Department of Chemistry and The Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (DPR) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Three year accelerated option: for first time students who have earned credits for at least the first year of courses. Credits can be earned through qualifying scores on appropriate Advanced Placement (AP) exams or through College Credit Plus Program (CCP) courses. Credits for qualifying AP scores or CCP courses are determined by the appropriate academic department. Departments may assign varied course credit, depending on the student’s score on an AP exam or grade in a CCP course. Students may also receive credit by examination or via placement tests, where appropriate.
Requirements
Summary
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education Requirements * | 31-29 | |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements | 8 | |
Chemistry Requirements | 33-35 | |
Biology Requirements | 24 | |
Physics Requirements | 8 | |
Mathematics Requirements | 8 | |
Biochemistry Electives | 8 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
- *
Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements.
Recommended General Education Courses
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | ||
Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Principles of Chemistry I | ||
Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
Principles of Chemistry II | ||
Principles of Biology I | ||
Principles of Biology II | ||
Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences II | ||
Elementary Classical Physics I and Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
Total Hours | 36 |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Degree requirements for this Bachelor of Science in Arts & Sciences include the demonstration of ability to use another language by completion of the first year of a foreign language. | ||
1 Year Language Proficiency | 8 | |
101 Beginning I | ||
102 Beginning II | ||
Survey of Deaf Culture in America (American Sign Language option only) | ||
Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops |
Chemistry Requirements 1
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
CHEM:151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM:152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
CHEM:153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM:154 | Qualitative Analysis | 2 |
CHEM:263 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
CHEM:264 | Organic Chemistry Lecture II | 3 |
CHEM:265 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
CHEM:266 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
CHEM:370 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
CHEM:401 | Biochemistry Lecture I | 3 |
CHEM:402 | Biochemistry Lecture II | 3 |
CHEM:480 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory III 3 | 2 |
Select one of the following: | 4-6 | |
Physical Chemistry for the Biological Sciences | ||
-or- | ||
Physical Chemistry Lecture I and Physical Chemistry Lecture II | ||
Total Hours | 33-35 |
- 1
Complete with a grade of C- or better
- 2
Biochemistry majors meet the prerequisite requirements for this course
Biology Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BIOL:111 | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
BIOL:112 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
BIOL:211 | General Genetics | 3 |
BIOL:212 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
BIOL:311 | Cell & Molecular Biology | 4 |
BIOL:480 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
BIOL:485 | Cell Physiology | 3 |
BIOL:486 | Cell Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
Total Hours | 24 |
Physics Requirement
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Select one of the following: | 8 | |
Physics for Life Sciences I and Physics for Life Sciences II | ||
-or- | ||
Elementary Classical Physics I and Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
Total Hours | 8 |
Mathematics Requirement
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
MATH:221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
MATH:222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
Total Hours | 8 |
Biochemistry Electives
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Select at least eight credits of the following: | 8 | |
Microbiology | ||
Immunology | ||
Advanced Genetics | ||
Biological Problems | ||
Introductory Seminar in Chemistry | ||
Advanced Chemistry Laboratory I 1 | ||
Advanced Chemistry Laboratory II 1 | ||
Internship in Chemistry | ||
Analytical Chemistry I | ||
Analytical Chemistry II | ||
Advanced Organic Chemistry | ||
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | ||
Honors Project in Chemistry 2 | ||
Research Problems in Chemistry 2 | ||
Probability and Statistics for Engineers | ||
Polymer Science | ||
Honors Project in Polymer Science | ||
Research Problems in Polymer Science | ||
Total Hours | 8 |
- 1
Biochemistry majors meet the prerequisite requirements for this course.
- 2
Course may be repeated for up to eight credits.
Recommended Sequence
1st Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | Hours | |
Writing Requirement | 3 | |
BIOL:111 | Principles of Biology I | 4 |
CHEM:151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
CHEM:152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
MATH:149 | Precalculus Mathematics | 4 |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
Writing Requirement | 3 | |
BIOL:112 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
CHEM:153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
CHEM:154 | Qualitative Analysis | 2 |
MATH:221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
Hours | 16 | |
2nd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
CHEM:263 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
CHEM:265 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
BIOL:211 | General Genetics | 3 |
BIOL:212 | Genetics Laboratory | 1 |
MATH:222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
PHYS:261 | Physics for Life Sciences I | |
PHYS:291 | Elementary Classical Physics I | |
Hours | 17 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CHEM:264 | Organic Chemistry Lecture II | 3 |
CHEM:266 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
BIOL:311 | Cell & Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
Humanities Requirement 3 | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
PHYS:262 | Physics for Life Sciences II | |
PHYS:292 | Elementary Classical Physics II | |
Hours | 16 | |
3rd Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
CHEM:305 | Physical Chemistry for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
CHEM:401 | Biochemistry Lecture I | 3 |
Social Science Requirement 3 | 3 | |
Speaking Requirement | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Beginning Language I | ||
SLPA:101 | American Sign Language I | |
Hours | 16-17 | |
Spring Semester | ||
CHEM:402 | Biochemistry Lecture II | 3 |
CHEM:370 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
BIOL:480 | Molecular Biology 1 | 3 |
Arts Requirement 3 | 3 | |
Complex Issues Requirement 3,4 | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
Beginning Language II | ||
SLPA:102 | American Sign Language II | |
Hours | 17-18 | |
4th Year | ||
Fall Semester | ||
CHEM:480 | Advanced Chemistry Laboratory III | 2 |
CHEM:3xx/4xx | Upper Level Biochem Elective 1,5 | 4 |
Arts/Humanities Requirement 3 | 3 | |
Social Science Requirement 3 | 3 | |
Global Diversity Requirement 3,4 | 3 | |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring Semester | ||
BIOL:485 | Cell Physiology | 3 |
BIOL:486 | Cell Physiology Laboratory | 2 |
CHEM:3xx/4xx | Upper Level Biochem Elective 1,5 | 4 |
Domestic Diversity Requirement 3,4 | 3 | |
Hours | 12 | |
Total Hours | 124-126 |
- 1
The above order in which you take the 300/400 level Biology and Chemistry courses is suggested. Such courses are not necessarily offered every year.
- 2
Students pursuing Biochemistry can choose to take CHEM:305 Physical Chemistry for Biosciences, or CHEM:313 and 314 Physical Chemistry Lecture I and II. CHEM:313 is offered in the Fall and CHEM:314 is offered in the Spring.
- 3
These courses fulfill General Education requirements. Unless a course is specified, refer to the General Education guide at https://bulletin.uakron.edu/undergraduate/general-education/. It is recommended that General Education courses be selected to satisfy major or minor requirements, or to double dip between multiple tiers (i.e. Chemistry majors are encouraged to take SOCIO:100 Introduction to Sociology and/or SOWK:244/344 Death and Dying to satisfy the Domestic Diversity Requirement, as well as part of the Social Science Requirement).
- 4
If requirement has been satisfied by previous coursework, credits should still be filled as general electives.
- 5
Students pursuing Biochemistry must take at least 8 credits to fulfill Upper Level Chemistry course requirements. Options for electives include BIOL:331, BIOL:437, BIOL:481, BIOL:497, CHEM:199, CHEM:380, CHEM:381, CHEM:399, CHEM:423, CHEM:424, CHEM:463, CHEM:472, CHEM:497, CHEM:499, STAT:401, PLYS:407, PLYS:497, PLYS:499