Upper-Level Courses

All course prerequisites require a C- or better unless otherwise noted.

Biochem 311 – Genetics

  • Prerequisites: Bio 151 and Bio 152, both with a grade of C or better.
  • Bio 311 and Ansci 311 are equivalent courses, meaning they will also count toward the genetics requirement.

Biochem 376 – Introductory Biochemistry Lab

  • Prerequisites: Biochem 285 with a grade of B- or better.

Biochem 394RI – Real World Biochemistry

  • Prerequisites: Biochem 285.
  • Fulfills the Integrative Experience (IE) requirement.
  • Students in the iCons program satisfy the IE requirement with different courses and should not take Biochem 394RI.

Biochem 423 – General Biochemistry I

  • Prerequisites: Chem 261 and Chem 262.

Biochem 424 – General Biochemistry II

  • Prerequisites: Biochem 423, Chem 261, and Chem 262.

Biochem 426 – Advanced Biochemistry Lab

  • Prerequisites: Biochem 376 and Biochem 423.

Biochem 430H – Biochemistry Writing Seminar

  • Prerequisites: Biochem 423.
  • Fulfills the Junior Year Writing (JYW) requirement.
  • Students in the iCons program satisfy the JYW requirement with different courses and should not take Biochem 430H.

Biochem 471 – Elementary Physical Chemistry

  • Prerequisites: Chem 112 or 122H and Physics 132, 152 or 182 and Math 128 or 132.

Advanced Elective Courses

Students are required to earn a minimum of 8 credits of Advanced Electives.  

Advanced elective options include many (but not all) science and math courses numbered 300 and above, including Independent Study/Research credits earned conducting research in a lab. A list of suggested Advanced Elective course options can be found on the BMB website, and questions about additional courses can be directed to the BMB Chief Undergraduate Advisor.

Courses required for the BMB major, including Biochem 430H and Biochem 471, and courses intended for non-BMB majors, such as Biochem 320 and 321, do not count toward advanced elective requirement. Practicum courses, such as Biology 398A or Biochem 498A, also do not count toward advanced elective credits. 

Capstone

In some cases, BMB majors may substitute work they are doing as Honors Research/Independent Study at the 300-level or above in place of the Biochem 426 Capstone course in their *senior* year.

Students interested in applying for this substitution must first consult with their research advisor to make sure that their research plans would meet these criteria, and then contact the BMB Undergraduate Program Director or the BMB Honors Program Director (for Biochem 499Y/499T specifically) for information on how to apply for this substitution.  

Guidelines

  • Applies to BMB majors who have plans for a rigorous two-semester Honors Thesis/Independent Study Capstone project in their senior year.
  • Projects cannot be fully approved until the proposal is written.
  • Projects must be BMB-related, specifically involving elucidation of molecular or cellular mechanisms of life processes. Projects must include “wet lab” laboratory experimentation, and cannot be exclusively computational or theoretical.
  • Projects must be Capstone-like in their approach, and the research program must include 1) an original research project, 2) an oral presentation of the work, and 3) a final research manuscript that includes a literature review and includes drafts reviewed under guidance by the student’s research advisor and a committee member.
  • Projects approved by the BMB HPD for Biochem 499Y/T (Departmental Honors) will generally satisfy these requirements. For other [Dept] 499Y/T, students can submit their approved Honors Thesis Proposal to the BMB Undergraduate Program Director for consideration. Applications must be submitted early in the first semester of the project.
  • When approved, 4CR of the student’s Biochem 499T (or equivalent) will be applied toward the Biochem 426 requirement. Students using 4CR of Thesis/Independent Study credit toward their Biochem 426 requirement may NOT also use these credits toward their Advanced Elective requirement in the BMB major.