Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major

Core Courses:

• BIOL 101 - Introduction to Biology I
• BIOL 102 - Introduction to Biology II

•  

• CHEM 101 - Introductory Chemistry I and
• CHEM 102 - Introductory Chemistry II

• or

• CHEM 103 - Accelerated Introductory Chemistry

•  

• CHEM 131 - Organic Chemistry Principles and
• CHEM 132 - Organic Chemistry in Depth

•  

• MATH 120 - Calculus I and
• MATH 121 - Calculus II

• or

• MATH 124 - Honors Calculus I and
• MATH 125 - Honors Calculus II

• or

• One math course (MATH 120  or MATH 124  ) and
• One statistics course (BIOL 106  , ECON 160  , GEOG 110  , or PSYC 105  )

 

• PHYS 110 - Introductory Physics - Part I and
• PHYS 111 - Introductory Physics - Part II

• or

• PHYS 120 - Introductory Physics - Part I, with Calculus and
• PHYS 121 - Introductory Physics - Part II, with Calculus

•  

• BIOL 137 - Cell Biology or
• BIOL 109 - Microbiology

•  

• BIOL 118 - Genetics
• BCMB 271 - Biochemistry I
• BCMB 272 - Biochemistry II
• BCMB 264 - Biophysical Chemistry

Techniques Course:

• BCMB 131 - Recombinant DNA or
• BCMB 244 - Bioanalytical Chemistry or
• BCMB 297 - Honors or
• BCMB 299 - Directed Study or
• CHEM 140 - Analytical Chemistry or
• BIOL 123 - Introduction to Bioinformatics

Advanced Electives:

• One from Group A (Group A)
• One from Group B (Group B)
• One from Group A or Group B or Directed Research (BCMB 299 ) or Honors (BCMB 297 )

The electives may be any of the courses listed below that are not used to fulfill a requirement.

Note:

1=Fall semester; 2=Spring semester; #=Usually offered every second year; *=Offered irregularly

• BCMB 237 - Chemistry and Biology of Medicine (A,2#)
• BCMB 244 - Bioanalytical Chemistry (A,2)
• BCMB 266 - Biomolecular NMR (A,#)
• BCMB 275 - Protein Chemistry (A,1#)
• BCMB 276 - Chemical Biology - Techniques and Applications in Research

• (A,2)

• BCMB 277 - Enzyme Reaction Mechanisms

• (A,#)

• BCMB 279 - Computers in Biochemistry (A,*)
• CHEM 283 - Polymeric Biomaterials (A,*)
• BIOL 109 - Microbiology (B,2)
• BCMB 131 - Recombinant DNA (B,2)
• BIOL 137 - Cell Biology (B,1)
• BIOL 143 - Neuroscience (B,1)
• BIOL 209 - The Genome Project (B,2)
• BIOL 212 - Microbiomes (B,#)
• BIOL 218 - Genetics and Disease (B,1)
• BIOL 219 - Physiological Ecology of Marine Algae (B,2)
• BIOL 221 - Developmental Biology (B,2)
• BCMB 228 - Molecular Genetics (B,*)
• BIOL 234 - Signal Transduction (B,*)
• BIOL 236 - Biology of Cancer (B,2)
• BIOL 237 - Epigenetics (B,*)
• BIOL 238 - Seminar in Cell Biology (B,1)
• BIOL 240 - Comparative and Human Physiology (B,2)
• BIOL 254 - Molecular and Evolutionary Systematics (B,*)
• BIOL 255 - Virology (B,1)

BCMB Capstone

A capstone experience, taken during the student’s junior or senior year, is required for the BCMB major.  Capstone experiences allow students to acquire knowledge and professional skills through research experiences, course work, or internships.  The capstone experience can serve as one of the BCMB electives.

The capstone requirement can be fulfilled in one of four ways:

1. participation in the BCMB Honors Program
2. completing a minimum of one unit of directed research (BCMB299)
3. completing one unit of an internship for academic credit
4. completing one 200-level BCMB elective (either group A or B) identified as fulfilling the capstone requirement in Biology, BCMB, or Chemistry.

Students must submit the capstone declaration form with the instructor’s signature to the BCMB Program Administrator by the end of the first week of the semester that the capstone will be completed.  Students are responsible for completing all non-departmental requirements (e.g. obtaining credit for internships, establishing off-campus research experiences, etc.).

BCMB COURSES THAT FULFILL THE CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT:

     BCMB 228: Molecular Genetics

     BCMB 275: Protein Chemistry

     BCMB 276: Chemical Biology - Techniques and Applications in Research

     BCMB 277: Enzyme Reaction Mechanisms

     BCMB 279: Computers in Biochemistry

CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY COURSES THAT ARE BCMB ELECTIVES AND FULFILL THE BCMB CAPSTONE REQUIREMENT INCLUDE

Group A courses:

• Polymeric Biomaterials (CHEM 231)

Group B courses:

• The Genome Project (BIOL 209)
• Genomics Seminar (BIOL 210)
• Microbiomes (BIOL 212)
• Genetics and Disease (BIOL 218)
• Physiological Ecology of Marine Algae (BIOL 219)
• Signal Transduction (BIOL 234)
• Biology of Cancer (BIOL 236)
• Epigenetics (BIOL 237)
• Seminar in Cell Biology (BIOL 238)
• Molecular and Evolutionary Systematics (BIOL 254)
• Virology (BIOL 255)

Honors

A student who has a minimum 3.40 GPA is eligible to undertake an Honors research project in addition to their normal course load. This work is normally initiated as a Junior and completed by the end of the Senior year. After completion of the research the student writes a thesis describing their work and gives an oral presentation to the department.