BS in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry (BBC) Track

We require students to maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in the major, excluding allied field courses. See the advising page for information on how to declare your major, who your program advisor is, double majors, double degrees, petitioning for exceptions and more.

To begin the major declaration process for BS in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry Track, please use this link to access our departmental form.

Major Requirements

Students planning to major in the biological sciences should take BIOL 110L and 111L (or 112L and 113L), and CHEM 131-132 in their first year, and BIOL 198 or 190 and CHEM 203/207 in the fall of their second year.

Introductory Courses (Three Courses)

One of the following:

  • BIOL 110L: Principles of Biology I
  • BIOL 112L: Perspectives in Biology I (pre-requires AP biology exam score of 4 or 5)

One of the following:

  • BIOL 111L: Principles of Biology II
  • BIOL 113L: Perspectives in Biology I (pre-requires AP biology exam score of 4 or 5)

Plus BIOL 198: Principles of Genetics

Laboratory Experience (Two to Three Courses)

Select one of the following options:

  • BCH 308: Biochemistry Lab and Critical Analysis (formerly BCH 208)*
  • BIOL 228A&B IGEM I&II (International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition Course Series)
  • BCH/BIOL/CHEM #395: Independent Research

*BCH 308 is only open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, but sophomores should consult with the course directors, Dr. Jermaine Jenkins and Dr. Eric Wagner.

Advanced Courses (Six Courses)

All of the following courses are required:

  • BIOL 252: Principles of Biochemistry*
  • BIOL 202: Molecular Biology
  • IND 408: Advanced Biochemistry
  • BIOL 278: Biochemical Mechanisms of Cellular Processes**

* New effective class of 2025; BIOL 250 and 250P: Introductory Biochemistry is still applicable to the class of 2024 and previous.

**New effective class of 2025; BIOL 278 and BCH 412 overlap in time slots, thus students are advised to take BIOL 278 in spring of junior year.

Plus choose one of the following:

  • BCH 412: Advanced Topics in Biological Macromolecules
  • IND 432: Foundations in Modern Biology II

Students in classes graduating in 2023 and 2024 should choose two of the following, while students graduating in 2025 or later should choose one of the following courses:

  • BIOL 222: Biology of Aging
  • BIOL 243: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
  • BIOL 278: Biochemical Mechanisms of Cellular Processes*
  • CHEM 252: Physical Chemistry II
  • CHEM 414: Bioinorganic Chemistry
  • CHEM 440: Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
  • IND 409: Cell Biology (Canceled after fall 2017; may use if already taken)
  • IND 447: Signal Transduction
  • #### 395: Independent Research Bio Sci Courses**

*BIOL 278 and BCH 412 overlap in time slots, thus students are advised to take BIOL 278 in spring of junior year.

**Students need advisor approval to take 395. If 395 is used to fulfill this requirement, then it cannot be used to satisfy the laboratory requirement. 395 can only be used to fulfill one of the two advanced electives.

Diversification Elective (One Course)

Select one course from the BBC diversification electives list, which must be approved by the track coordinator. The diversification elective should be outside of the BBC major track.

Ancillary Requirements (Nine Courses with Indicated Labs)

Both of the following general chemistry courses*:

  • CHEM 131: Chemical Concepts I with Lab**
  • CHEM 132: Chemical Concepts II with Lab**

One of the following organic chemistry I courses:

  • CHEM 203/207: Organic Chemistry I with Lab**
  • CHEM 171/173: First Year Organic Chemistry I with Lab

*Satisfactory completion of CHEM 171/173 and 172/210 first year organic chemistry series with labs in conjunction with AP credit for CHEM 131 fulfills the chemistry requirements.

One of the following organic chemistry II courses:

  • CHEM 204/208: Organic Chemistry II with Lab**
  • CHEM 172/210: First Year Organic Chemistry with Lab

One of the following physics I courses:

  • PHYS 113: General Physics I with Lab**
  • PHYS 121: Mechanics with Lab
  • PHYS 141: Mechanics (Honors) with Lab

One of the following physics II courses:

  • PHYS 114: General Physics II with Lab**
  • PHYS 122: Electricity and Magnetism with Lab
  • PHYS 142: Electricity and Magnetism (Honors) with Lab

One of the following calculus I courses:

  • MATH 141: Calculus I
  • MATH 161: Calculus IA**
  • MATH 171Q: Honors Calculus I

One of the following calculus II courses:

  • MATH 142: Calculus II
  • MATH 162: Calculus IIA**
  • MATH 172Q: Honors Calculus II

**AP credit will also be accepted for this course. See our advising page for more information about AP credit.

Plus one of the following ancillary elective courses:

  • Math: MATH 163, 164, 165, 235 or other upper-level math course with advisor approval (MATH 143 is not acceptable)
  • Statistics: STAT AP, 201, 212, 214 (cross-listed BIOL/STAT 214) or other upper-level statistics course with advisor approval (STAT 211 is not acceptable)
  • Computer programming: BIOL 208, CSC 161, 170, 171, ECE 114 or other computer programming course with advisor approval (CSC 108 and 110 are not acceptable)

Upper-Level Writing (ULW) Requirements (Two Courses)

All biology majors must complete two ULW courses. Although students are strongly encouraged to complete both ULW requirements by taking biological sciences courses (BIOL, BCH, MBI, NSCI), an upper-level writing course within a natural sciences discipline may also be used to meet one of the requirements.

Biochemistry majors are also welcome to take CHEM 210W: Organic Chemistry Lab II to fulfill part of this requirement. All other majors need permission from their biology advisor.

Writing courses within the humanities and social sciences cannot be applied to the biology major. See the upper-level writing requirement page for more information on which courses satisfy this requirement.

Diversification Electives List

Check the course schedules/descriptions available via the Registrar's Office for prerequisites and official course descriptions.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Contact your major advisor for consultation on course selections and approval of other biological sciences courses not listed.

Fall
  • BIOL 204: Principles of Human Physiology
  • BIOL 206: Eukaryotic Genomes
  • BIOL 220: Advanced Cell Biology
  • BIOL 225: Lab in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • BIOL 226: Developmental Biology
  • BIOL 228A&B: iGEM I&II International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition Course Series
  • BIOL 257L: Applied Genomics
  • BIOL 260: Animal Behavior
  • BIOL 259L: Applied Population Biology
  • MBI 220: Introduction to Microbiology
  • MBI 221W: Microbiology Laboratory
  • MBI 414: Pathogenesis of Microorganisms
  • MBI 473: Immunology
  • NSCI 201: Basic Neurobiology
  • NSCI 241: Neurons, Circuits, and Systems
  • NSCI 243: Neurochemical Foundations of Behavior
  • NSCI 245: Sensory and Motor Neuroscience
  • NSCI 251: Neurobiology of Sleep

Biochemistry majors may use 200-level courses from the Department of Chemistry with the exception of CHEM 262.

Spring
  • BIOL 205: Evolution
  • BIOL 210: Cell Biology
  • BIOL 217L: Principles of Human Anatomy with Lab (BIOL 217P lab required/should not take BIOL 217 if BME 258 is taken)
  • BIOL 219L: Genomics of Quantitative Traits
  • BIOL 228A: iGEM I International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition Course Series
  • BIOL 253L: Computational Biology
  • BIOL 255: Behavioral Endocrinology (only offered in spring 2021 and 22)
  • BIOL 261W: Genetic Research A
  • BIOL 263: Ecology
  • BIOL 265: Molecular Evolution*
  • BIOL 267: Human Evolutionary Genetics
  • BIOL 268: Lab in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
  • BME 258: Human Anatomy (should not take BIOL 217 if BME 258 is taken)
  • BME 468: Introduction to Structure and Analysis of Biomolecules
  • EESC 201: Evolution of the Earth
  • EESC 207: Principles of Paleontology
  • EESC 220: Geobiology
  • MBI 404: Intro to Emerging Pathogens
  • MBI 421: Microbial Physiology and Genetics
  • MBI 456: General Virology
  • NSCI 203: Lab in Neurobiology
  • NSCI 244: Neuroethology
  • NSCI 246: Biology of Mental Disorders
  • NSCI 249: Developmental Neurobiology
  • NSCI 250: Acquired Brain Disorders
  • NSCI 252: Functional Neuroanatomy
  • NSCI 415: Neuroscience of Neuroprosthetics

Biochemistry majors may use 200-level courses from the Department of Chemistry with the exception of CHEM 262.