Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.
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.
Students with an interest in biochemistry earn the Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. This provides flexibility in the selection of courses for those students who plan to seek employment in areas related to biochemistry, enter graduate or medical school, or teach in high schools or higher education institutions. The program provides training in biochemistry, botany, microbiology, zoology or in applied areas according to the student's interest. In addition to the courses in chemistry, physics and mathematics, an additional 16 credits in biological sciences, 18 credits of electives in the humanities and social sciences, nine credits in English, three credits in speech and two credits in wellness are required. The pre-medical student is encouraged to take a year of upper-level zoology.
Biochemistry Minor
A minor in Biochemistry also is available. Contact the department for details.
Biochemistry is concerned with the chemistry of the materials fundamental to life and contributes toward the understanding of the structure and functioning of all organisms. Because of the rapid advances in the areas of biotechnology, molecular biology and genetic engineering, biochemistry is an exciting area for study and research.
Plan of Study
Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 150 & 150L | 4 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| CHEM 150 or 121 | 3 | CHEM 151 or 122 | 3 |
| CHEM 160 or 121L | 1 | CHEM 161 or 122L | 1 |
| ENGL 110 (Communication Gen Ed) | 4 | ENGL 120 (Communication Gen Ed) | 3 |
| MATH 165 (Quant. Reasoning Gen Ed) | 4 | Humanities/Fine Arts Gen Ed | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sci Gen Ed | 3 | ||
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMM 110 (Communication Gen Ed) | 3 | PHYS 252 & 252L (Science & Tech Gen Ed) | 5 |
| CHEM 341 | 3 | CHEM 342 | 3 |
| CHEM 353 | 1 | CHEM 354 | 2 |
| BIOL 315 | 3 | Humanities/Fine Arts and Global Perspectives Gen Ed | 3 |
| PHYS 251 & 251L (Science & Tech Gen Ed) | 5 | Social & Beh Sci and Cultural Diversity Gen Ed | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOC 460 | 3 | CHEM 380 | 1 |
| BIOC 460L | 1 | BIOC 461 | 3 |
| CHEM 431 | 3 | BIOC 474 | 3 |
| MICR 350 & 350L | 5 | STAT 330 | 3 |
| ENGL 321 or 324 (Communication Gen Ed) | 3 | 300-400 Level Science Elective1 | 3 |
| 300-400 Level Science Elective1 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOC 473 | 3 | BIOC 487 | 3 |
| BIOC 483 | 3 | CHEM 491 | 2 |
| CHEM 465 | 4 | 300-400 Level Science Electives1 | 3 |
| Humanities or Social Science College Requirement2 | 3 | Humanities or Social Science College Requirement2 | 3 |
| Wellness Gen Ed | 2 | ||
| 13 | 13 | ||
| Total Credits: 121 | |||
| 1 | Courses in BIOL, 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. |
| 2 | 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, LA, LANG, MUSC, PHIL, POLS, PSYC, RELS, SOC, SPAN, THEA, WGS, or any course from the approved list of general education in the humanities & fine arts and the social & behavioral sciences categories (A & B). These credits must come from outside the department of the student's major. |