Biochemistry, B.S.

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Definition of Major and Minor

A minimum of 120 semester hours of coursework is required for a Bachelor of Science degree. The department offers a Bachelor of Science that requires all students to complete a major track and minor, take the appropriate core curriculum requirements and have the required semester hours for graduation.

The Biochemistry major consists of 19 core chemistry hours, selected chemistry courses and a biology minor. A maximum of four hours of CHE 475 /CHE 476 may be counted toward the major.

A Research Intensive concentration may be added to this degree. See the program listing below for further information.

The Chemistry Minor consists of a minimum of 18 hours of chemistry coursework.

The following courses may not be used in either the Chemistry major or Chemistry minor: CHE 112 , CHE 302 , CHE 320 and CHE 330 .

Certification for Chemistry or Physical Science Teaching (Grades 8-12)

Students who wish to qualify for teaching certificates should consult the Teacher Certification section of this bulletin.

Graduate Study in Chemistry

The overlap graduate degree program permits qualified undergraduates to pursue a limited amount of graduate study (usually 12 credit hours or less) concurrently with undergraduate study. The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a thesis and non-thesis natural science master’s degree (thesis option highly recommended). Thesis master’s degree requires a minimum 24 of the required 30 semester hours in chemistry, including CHE 589 and 590. The non-thesis master’s degree requires a minimum 18 of the required 36 semester hours in chemistry.

The department also offers an overlap graduate degree program that permits qualified undergraduates to pursue a limited amount of graduate study (usually 12 credit hours or less) concurrently with their undergraduate study giving a student the opportunity to obtain a B.S. and M.S. in only five years of study.

For more information and eligibility requirements, consult the Graduate Bulletin or the Overlap Program in the Academic Programs and Policies section of this bulletin.

1. University Core Curriculum Requirements

See Bachelor of Science for Sciences and Mathematics, B.S. for University Core Curriculum course listing. See advisor for major specific course selections in the University Core Curriculum offerings.

2. Foundation of Knowledge

See Bachelor of Science for Sciences and Mathematics, B.S. for Foundation of Knowledge course listing. See advisor for major specific Foundation of Knowledge course selections.

3. Common Requirement

Mathematics Lab

MTH 233L - Calculus I Lab Credit(s): 1

Core Science Labs

Two hours from:

PHY 131L - Mechanics and Heat Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHY 132L - Electricity, Sound and Light Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHY 241L - Technical Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1
PHY 242L - Technical Physics II Laboratory Credit(s): 1

4. Program Courses

Chemistry Core

CHE 133 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHE 133L - General Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
CHE 134 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHE 134L - General Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
CHE 231 - Quantitative Analysis Credit(s): 4
CHE 231L - Quantitative Analysis Lab Credit(s): 0
CHE 331 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHE 331L - Organic Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1

Special Problems/Seminar

One hour from each of the following:

CHE 275 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1
CHE 470 - A, B, C, D Seminar Credit(s): 1
CHE 475 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1

Required Courses

CHE 332 - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHE 332L - Organic Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
CHE 337 - Physical Chemistry I Credit(s): 4
CHE 337L - Physical Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 0
CHE 443 - Instrumental Analysis Credit(s): 4
CHE 443L - Instrumental Analysis Lab Credit(s): 0
CHE 452 - Comprehensive Biochemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHE 452L - Comprehensive Biochemistry I Laboratory Credit(s): 1
CHE 453 - Comprehensive Biochemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHE 454 - Biochemical Techniques Credit(s): 3
CHE 454L - Biochemical Techniques Lab Credit(s): 0
CHE 464 - Advanced Biochemistry Credit(s): 3

Advanced Chemistry

Three hours from:

CHE 338 - Physical Chemistry II Credit(s): 4
CHE 338L - Physical Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 0
CHE 420 - Environmental Chemistry Credit(s): 4
CHE 420L - Environmental Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 0
CHE 441 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHE 442L - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Lab Credit(s): 1
CHE 455 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Credit(s): 3
CHE 470 - A, B, C, D Seminar Credit(s): 1
CHE 471 - Advanced Special Topics Credit(s): 1-4
CHE 472 - Introduction to Intellectual Property Credit(s): 1
CHE 475 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1
CHE 476 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1
CHE 480 - Industrial Internship Credit(s): 3
CHE 481 - Laboratory Internship Credit(s): 3
MTH 220 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credit(s): 3

Biology Minor

See Biology Minor for course listing. Complete a minimum of 21 hours for the Biochemistry major; 11 hours of required courses and 10 hours of biology electives.

Recommended courses for biology electives are: BIO 309 /BIO 309L , BIO 327 , BIO 341 /BIO 341L , BIO 342 /BIO 342L , BIO 402 /BIO 402L or BIO 431 .

5. Research Intensive Concentration

This concentration is not a major concentration but may be added to any Chemistry department degree for a research intensive emphasis.

The hours for the Research Intensive concentration may be in excess of 120 hours and may affect elegibility for the Texas Tuition Rebate Opportunity.

Consist of six to ten hours from:

CHE 275 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1
CHE 276 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1-4
CHE 471 - Advanced Special Topics Credit(s): 1-4
CHE 475 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1
CHE 476 - Special Problems Credit(s): 1

6. Hours to total 120

To be discussed with advisor.

7. MCAT/DAT Pre-requisites

The following course must be completed prior to taking MCAT/DAT, which is typically taken spring of junior year:

BIO 130 - Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology Credit(s): 3
BIO 131 - Principles of Botany Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)
BIO 133 - Principles of Zoology Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)
BIO 327 - Human Physiology Credit(s): 3
BIO 341 - Genetics Credit(s): 4
BIO 342 - Comparative Vertebrate Zoology Credit(s): 4
BIO 449 - Animal Histology Credit(s): 4
CHE 133 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)
CHE 134 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)
CHE 331 - Organic Chemistry I Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)
CHE 332 - Organic Chemistry II Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)
CHE 452 - Comprehensive Biochemistry I Credit(s): 3
PHY 131 - Mechanics and Heat Credit(s): 3
(4 hours)
PHY 132 - Electricity, Sound and Light Credit(s): 3 (4 hours)