Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major is designed to give students a detailed understanding of the chemistry of living matter. Careers exist in medical, pharmaceutical, food processing, and agricultural laboratories. Graduates also will have excellent preparation for graduate school or schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, and business.
Biochemistry Minor
A minor in Biochemistry also is available. Contact the department for details.
Major Requirements
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 122
General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree
- A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
- General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Experience (F) | 1 | |
| Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM) | ||
| Communication (C) | 12 | |
| College Composition I | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
Upper Division Writing † | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning (R) † | 3 | |
| Science and Technology (S) † | 10 | |
| Humanities and Fine Arts (A) † | 6 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) † | 6 | |
| Wellness (W) † | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D) *† | ||
| Global Perspectives (G) *† | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
| * | May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category. |
| † | May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required. |
College Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree – An additional 12 credits Humanities and Social Sciences and proficiency at the second year level in a modern foreign language. * | 12 | |
| Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree – An additional 6 credits in Humanities or Social Sciences * | 6 | |
| * | Humanities and Social Sciences may be fulfilled by any course having the following prefix: ADHM, ANTH, ARCH, ART, CJ, CLAS, COMM, ECON, ENGL, FREN, GEOG, GERM, HDFS, HIST, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education courses in humanities and social sciences (general education categories A and B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student’s major. |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biochem & Molecular Biology Requirements | ||
| BIOC 460 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I | 3 |
| BIOC 460L | Foundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOC 461 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| BIOC 465 | Survey of Physical Chemistry * | 4 |
| BIOC 473 | Methods of Biochemical Research | 3 |
| BIOC 474 | Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology | 3 |
| BIOC 483 | Cellular Signal Transduction Processes and Metabolic Regulations | 3 |
| BIOC 487 | Molecular Biology of Gene Expression | 3 |
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the follwing: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| CHEM 341 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 353 | Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHEM 354 | Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| CHEM 380 | Chemistry Junior Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 431 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 491 | Seminar | 2 |
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Writing in the Technical Professions (May satisfy general education category S) | ||
or ENGL 324 | Writing in the Sciences | |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R) | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MICR 350 & 350L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| PHYS 251 & 251L | University Physics I and University Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| PHYS 252 & 252L | University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S) | 5 |
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R) | 3 |
| ZOO 315 | Genetics (May satisfy general education category S) | 3 |
| Upper-Level Science Electives | ||
| 300-400 level courses in BIOL, BIOC, BOT, ZOO, CHEM, CSCI, MICR, PSCI, PHYS, PPTH, or STAT. No more than 6 credits from one prefix may apply. Research credits (CHEM 494/BIOC 494) may count towards 3 of these credits. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 91 | |
| * | CHEM 364 Physical Chemistry I & CHEM 365 Physical Chemistry II will satisfy this requirement and 2 credits of upper-level science electives. |
Degree Notes:
- Except for courses offered only as pass/fail grading, no course may be taken Pass/Fail.
Minor Requirements
Biochemistry Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 16
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| All minor courses must be selected in consultation with a Biochemistry adviser. | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
- The student and adviser will complete a substitution form with the courses to be used for the biochemistry minor. This form will also requires the signature of the department chairperson before being submitted to the Office of Registration and Records for verification of minor program completion.
- Note: This minor will not be available for view in the Student Advisement/Requirement Report in Campus Connection.
