Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major

Major Requirements

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Credits Required: 120

University Degree Requirements

For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.

  1. Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
  2. Complete the University General Education requirements.
  3. Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  4. Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
  5. Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
  6. Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.

University General Education Requirements

A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available here.

Category C: Communication12
Category R: Quantitative Reasoning3
Category S: Science and Technology10
Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts6
Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences6
Category W: Wellness2
Category D: Cultural Diversity
Category G: Global Perspectives
Category L: Digital Literacy
Total Credits39

Major Requirements

Biochem & Molecular Biology Requirements
BIOC 460Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I 23
BIOC 460LFoundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory1
BIOC 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II 23
BIOC 473Methods of Biochemical Research 24
BIOC 474Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology 23
BIOC 483Cellular Signal Transduction Processes and Metabolic Regulations 23
BIOC 487Molecular Biology of Gene Expression3
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory 1
4
CHEM 122
122L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory 1
4
CHEM 341
341L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 342
342L
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
4
CHEM 380Chemistry and Biochemistry Junior Seminar1
CHEM 431Analytical Chemistry I3
CHEM 491Seminar2
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions3
or ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences
MATH 165Calculus I4
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
PHYS 211
211L
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory
4
PHYS 212
212L
College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory
4
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
BIOL 315Genetics3
or PLSC 315 Genetics
STEM Electives
Select any level course from the following prefixes: ANSC, BIOL, BIOC, BOT, CE, CHEM, CSCI, ECE, IME, MATH, ME, MICR, PSCI, PHYS, PPTH, or STAT.6-8
Science Electives (300-400 Level)
Select 300-400 level courses from the following prefixes: ANSC, BIOL, BIOC, BOT, CHEM, CSCI, MICR, PSCI, PHYS, PPTH, or STAT. No more than 6 credits from one prefix may apply. Research credits (CHEM 494/BIOC 494; CHEM 493/BIOC 493) may count towards 3 of these credits.9
Total Credits91-93
1

Students may take the higher level CHEM 150/160 for CHEM 121/121L and CHEM 151/161 for CHEM 122/122L.

2

Students in the accelerated program may substitute the 600 level course equivalent to use in both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. No more than 15 credits of 600 level coursework can apply to the undergraduate degree program.

Degree and Program Notes:

  • Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
  • This major is eligible as an accelerated program for the student to earn a B.S. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a M.S. in Biochemistry. Students may complete either a thesis or non-thesis option in the master's program.