Major Requirements

The Bachelor of Science Degree

Note: A grade of C- (1.7) or better is required in each chemistry and biology course applied toward the major.

14.75 units, including:

• BIOL199 Introduction to Biological Thinking or BIOL192 Science Math and Research Training with Laboratory

• BIOL200Integrated Biological Principles I

• BIOL202 Integrated Biological Principles II

• BMB300 Junior Seminar

• CHEM141 Chemistry: Structure, Thermodynamics, and Kinetics

• CHEM205-CHEM206 Organic Chemistry

• CHEM309 Physical Chemistry

• CHEM324 Experimental Biochemistry

• CHEM325 Experimental Biophysical Chemistry

• CHEM326 Biochemistry

• One Macromolecular Structure and Function course, chosen from:

  • BIOL310 The Science of Poisoning

  • BIOL317 Mechanochemical Cell Biology

  • BIOL335 Structural Biology

  • BIOL348 Drug & Genetics: An Introduction to Personalized Medicine

  • CHEM329 Protein Structure, Function and Biophysics

  • CHEM330 Special Topics: Biochemistry

  • CHEM333 Chemical Biology

  • CHEM342 Medicinal Chemistry

• One Gene Regulation course, chosen from:

  • BIOL307 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology

  • BIOL312 Developmental Biology with Lab

  • BIOL313 Bacterial Pathogenesis

  • BIOL314 Molecular Biology

  • BIOL322 Cancer Biology and Tumorigenesis with Lab

  • BIOL324 Molecular Virology

  • BIOL327 Genetics of Biodiversity

  • BIOL340 Introduction to Immunology

  • BIOL342 Neurodevelopment

  • BIOL343 Neurobiology

  • BIOL351 Special Topics: Advanced Genetics

  • BIOL354 Biological Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases w/ Lab

• Two senior seminars, to include the presentation of a research topic, chosen from:

  • BMB310 Biochemistry Senior Seminar I

  • BMB311 Biochemistry Senior Seminar II

• MATH212 Calculus II

• PHYS131 Calculus-Based General Physics 1 with Lab

• PHYS132 Calculus-Based General Physics 2 with Lab

The above courses plus one additional approved upper level biology or chemistry elective and an approved research experience (BIOL406 or CHEM406 or 1 unit in BIOL394 or BIOL395 or CHEM320 or CHEM321) that culminates in a written report or poster presentation to give a total of 15-16 units.

For Either Degree

Additional upper-level elective courses in chemistry and biology are highly recommended. Students wishing to double major in biochemistry and molecular biology and either chemistry or biology are required to use upper-level electives for only one degree program or the other. Similarly, upper-level electives cannot be counted for both a major and a minor in either department. In addition, starting with the class of 2018, double majors in biochemistry and molecular biology and chemistry will not be able to double count seminar courses and will be restricted to presenting their research project only once between the two seminar programs.