Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.

Major Requirements

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

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 Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

 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 major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

  •  A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

College Requirements

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

Biochem & Molecular Biology Requirements
BIOC 460Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I *3
BIOC 460LFoundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory1
BIOC 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II *3
BIOC 473Methods of Biochemical Research *4
BIOC 474Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology *3
BIOC 483Cellular Signal Transduction Processes and Metabolic Regulation *3
BIOC 487Molecular Biology of Gene Expression3
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
Select one of the following: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 341Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
CHEM 353Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHEM 354Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory II2
CHEM 465Survey of Physical Chemistry4
CHEM 380Chemistry Junior Seminar1
CHEM 431Analytical Chemistry I3
CHEM 491Seminar2
ENGL 321Writing in the Technical Professions (May satisfy general education category C)3
or ENGL 324 Writing in the Sciences
MATH 165Calculus I (May satisfy general education category R)4
MATH 166Calculus II4
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 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
BIOL 315Genetics3
or PLSC 315 Genetics
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; CHEM 493/BIOC 493) may count towards 3 of these credits.9
Total Credits92
*

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 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.

Minor Requirements

Minor: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Required Credits: 16

Minor Requirements

Required Courses
All minor courses must be selected in consultation with a Biochemistry adviser.16
Total Credits16

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.