College of Science

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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• For more information about Chemistry and Biochemistry, see the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department.
• Following is a sample four-year plan. Please note that student-specific plans may differ.
• Admitted students must meet with a Biochemistry advisor. Current students should also meet with a Biochemistry advisor and logon to DegreeWorks  to check student-specific program progress.

 

Minimum University Requirements
Total Credits	120			Grade Point Average (most majors require higher GPA)	2.00 GPA
Credits of C- or better	100			Credits of upper-division courses (#3000 or above)	40
Total USU Credits	30			Upper-division USU Credits	20
USU Credits within the Major	10			Credits in Minor (if required)	12
Credits in Major	see below			Credits in American Institutions	3
General Education Requirements	see link			University Studies Depth Requirements	see link
REQUIREMENTS TO REMAIN IN THIS PROGRAM; No CHEM prefix course may be applied toward graduation with a major in Biochemistry with an earned grade of less than C-.   No CHEM prefix course may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. No CHEM prefix course may be repeated more than one time to improve the grade to a C- or better.

 

Admissions Requirements for this Program
New freshmen	Admitted to USU in Good Standing			Transfer students from other institutions or other programs at USU	2.2 GPA

First Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
CHEM 1210: Principles of Chemistry I	4			CHEM 1220: Principles of Chemistry II (BPS)	4
CHEM 1215: Chemical Principles Laboratory I	1			CHEM 1225: Chemical Principles Laboratory II	1
CHEM 1990: Introduction to the Chemistry and Biochemistry Professions	1			MATH 1220: Calculus II (QL)	4
MATH 1210: Calculus I (QL)	4			University Studies courses	6-7
University Studies courses	6
Comments

Second Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
BIOL 1610: Biology I /BIOL 1615: Biology I Laboratory	3 /1			BIOL 1620: Biology II (BLS)	3
CHEM 2310: Organic Chemistry I	4			CHEM 2320: Organic Chemistry II	4
CHEM 2315: Organic Chemistry Laboratory I	1			CHEM 2325: Organic Chemistry Laboratory II	1
PHYS 2110: General Physics - Life Sciences I  OR PHYS 2210: Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (BPS/QI)	4  OR 4			PHYS 2120: General Physics - Life Sciences II (BPS)  OR PHYS 2220: Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (BPS/QI)	4  OR 4
University Studies course(s)	3			University Studies courses	3
Comments				Comments

Third Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
CHEM 3000: Quantitative Analysis (QI)	3			CHEM 5710: General Biochemistry II	3
CHEM 3005: Quantitative Analysis Laboratory	1			CHEM 5720: General Biochemistry Laboratory (CI)	3
CHEM 5700: General Biochemistry I	3			STAT 3000: Statistics for Scientists (QI)	3
Advanced Biology Electives (Approved by Dept.)	3-4			Advanced Biology Electives (Approved by Dept.)	3-4
University Studies courses	4-7			University Studies courses	4-7
Comments				Comments

Fourth Year
Fall Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:		Spring Semester	Credits	General Education Info and Notes:
CHEM 4890: Undergraduate Biochemistry Seminar (CI)	2			Advanced elective coursework	6-12
CHEM 5070: Biophysical Chemistry	3			University Studies course(s)	1-3
Advanced elective coursework	6-12
University Studies course(s)	1-3
Comments				Comments

The following curriculum is required for the BS degree in Biochemistry. To complete the degree in eight semesters (four academic years), students must register for an average of 15-16 credits per semester. (Note: Biochemistry Majors cannot declare a Chemistry Minor.)

Note: Students may satisfy the CHEM 1210  requirement with an AP score of 3 or 4. Both CHEM 1210  and CHEM 1220  may be satisfied with an AP score of 5.

 

Students must complete the General Education Requirements :

• CHEM 1220
    will fulfill the Physical Sciences (BPS) breadth requirement
• PHYS 2120
    and/or
  BIOL 1620
    will fulfill the Exploration requirement
• BIOL 1620
    will fulfill the Life Science (BLS) breadth requirement
• MATH 1210  will fulfill the Quantitative Literacy (QL) requirement

Students must also complete the University Studies Depth Requirements :

• Complete at least 2 credits in approved 3000-level or above courses from each of the following two categories: Humanities and Creative Arts (DHA) and Social Sciences (DSS)