Description of Undergraduate Program

MAJOR
Biochemistry holds a central position in the life sciences. At the interface between Biology and Chemistry, it deals with the molecular structures and reactions essential to all life processes. A degree in Biochemistry prepares students for a broad range of career possibilities in research, industry, and the health professions. In the past decade, a third of our graduates have entered professional schools (medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy, osteopathy, and veterinary), a third have entered M.S. or Ph.D. graduate programs (in Biochemistry, Physiology, Public Health, Pathology, Molecular Biology, and Virology, and a third have gone to work (in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, clinical and research laboratories, and teaching).

The course work required for the Biochemistry degree is rigorous and comprehensive and gives students a solid grounding on which to base their career goals. There are three emphasis areas within the Biochemistry major, Chemistry, Biology and Medical Sciences. The choice of emphasis depends on the career plans of the student, and determines from which course groupings upper-division electives are selected to complete the major requirements. The Biology emphasis is geared toward students interested in basic biological sciences or an allied health profession, while the Chemistry emphasis is generally chosen by students interested in pharmacy, forensics, or biophysical sciences. The objectives of the Medical Science Emphasis are to provide students with the opportunity to achieve a sound major in Biochemistry and to provide them with the opportunity to be very well prepared for the various Professional School Admissions Tests. In both the Biology and Chemistry emphases, participation in an independent research project (BCH 197) or research tutorial (BCH 190), carried out under the supervision of a faculty member, is particularly encouraged. Internships in industry (BCH 198-I) are also available, and often lead to valuable job experience and employment opportunities.

The department offers degrees of both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. The major and emphasis requirements are the same for both degrees, and most students choose the B.S. degree. The B.A. degree requires 12 additional units of Humanities and Social Sciences courses, and 16 units or a course 4-equivalency level of a foreign language (see College Breadth Requirements).

TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students majoring in Biochemistry need to complete at least three of the following full-year sequences, which must include first-year calculus and general chemistry :


1. First-year Calculus, equivalent to MATH 009A-MATH 009B--MATH 009C
2. General Chemistry, equivalent to CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C
3. Organic Chemistry (must be completed with a minimum grade of "B" in each term)
4. General Biology, equivalent to BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, and BIOL 005B (and BIOL 005C, if available)
5. General Physics (calculus-based) equivalent to PHYS 002A, PHYS 002B, PHYS 002C or PHYS 40A, PHYS 40B, PHYS 40C

Students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.70 in transferable college courses.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
The major requirements and the emphasis requirements are the same for the B.A. and the B.S. degree in Biochemistry. Choose one emphasis. All upper-division courses presume completion of the life sciences core curriculum.




1. Lower-division requirements (51 units)
   
   
   
   1. BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA , BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C
      
   2. PHYS 002A, PHYS 002B, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LA-PHYS, 02LB-PHYS 02LC
      
   3. CHEM 001A-CHEM 001B-CHEM 001C
      
   4. MATH 009A-MATH 009B-MATH 009C
      
   
   
2. Statistics (2 or 5 units): One course from STAT 020, STAT 100A, or STAT 105
   
3. Upper-division requirements (46-49 units)
   
   
   
   1. BIOL 102
      
   2. CHEM 109 or CHEM 110A; CHEM 112A-CHEM 112B-CHEM-112C
      
   3. BCH 102, BCH 110A-BCH 110B-BCH 110C, BCH 184
      
   4. For the Biology and Chemistry emphases, at least 7 units from BCH 120, BCH 153/ BIOL153/BPSC 153, BCH 162, BCH 180A, BCH 180B, BCH 180C, BCH 183, BCH 185/BPSC 185, BCH 186, BCH 210, BCH 211, BCH 212, BCH 241/CHEM 241
      
   5. For the Medical Sciences emphasis: BCH 120
      
   
   
4. BCH 190 or BCH 197 are available as elective courses to juniors who have completed BCH 102 and seniors. No more than 9 units of courses numbered 190-199 may be counted towards the major.
   



Chemistry Emphasis




1. Lower-division requirements (5 units) CHEM 005
2. Upper-division requirements (8 units) two courses from CHEM 110B, CHEM 113, CHEM 125, CHEM 150A-CHEM 150B, CHEM 166 (BCH 241/CHEM 241 and other graduate courses may be substituted by students with a GPA of 3.00 or better with permission of the instructor and the faculty advisor.)

Biology Emphasis




1. Upper-division requirements (9-15 units). Choose three biological science courses from the following:
   
   
   
   1. BCH 120, BCH 153/BIOL 153/BPSC 153, BCH 162, BCH 180A, BCH 180B, BCH 180C, BCH 183, BCH 185/BPSC 185, BCH 186, BCH 210, BCH 211, BCH 212, BCH 241/CHEM 241
      
   2. BIOL 105, BIOL 108, BIOL 114, BIOL 117, BIOL 121/MCBL 121, BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L, BIOL 123/MCBL 123/PLPA 123, BIOL 124, BIOL 128/ CBNS 128, BIOL 151, BIOL 155/BPSC 155, BIOL 157, BIOL 159/NEM 159, BIOL 160, BIOL 161A, BIOL 161B, BIOL 167, BIOL 171, BIOL 173/ENTM 173, BIOL 175
   3. BIOL 104/BPSC 104 , BIOL 132/BPSC 132, BIOL 143/BPSC 143, BIOL 155/BPSC 155, BPSC 134, BPSC 135, BPSC 148
      
   4. BIOL 100/ENTM 100, BIOL 173/ENTM 173, ENTM 128
      
   5. CBNS 101, CBNS 106, CBNS 116, CBNS 120/PSYC 120, CBNS 120L/PSYC 120L, CBNS 124/PSYC 124, CBNS 125/PSYC 125, CBNS 150/ENTX 150, CBNS 169
      
   6. ENSC 100, ENSC 155
      
   7. ENTX 101, CBNS 150/ENTX 150
      

Medical Science Emphasis




1. Lower-division requirements (2 units): BCH 096, BCH 098I
2. Upper-division requirements (4 units): CBNS 101
3. Highly recommended (15 units): BIOL 161A, BIOL 161B, BIOL 171

Graduate and upper-division courses can be substituted with permission of the instructor and the faculty advisor. Graduate courses require a GPA of 3.0 or greater in the sciences.Students should be aware that CHEM 005 is often a requirement for admission to professional schools.

Note: A maximum of 12 units of 190-199 courses may be counted toward the 180 unit graduation requirement. All courses used towards the Biochemistry major requirements must be taken for letter grades.