Biochemistry Major
Why study biochemistry at CMU?
The chemistry program offers a solid science and mathematics curriculum to prepare students for a variety of chemistry careers or graduate studies. Consider some key features of this program:
- Advanced chemistry equipment and laboratories
- Personal guidance from faculty and opportunities to participate in research projects
- Internship opportunities at nearby industries such as The Dow Chemical Company
- CMU's American Chemical Society Student Affiliate received an outstanding award for chapter conduct for three consecutive years. Of more than 1,000 student affiliates nationwide, only 34 were presented with outstanding awards in a recent year.
Career outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, for all occupations through the year 2014:
- Job growth for chemists and materials scientists will be concentrated in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing companies and in professional, scientific, and technical services firms.
- Graduates with a bachelor's degree will have opportunities at smaller research organizations; those with a master's degree, and particularly those with a Ph.D., will enjoy better opportunities at larger pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.
- Within the chemical industry, job opportunities are expected to be most plentiful in pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.
Career options
Graduates of the chemistry program at CMU will find a variety of career opportunities. Some of these may require additional education.
- Agricultural Chemist
- Biochemist
- College or University Professor
- Environmental Chemist
- High School Teacher
- Materials Scientist
- Nuclear Chemical Processor
- Toxicologist
Program Overview
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires.
For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin
AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education
courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.
(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)
Biochemistry Major
( Total: 69-71 semester hours
Note: A minor in Chemistry is not allowed with a Biochemistry major. )
(21 hours)
Core Courses II
4
CHM 211 Quantitative Analysis
Analysis and interpretation of quantitative chemical information from volumetric, electrochemical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic techniques. Prerequisite: CHM 132 or 161. Recommended: MTH 107.
3
CHM 345 Organic Chemistry I
Overview of common organic reactions. Reactions of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and alkyl halides, Ultraviolet/Visible, Infrared, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry. Prerequisite: CHM 132 or 161.
3
CHM 346 Organic Chemistry II
Continuation of CHM 345. Overview of common organic reactions of aromatic compounds, alcohols, carbonyl compounds, and amines. Prerequisite: CHM 345.
2
CHM 349 Introduction to Organic Chemistry Lab
Fundamental laboratory techniques in organic chemistry. Methods of synthesis, separation and purification of organic compounds. Introduction to applications of infrared and NMR spectroscopy. Prerequisite: CHM 345. Co-requisite: CHM 346.
3
CHM 521 Fundamentals of Biochemistry
Structure, function, and metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Prerequisites: CHM 346.
3
CHM 522 Intermediate Biochemistry
Continuation of CHM 521. Material covered will include in-depth exploration of metabolism of biomacromolecules and biochemical processes requiring their use. Prerequisites: CHM 521.
1
CHM 527 Biochemistry Laboratory
Isolation, characterization, and analysis of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and nucleic acids using chromatographic, electrophoretic, and spectroscopic techniques. Prerequisite: CHM 211, CHM 349. Pre/Co-Requisite: CHM 425 or CHM 521.
2
CHM 528 Bioanalytical Techniques Laboratory
Laboratory analysis of biochemical materials using volumetric, electroanalytical, spectroscopic, and chromatographic techniques. Prerequisites: CHM 425 or 521, Pre/Co-Requisite: CHM 527.
(5-8 hours)
Core Courses I
Select one of the following options:
4
CHM 131 Introduction to Chemistry I
Fundamental concepts of chemistry including stoichiometry, gas laws, thermochemistry, and molecular structure. CHM 131 and 132 are recommended to constitute the standard one-year course for science majors. Recommended: High school Algebra II or MTH 107 (preferably with a B or better); high school chemistry or CHM 120. (University Program Group II-B)
4
CHM 132 Introduction to Chemistry II
Continuation of CHM 131 including solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, weak acids and bases, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry. Prerequisite: CHM 131. Recommended: a grade of C or better in CHM 131.
5
CHM 161 Principles of Chemistry
Intensive introduction to chemical principles for the well-prepared, motivated student. Satisfies University Program Group II laboratory requirements. Recommended: High school Algebra II or MTH 107 (preferably with a B or better); high school chemistry or CHM 120. (University Program Group II-B).
(3-4 hours)
Core Courses III
Select one of the following:
3
BIO 325 Biotechnology
Laboratory experience in the theory and practice of techniques used in basic cell and molecular biology research and their applications in biotechnology. Prerequisites: BIO 208, and BIO 324 or BIO 326; one of the following CHM sequences: CHM 120, CHM 127 and CHM 342 (may be taken concurrently); or CHM 131 and CHM 132; or CHM 161 and CHM 211.
4
BIO 524 Molecular Biology
Molecular basis of genetics and genetic expression primarily in prokaryotes and techniques of recombinant DNA technology. Laboratory includes nucleic acid purification and recombinant DNA procedures. Prerequisites: BIO 208, BIO 326; CHM 346, CHM 522 (may be concurrent).
(3-6 hours)
Core Courses IV
Select one of the following options:
3
CHM 355 Biophysical Chemistry
Application of physical theories to the understanding of energetics, kinetics, and spectra of biochemically relevant structures and reactions. Prerequisites: CHM 211; MTH 133; Pre/Co-Requisite: PHY 131 or 146.
3
CHM 351 Physical Chemistry I
Fundamental principles of chemistry based on a quantitative approach. Classical thermodynamics of gases and solutions, chemical equilibria, and electrochemistry. Prerequisites: CHM 211, PHY 146; Corequisite MTH 233
3
CHM 352 Physical Chemistry II
Fundamental principles of chemistry based on a quantitative approach. Quantum mechanics, spectroscopy, and kinetics. Prerequisite: CHM 351.
Select one of the following courses:
3-4
BIO 403 Undergraduate Research
Research experience for biology majors with 20 hours in biology and a B average. Requires planning with an advisor the semester prior to enrollment. Prerequisites: Permission of department chairperson; 20 credit hours of BIO courses completed with a B average.
1-3
CHM 491 Undergraduate Research
A program of independent research for chemistry majors and minors and others in related fields which is the capstone experience for chemistry and biochemistry majors. Faculty advisor must be selected prior to enrollment. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
(15 hours)
Required Courses I
4
BIO 110 Concepts of Biology
Fundamental concepts of biology including the chemical basis of life, cell structure and function, molecular and transmission genetics, evolution and ecology. Satisfies University Program Group II laboratory requirement (Group II-A). May be applied towards fulfilling the requirements of any Biology major or minor. Students may only earn credit in one of the following: BIO 101, BIO 105, or BIO 110. Recommended: High school chemistry or CHM 120 and 127 or 131 or 161.
3
BIO 208 Microbiology
The biology of microorganisms: bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, algae, and protozoa. Prerequisites: One of the following: BIO 101, 105 or 110.
4
MTH 132 Calculus I
Limits, continuity, interpretations of the derivative, differentiation of elementary functions, applications of derivatives, antiderivatives, Riemann sums, definite integrals, fundamental theorem of calculus. Prerequisite: MTH 130. (University Program Group II-B)
4
MTH 133 Calculus II
Techniques of integration, applications of definite integrals, improper integrals, elementary differential equations, indeterminate forms, infinite series, Taylor series, polar coordinates and complex numbers. Prerequisite: MTH 132.
(3-4 hours)
Required Courses II
Select one of the following courses:
3
BIO 324 Cell Biology
Cellular structure and function, including biological molecules, membranes, signaling, bioenergetics and metabolism, the cell cycle, information flow, and other cellular processes. Prerequisites: BIO 203 or 218; 208; One of: BIO 101, 105, 110; One of: CHM 120, 127, 342 or CHM 131, 132 or CHM 161.
4
BIO 326 Genetics
The principles of heredity dealing with the location, transmission, structure and function of genes and the results of modern genetic techniques. Prerequisites: BIO 208; One of BIO 101, 105, 110.
(10 hours)
Required Courses III
Select one of the following options:
4
PHY 130 College Physics I
Mechanics, heat, kinetic theory, and sound. The mathematics used is algebra and trigonometry. The sequences PHY 130-131, PHY 170-171 satisfy minimum requirements for medical and dental schools. Prerequisites: MTH 106. (University Program Group II-B)
4
PHY 131 College Physics II
A continuation of PHY 130 that covers the topics of electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics. Prerequisite: PHY 130.
1
PHY 170 College Physics Laboratory I
Experimental techniques of physics introduced by studying quantitative situations through error analysis, graphical analysis, small computer calculations, and linear measurements. Satisfies University Program Group II laboratory requirement. Pre/Co-Requisite: PHY 130. (University Program Group II-B)
1
PHY 171 College Physics Laboratory II
Laboratory experience for PHY 131. Introductory experimental techniques and instrumentation for electrical, optical, and nuclear phenomena. Prerequisite: PHY 170. Pre/Co-Requisite: PHY 131.
4
PHY 145 University Physics I
Normally the first physics course for majors and minors. Mechanics of single and many-particle systems, conservation laws, statistical concepts, and gravitational interaction. Pre/Co-Requisite: MTH 132. (University Program Group II-B)
4
PHY 146 University Physics II
Electromagnetic interaction, electrical circuits, electromagnetic radiation, and optics. Not open to those with credit in PHY 131. Prerequisite: PHY 145. Pre/Co-Requisite: MTH 133.
1
PHY 175 University Physics Laboratory I
Laboratory experience for PHY 145. Introduction to experimental techniques and the treatment of experimental data. Satisfies University Program Group II laboratory requirement. Pre/Co-Requisite: PHY 145. (University Program Group II-B)
1
PHY 176 University Physics Laboratory II
Laboratory experience for PHY 146. Introduction to electrical measurements and instrumentation. Introduction to techniques of optical measurements. Prerequisite: PHY 175. Pre/Co-Requisite: PHY 146.
Sufficient 300 or greater CHM or BIO level courses to meet the required 69 credit hours, selected in consultation with program advisor. If both BIO 324 and BIO 326 are taken, only one may be used as an elective. For students anticipating applying to medical/dental/veterinary programs, BIO 337 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and BIO 392 Mammalian Physiology are recommended as electives.