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Program Requirements

An overall 2.000 grade-point average in chemistry, biology and cognate courses is required for the major in biochemistry. A grade of C or better is required for all chemistry courses at the 100 and 200 level that fulfill major requirements. Students must attain a grade of C or better in 100 and 200 level courses before proceeding to 300 level courses.  No grades of D and only two grades of C- will be allowed for departmental courses at the 300 level that fulfill major requirements.  A grade of C- or better is required for all cognate courses that satisfy major requirements. If a required course is not completed within 2 attempts, the student will be dismissed from the program.  At least 24 of the credits in chemistry required for the biochemistry major must be completed on the Cedar Crest campus. The biochemistry major may not be combined with a chemistry minor. Students are required to complete a comprehensive examination encompassing all the relevant sub-disciplines which is administered as part of the Chemistry Seminar (CHE 352).

Course Requirements for the Biochemistry Major

CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits
CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
CHE 230 Analytical Chemistry 4 credits
CHE 300 Technical Information 3 credits
CHE/FSC 302 Chemical and Forensic Instrumental Analysis 4 credits
CHE 307 Biochemistry I 4 credits
CHE 308 Biochemistry II 4 credits
CHE 331 Inorganic Chemistry 3 or 4 credits
CHE 335 Physical Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 352 Chemistry Seminar 1 credit
CHE/FSC 391 Advanced Laboratory and Research 4 credits in the junior/senior year
OR CHE/FSC 393 Internship Up to 4 credits

Plus one course (2-4 credits) from the following:

CHE 306 Advanced Organic Chemistry 2 credits
CHE 314 Toxicology 2 credits
CHE 320 Environmental Chemistry 3 or 4 credits
CHE 333 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry 2 credits
CHE 336 Physical Chemistry II 3 credits
CHE 341 Polymer Chemistry 2 credits
CHE 344 Heterocyclic Chemistry 2 credits
FSC 321 Forensic Chemistry 2 credits

Plus the following biology courses:
BIO 123 Foundations in Biology I 4 credits        
BIO 124 Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology II 4 credits
BIO 231 Genetics 4 credits
BIO 335 Molecular Genetics I 4 credits

Plus the following cognate courses:
MAT 141 Calculus I 3 credits
MAT 142 Calculus II 3 credits
PHY 104 College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 105 College Physics II 4 credits

Minimum number of credits required: 79

The B.S. in biochemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society which means that graduates will be certified by the American Chemical Society.

Fulfillment of LAC Requirements

Students fulfill Technology, Oral Presentation, and Information Literacy requirements through the successful completion of the following major requirements: CHE 300, CHE/FSC 302, CHE 335, CHE 307, CHE 352, and CHE 391.  Students also fulfill the Natural Sciences (CHE 111 and 112), Mathematics and Logic (MAT 141 and 142) and Writing 2 (CHE 300) requirements upon successful completion of the major.