Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of life at the level of individual molecules. Biochemistry lies at the intersection of cell biology, physiology, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. The B.S. Biochemistry major includes two semesters of calculus, one year of biochemistry, analytical chemistry, biological physical chemistry, and upper-division courses in cellular mechanisms and related elective courses.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Because biology study requires preparation in other sciences, students should begin meeting major requirements in the first year. It is particularly important to take CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 in the first year and, for several majors, to take CHEM 330, CHEM 331, CHEM 335, and CHEM 336 in the second year. Ideally, most majors should also take BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 during the first year, as well as BIOL 105.
Students completing a B.S. in Biochemistry may not complete a minor in Chemistry.
Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Biochemistry
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
| Prerequisite Knowledge | ||
| Majors must complete the following general science requirements that serve as foundational courses for this major. | ||
| BIOL 105 | Biology Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| or CHEM 170 | Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences I | |
| or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 135 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| or CHEM 175 | Chemistry for the Chemical Sciences II | |
| or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196 | Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 330 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 380 | Organic Chemistry I, Honors | |
| CHEM 331 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 335 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| or CHEM 385 | Organic Chemistry II, Honors | |
| CHEM 336 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| Calculus I | ||
or MATH 115 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 116 | Calculus II | 3 |
| or MATH 126 & MATH 127 | Calculus II and Calculus III | |
| PHSX 114 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | |
| or PHSX 213 | General Physics I Honors | |
| PHSX 115 | College Physics II | 4 |
| or PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 | General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | |
| or PHSX 214 | General Physics II Honors | |
| BIOL 370 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| BIOL 150 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 152 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 153 | Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 154 | Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | 2 |
| BIOL 350 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOL 360 | Principles of Genetics, Honors | |
| BIOL 416 | Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
| or BIOL 536 | Cell Structure and Function (Honors) | |
| BIOL 636 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| BIOL 637 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 638 | Biochemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 400 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 401 | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| One of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Biological Physical Chemistry | ||
| Physical Chemistry I | ||
| Biochemistry Required Electives | 9 | |
| Satisfied by completing 9 hours of BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher. No more than 3 hours of BIOL 423 Non-Lab Independent Study and/or BIOL 424 Independent Study (combined) can be applied towards the elective requirement. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | ||
| General Electives | 5-4 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Capstone | ||
| BIOL 639 | Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the B.S. in Biochemistry. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
This degree plan assumes students will have the equivalent of MATH 101 or MATH 104 prior to the freshman year, fall semester.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 150 or 152 (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | BIOL 152 or 150 (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| CHEM 170 or 130 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040*, 3 | 5 | BIOL 154 (Major Requirement) | 2 |
| BIOL 105 (General Science Requirement)1 | 1 | CHEM 175 or 135 (General Science Requirement) | 5 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | MATH 115 or 125 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030*, 3 | 3-4 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 350 (General Science Requirement) | 4 | BIOL 370 (General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| CHEM 330 (General Science Requirement) | 3 | CHEM 335 (General Science Requirement)4 | 3 |
| CHEM 331 (General Science Requirement) | 2 | CHEM 336 (General Science Requirement)4 | 2 |
| MATH 116 (General Science Requirement) | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PHSX 114 or 211 and 216 (General Science Requirement) | 4-5 | PHSX 115 or 212 and 236 (General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| BIOL 636 (Major Requirement)4 | 4 | BIOL 638 (Major Requirement)4 | 4 |
| BIOL 637 (Major Requirement)4 | 2 | BIOL 639 (Major Requirement; Capstone)4 | 3 |
| CHEM 400 (Major Requirement)4 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| CHEM 401 (Major Requirement)4 | 2 | ||
| 15-16 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | BIOL 416 or 536 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| CHEM 510 or 530 (Major Requirement)4 | 3 | BIOL Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)5 | 3 |
| BIOL Elective 400+ (Major Requirement) | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| BIOL Elective 400+ (Major Requirement) | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours5 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-122 | |||
- 1
BIOL 105:Biology Orientation Seminar (1 hour online course) can be taken the summer prior to your freshman year.
- 2
Concurrent or prior enrollment in CHEM 170/CHEM 130 is required. BIOL 151 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 150 and offered in the fall semesters. BIOL 153 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 152 and offered in the spring semesters.
- 3
MATH 115 and CHEM 130 require a Math ACT score of 26+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for a MATH 101 or MATH 104 equivalent course. MATH 125 requires a MATH ACT score of 28+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 104.
- 4
BIOL 636, BIOL 637, CHEM 400, CHEM 401, CHEM 510, and CHEM 530 are Fall only courses. CHEM 335, CHEM 336, BIOL 638, and BIOL 639 are Spring only courses.
- 5
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
Please note:
Students may earn degrees in more than one major within biological sciences, or in a biological science and an area outside biology by meeting the requirements of both degree programs and taking at least 15 hours of courses unique to each major.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Explain the sources of genetic variation within populations, how variation is maintained or lost in populations and mechanisms of evolutionary change operating in populations and how these may lead to the formation of biological species. Use the principles of evolution to explain the diversity of life on Earth; describe evidence that supports the conclusion that evolution explains the diversity of life on Earth.
- Describe how organisms inherit genetic information that influences the location, timing, and intensity of gene expression. Explain that cells/organs/organisms have multiple mechanisms to perceive and respond to changing environmental conditions.
- Describe how complex networks are formed by interactions at many biological scales (i.e., molecules, genes, cells, tissues, organs, individuals and ecosystems), and that organisms integrate internal and external information to respond to environmental changes.
- Explain that biological structures exist at all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems, and the physical and chemical characteristics of a structure influence its function.
- Apply the scientific method and communicate scientific arguments, ideas, and results clearly and explicitly through writing and speech. Demonstrate a knowledge of the ethical considerations related to scientific research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning, mathematical, statistical, and/or informatics tools to explain, evaluate, and effectively interpret claims, theories, and assumptions in the biological sciences.
Departmental Honors
Undergraduate majors are eligible to graduate with honors in biology if they fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete all course work required for the appropriate degree in biology.
- Achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major.
- Complete BIOL 489 Introduction to Honors Research with a grade of B or higher, or complete one credit of BIOL 423 or BIOL 424 with a grade of B or higher
- Complete BIOL 699 Biology Honors Research Colloquium with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in an area appropriate to the degree sought.
- Submit an honors thesis to the honors committee once the research is complete and present the results of the completed research at the honors research symposium.
Specific guidelines and intent forms are available in the Undergraduate Biology Program office and online. Candidates must declare their intent to graduate with honors at least 2 semesters before graduation.
Study Abroad
Consult an advisor at least 4 months before undertaking study abroad. Consult the Office of Study Abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall, for information about study in one of the many countries (e.g., Scotland, Australia, Switzerland) with special arrangements with KU.