2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major
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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Overview
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB) program offers an interdisciplinary major that draws on the faculty and course resources of the departments of biology and chemistry. Designed to provide students with an in-depth exploration of an area of science that is as exciting and actively growing of any today, the program is suitable for students who want to pursue graduate studies in the area; enter medical school with a strong background in basic science; or take laboratory or other science-related positions after graduation. Those wishing to major in biochemistry and molecular biology must select an adviser within the program.
For more information, please visit the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program website.
Major Requirements
The BCMB major is an in-depth study of overlapping fields, and requires background in both chemistry and biology. The curriculum is highly structured, and so you must be careful in planning your course of study. We strongly urge you to take at least eight semester courses in chemistry, biology, calculus or physics during your first two years. You should also consider getting a faculty advisor from the BCMB program as soon as you know you want to be a BCMB major, as good course sequencing can make the major much more manageable. Course requirements are:
Advanced Electives:
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 204 - 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 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:
- participation in the BCMB Honors Program
- completing a minimum of one unit of directed research (BCMB299)
- completing one unit of an internship for academic credit
- 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.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty
Program
Nathan Ahlgren, Ph.D.
Robert Drewell, Ph.D.
Sergio Granados Focil, Ph.D.
Charles Jakobsche, Ph.D.
Shuanghong Huo, Ph.D.
Denis Larochelle, Ph.D.
Noel Lazo, Ph.D.
Neva Meyer, Ph.D.
Arundhati Nag, Ph.D.
Deborah Robertson, Ph.D., Program Director
Donald Spratt, Ph.D.
Javier Tabima, Ph.D.
Justin Thackeray, Ph.D.
Emeriti
Frederick Greenaway, Ph.D.
Thomas Leonard, Ph.D.
Timothy Lyerla, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Courses
Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years
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