Undergraduate Program

BS in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry (BBC) Track

We require students to maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) in the major, excluding allied field courses. See the advising page for information on how to declare your major, who your program advisor is, double majors, double degrees, petitioning for exceptions and more.

To begin the major declaration process for BS in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry Track, please use this link to access our departmental form.

Major Requirements

Students planning to major in the biological sciences should take BIOL 110L and 111L (or 112L and 113L), and CHEM 131-132 in their first year, and BIOL 198 or 190 and CHEM 203/207 in the fall of their second year.

Introductory Courses (Three Courses)

One of the following:

• BIOL 110L: Principles of Biology I
• BIOL 112L: Perspectives in Biology I (pre-requires AP biology exam score of 4 or 5)

One of the following:

• BIOL 111L: Principles of Biology II
• BIOL 113L: Perspectives in Biology I (pre-requires AP biology exam score of 4 or 5)

Plus BIOL 198: Principles of Genetics

Laboratory Experience (Two to Three Courses)

Select one of the following options:

• BCH 308: Biochemistry Lab and Critical Analysis (formerly BCH 208)*
• BIOL 228A&B IGEM I&II (International Genetically Engineered Machines Competition Course Series)
• Two BCH/BIOL/CHEM #395s: Independent Research Biological Science Courses (two four-credit courses; must be approved by major advisor)*

*BCH 308 is only open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, but sophomores should consult with the course directors, Dr. Jermaine Jenkins and Dr. Eric Wagner.

Advanced Courses (Six Courses)

All of the following courses are required:

• BIOL 252: Principles of Biochemistry* (not offered Spring 2026)
• BIOL 250: Introduction to Biochemistry without Lab (BBC majors should register for this course in place of BIOL 252 in Spring 2026 only)
• BIOL 250 & 250P: Introduction to Biochemistry with Lab (BBC majors should register for these courses in place of BIOL 252 in Spring 2026 only)
• BIOL 202: Molecular Biology
• IND 408: Advanced Biochemistry
• BIOL 278: Biochemical Mechanisms of Cellular Processes**

*BIOL 250 and 250P: Introductory Biochemistry is still applicable to the class of 2024 and previous.

**New effective class of 2025; BIOL 278 and BCH 412 overlap in time slots, thus students are advised to take BIOL 278 in spring of junior year.

Plus choose one of the following:

• BCH 412U: Advanced Topics in Biological Macromolecules
• IND 432: Foundations in Modern Biology II

Students graduating in 2024 choose two of the following, and students graduating in 2025 or later should choose one of the following courses:

• BIOL 222: Biology of Aging
• BIOL 243: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation
• CHEM 252: Physical Chemistry II
• CHEM 414: Bioinorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 440: Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology
• IND 409: Cell Biology (Canceled after fall 2017; may use if already taken)
• IND 447: Signal Transduction
• #### 395: Independent Research Bio Sci Courses**

**Students need advisor approval to take 395. If 395 is used to fulfill this requirement, then it cannot be used to satisfy the laboratory requirement. 395 can only be used to fulfill one of the two advanced electives.

Diversification Elective (One Course)

Select one course from the BBC diversification electives list, which must be approved by the track coordinator. The diversification elective should be outside of the BBC major track.

Ancillary Requirements (Nine Courses with Indicated Labs)

Both of the following general chemistry courses:

• CHEM 131: Chemical Concepts I with Lab**
• CHEM 132: Chemical Concepts II with Lab

One of the following organic chemistry I courses:

• CHEM 203/207: Organic Chemistry I with Lab
• CHEM 171/173: First Year Organic Chemistry I with Lab

One of the following organic chemistry II courses:

• CHEM 204/208: Organic Chemistry II with Lab
• CHEM 172/208 or 210: First Year Organic Chemistry with Lab

Note: Satisfactory completion of CHEM 171/173 and 172/208 or 210 first year organic chemistry series with labs in conjunction with AP credit for CHEM 131 fulfills the chemistry requirements. However, some medical and other post-graduate programs may require four semesters of college chemistry. For students who need another chemistry course, the chemistry department suggests CHEM 211, Inorganic Chemistry.

One of the following physics I courses:

• PHYS 113: General Physics I with Lab**
• PHYS 121: Mechanics with Lab
• PHYS 141: Mechanics (Honors) with Lab

One of the following physics II courses:

• PHYS 114: General Physics II with Lab**
• PHYS 122: Electricity and Magnetism with Lab
• PHYS 142: Electricity and Magnetism (Honors) with Lab

One of the following calculus I courses:

• MATH 141: Calculus I
• MATH 161: Calculus IA**
• MATH 171Q: Honors Calculus I

One of the following calculus II courses:

• MATH 142: Calculus II
• MATH 162: Calculus IIA**
• MATH 172Q: Honors Calculus II

**AP credit will also be accepted for this course. See our advising page for more information about AP credit.

Plus one of the following ancillary elective courses:

• Math: MATH 164, 165, 235 or other upper-level math course with advisor approval (MATH 143 is not acceptable)
• Statistics: BIOL 214, STAT AP, 180, 201, or other upper-level statistics course with advisor approval (STAT 211 is not acceptable)
• Computer programming: BIOL 208, CSC 161, 170, 171, ECE 114 or other computer programming course with advisor approval