Minimum Course Requirements

1. The one semester biochemistry course (BCH 4024) should be taken in your Junior year. The course is currently taught in the Fall, Spring and Summer. This course will present a broad overview of the major areas of modern biochemistry. Topics include a discussion of the structure and properties of the amino acids, peptides and proteins, the nucleotides, RNA and DNA; major physical techniques employed in biochemical research; intermediary metabolism; the principles of modern molecular biology, gene expression, molecular genetics and the techniques of recombinant DNA technology. This will also prepare the student for more advanced courses. This course has as prerequisite, two semesters of organic chemistry or consent of instructor (for IDS students). The Chemistry Department also offers two biochemistry courses that can be used for this requirement.

2. A course in genetics. Any of several courses will meet this requirement. Genetics should be taken as early as possible, certainly before Advanced Molecular Biology. Most students take PCB 3063 in zoology; however, other courses will also meet our requirement.

3. A course in cell biology. For most students the most appropriate course is PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function. MCB 3020 Basic Biology of Microorganisms or MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Cell Structure may be substituted. Cell biology should be taken as early as possible. For certain students, appropriate courses in immunology, computers, mathematics, or higher-level chemistry may be substituted for one of the requirements for cell biology or genetics.

4. One semester of physical chemistry. The course may be CHM 3400, for biology majors, or CHM 4411, for chemistry majors. CHM 3400 is only offered in the FALL. These both carry a requirement for calculus. The laboratory in physical chemistry is not required. A student with a fairly good proficiency in mathematics will find CHM 4411 more satisfying. The laboratory and the second semester are recommended as electives for many students and will prove quite valuable for some students.

5. One semester chosen from one of our three biochemistry core graduate courses: Advanced Molecular Biology BCH 5413 or Advanced Metabolism BCH 6206, both in the Fall semester and Structural Biology/Physical Biochemistry BCH 6740 in the Spring.

6. A 3000- 4000 level course relevant to interests selected from the list of electives.
Possible Electives

7. A minimum of seven credits of research in two contiguous semesters. Usually this is Senior Biochemistry Research, BCH 4905. Dr. McKenna will provide you with a list of prospective research advisors. You should take the opportunity to interview several faculty members during the Junior year while taking the first biochemistry course. Dr. McKenna can assist in arranging appointments.
List of Faculty research interests

Other research advisors are available and need not be members of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Faculty. Students choose their research advisor through this interview process and agree with the advisor on an appropriate research topic and schedule. Dr. McKenna must approve the choice of research advisor and topic. A student will usually not begin research until completion of the introductory biochemistry course and, therefore, can usually begin as early as the Spring of the Junior year or in that summer. A Senior Thesis based on your research is required by the IDS Committee and must be turned in by the last week of the semester you graduate.

8. A minimum of 18 elective credits in the Upper Division. The Biochemistry IDS Program Director has a list of electives related to the major on the IDS Web Page. Among possible electives available are statistics, computer skills, immunology, animal physiology, vertebrate anatomy, analytical chemistry, and advanced specialized courses such as virology, cell differentiation and development, neurochemistry and behavior, etc. Some of these last courses may not be taught regularly. In addition, we recommend that the student select some elective courses in the humanities, especially those that provide practice and improvement in communicative skills.

9. College of Liberal Arts and Science requirements must be met, regarding course distribution, languages, and semester hour totals.