Biochemistry Minor
A minor in biochemistry requires successful completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours consisting of a 12 credit core and 6 credits in electives. In addition, at least 9 hours in prerequisites must be completed.
Required Core (12 credits): Only two of these four courses can be applied to both a major and a minor. The minor requires 9 additional credits in prerequisites: CHEM 103, CHEM 206 and either BIOL 220 or one of CHEM 305 or 308 or 335.
- CHEM 209 OR CHEM 307: Organic Chemistry II
- BIOL 225: Introduction to Molecules, Cells and Development (formerly BIOL 203)
- One of CHEM 305: Inorganic Chemistry; CHEM 308: General Chemistry II; CHEM 335: Freshman Honors Chem; OR BIOL 220: Introduction to Organisms, Ecology and Evolution (formerly BIOL 204)
- CHEM 414: Biochemistry OR BIOL 414: Biochemistry
Electives (6 or more credits): Students must select two additional courses from those listed below which are not offered by their major department; students majoring in neither Biology nor Chemistry must select one Biology course and one Chemistry course. Some electives have optional laboratory component.
- BIOL 306: Microbiology. Spring (4). Prerequisites: BIOL 220, BIOL 225
- BIOL 310: Molecular Cell Biology. Fall, Spring (3). Prerequisites: BIOL 220, BIOL 225; Prerequisite or corequisite CHEM 206
- BIOL 345: Neurobiology. Spring (3). Prerequisite: BIOL 225
- BIOL 415: General Endocrinology. Fall (3). Prerequisites: BIOL 302, BIOL 310 (Not offered in 2012-2013)
- BIOL 420: Genetic Analysis. Fall (3). Prerequisites: BIOL 220, BIOL 225 (Not offered in 2012-2013)
- BIOL 433: Developmental Biology. Fall (3). Prerequisites: BIOL 220, BIOL 225, BIOL 310 (Not offered in 2012-2013)
- BIOL 437: Immunology. Spring (3). Prerequisites: BIOL 220, BIOL 225, and BIOL 306 or BIOL 310
- BIOL 442: Molecular Genetics. Fall (3). Prerequisites: BIOL 220, BIOL 225, BIOL 310
- CHEM 309: Instrumental Analysis. Fall (3). Prerequisites: CHEM 305 or CHEM 308 or CHEM 335; CHEM 354 or CHEM 356
- CHEM 341: Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences. Spring (3). Prerequisites: CHEM 305 or CHEM 308 or CHEM 335; MATH 112 or 113 (Not offered 2012-2013)
- CHEM 415: Advanced Biochemistry. Fall (3). Prerequisite: CHEM 414 or BIOL 414.
- CHEM 417: Neurochemistry. Fall (3). Prerequisites: CHEM 414 or BIOL 414
Additional Guidelines:
Non-chemistry majors considering the Biochemistry minor may also wish to consider the Chemistry Minor, which takes only two courses beyond the two-year introductory sequence in Chemistry rather than three. Since the Chemistry Minor electives include CHEM 309, CHEM 341 and CHEM 414, students anticipating scheduling difficulties that may preclude them from completing the Biochemistry Minor may want to fulfill the requirements for a Chemistry Minor first.
Courses are typically only offered during the semesters indicated above, and in some cases there are time conflicts.
Be certain you will have met course prerequisites by the time you plan to enroll in a course.
Declaration of the Biochemistry Minor must be submitted to the Charles Center before the beginning of preregistration for the final semester of the student's senior year.
A student with two majors may not declare a minor. Only one minor may be declared.
A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in the courses which are to be counted toward the minor, and none may have been taken pass/fail.
You may count up to two courses toward both a major and a minor.
For sample programs of study, see the description in the Undergraduate Course Catalog.
Students can find additional information on declaring a Biochemistry Minor through the Chemistry department.