Biochemistry B.S.
The Biochemistry Program is a joint program between the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Division of Biological Sciences. Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary science that integrates chemistry and biology to understand the molecular basis of life. The program offers a B.S. in Biochemistry, a B.S. in Computational Biochemistry, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry & Biophysics. The Biochemistry Program is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).
Undergraduate majors receive a solid foundation in both chemistry and biology. Biochemistry courses are usually taken in the junior year allowing majors to become involved in research with faculty and to take electives in their senior year. The major also introduces students to computer science, an essential tool in modern biochemistry. The B.S. in Biochemistry prepares students for advanced degrees in biochemistry or biophysics, for medical, dental or veterinary schools and for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
General Degree Requirements
To earn a baccalaureate degree, all students must complete successfully, in addition to any other requirements, the University of Montana General Education Requirements. Please refer to the General Education Requirements page for more information.
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - BIOCHEMISTRY
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division Core | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BCH 294 | Seminar/Workshop | 1 |
| BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | 3 |
| BIOB 161N | Principles of Living Systems Lab | 1 |
| BIOB 260 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIOB 272 | Genetics and Evolution | 4 |
| CHMY 141N | College Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHMY 142N | College Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHMY 143N | College Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHMY 144N | College Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| CHMY 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHMY 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 2 |
| CHMY 223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHMY 224 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 2 |
| CSCI 150 | Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| M 171 | Calculus I | 4 |
| M 172 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHSX 215N | Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus I | 4 |
| PHSX 216N | Physics Laboratory I with Calculus | 1 |
| PHSX 217N | Fundamentals of Physics with Calculus II | 4 |
| PHSX 218N | Physics Laboratory II with Calculus | 1 |
| Upper-Division Core | ||
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| BCH 480 | Advanced Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BCH 482 | Advanced Biochemistry II | 3 |
| BCH 486 | Biochemistry Research Lab | 3 |
| BIOB 425 | Advanced Cellular & Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHMY 311 | Analytical Chemistry-Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| CHMY 373 | Physical Chemistry-Kinetics & Thermodynamics 1 | 4 |
| CHMY 421 | Advanced Instrument Analysis | 4 |
| CHMY 401 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| Advanced Electives 2 | ||
| Complete 12 credits from the following courses: | 12 | |
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| General Genetics | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Immunology Laboratory | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Advanced Undergraduate Research | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions I | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions II | ||
| Hematology | ||
| Principles of Medical Physiology | ||
| General Microbiology | ||
| General Microbiology Lab | ||
| Microbial Genetics | ||
| Experimental Microbial Genetics Lab | ||
| General Parasitology | ||
| General Parasitology Lab | ||
| Virology | ||
| Physical Chemistry-Quantum Chemistry & Spectroscopy | ||
| Teaching Chemistry | ||
| Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Lab | ||
| Aquatic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Spectroscopy | ||
| FT-NMR Option for Undergraduate Research | ||
| Laboratory Safety | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Seminar/Workshop | ||
| Internship/Cooperative Education | ||
| Computational Biology | ||
| Medicinal Chemistry I | ||
| Medicinal Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced Writing Requirement | ||
| To complete the Advanced Writing Requirement, Biochemistry students may take the following courses or any other stand-alone advanced writing course. | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry II and Biochemistry Research Lab | ||
| Total Hours | 93 | |
- 1
Students planning to attend graduate school in biochemistry or biophysics are strongly advised to take the CHMY 373-CHMY 371 sequence.
- 2
No more than 3 credits combined of BIOB 490, CHMY 490, CHMY 498 and BCH 490. No more than 3 credits combined of CHMY 397 and CHMY 494.