Eastern Connecticut State University

Department of

Physical Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry Program:
Degree Requirements

The biochemistry program commences with basic introductory courses common to the biological and chemical sciences. Biochemistry majors then take a rigorous year-long lecture and laboratory course sequence; these courses familiarize students with the most significant aspects of biochemistry and biochemical research. In addition, upper level biochemistry courses examine aspects of modern biochemistry as well as the molecular and cellular techniques used extensively in industrial and academic research facilities. Students are required to take additional courses in biology and physical biochemistry to further their quantitative knowledge of biological processes and biomacromolecular structure and function.

Link to GER course sequence (entrance year prior to Fall of 2007)

Link to LAC Course Sequence (entrance year Fall of 2007 or after)

The curriculum provides:

Core courses in scientific fundamentals and research
Intense preparation in laboratory skills in order to meet the demands of the technological community
A sound liberal arts background
Electives which allow flexibility to investigate areas of interest

Core Science and Math Courses (39.5 credits)
Subject	Course	Title	Lecture Credits	Lab Credits
CHE	210	General Chemistry I with Lab (CHE212)	3	1
CHE	211	General Chemistry II with Lab (CHE213)	3	1
CHE	216	Organic Chemistry I with Lab	3	1
CHE	217	Organic Chemistry II with Lab	3	1
BIO	115	Principles of Biology with Lab	3	1
BIO	122	Organismal Structure and Function with Lab or BIO 125 Organismal Biology with Lab	3	1
BIO	221	Cellular and Molecular Biology with Lab	3	0.5
PHY	204	Physics I with Lab	3	1
PHY	205	Physics II with Lab	3	1
MAT	244	Calculus II with Technology	4	1

Advanced Scientific Courses (18 credits)
Subject	Course	Title	Lecture Credits	Lab Credits
CHE	316	Biochemistry I with Lab (CHE317)	3	1
CHE	318	Biochemistry II with Lab (CHE 319)	3	1
CHE	323	Physical Biochemistry	3
CHE	410	Physical Biochemistry Techniques	3
CHE	425	Chemical Instrumentation with Lab*	3	1
*Writing intensive course
Total			46	11.5

Elective Courses that Complement Biochemistry
Subject	Course	Title
CHE	320	Quantitative Chemistry Analytical with Lab
CHE	370	Organic Qualitative Analysis with Lab
BIO	234	Population Biology with Lab
BIO	330	Cell Biology with Lab
BIO	334	General Microbiology with Lab
BIO	422	Research Methods in Molecular Biology with Lab
BIO	428	Virology with Lab
BIO	436	Molecular Genetics with Lab
BIO	450	Biotechnology with Lab

Proficiencies that biochemistry students should have by the time they have completed their undergraduate program:

Understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry and biology and the key principles of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Awareness of the major issues at the forefront of the discipline.
Ability to assess primary papers critically.
Good laboratory skills such as the ability to accurately and reproducibly prepare reagents for experiments.
Ability to dissect a problem into its main features.
Ability to design experiments and understand the limitations of the experimental approach.
Ability to interpret experimental data and identify reliable and inconsistent components.
Ability to formulate follow-up questions and design experiments.
Ability to work safely and effectively in a laboratory.
Awareness of available resources and how to use them.
Ability to use computers as information and research tools.
Ability to collaborate with other researchers.
Ability to use oral, written, and visual presentations to communicate their work to both a science literate and a science non-literate audience.
Ability to think in an integrated and creative manner and to look at problems from different perspectives.
Awareness of the ethical issues in the biochemical sciences.

Recommended Course Sequence: Biochemistry Major (BS) taking GER classes
Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning a course schedule.

First Year (for students in the GER system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	210	General Chemistry with Lab (or CHE 212)	4
CHE	211	General Chemistry II with Lab (or CHE 213)	4
BIO	115	Principles of Biology with Lab	4
BIO	122	Organismal Structure and Function with Lab (or BIO 125)	4
MAT	243	Calculus I with Technology (GER)	3
MAT	244	Calculus II with Technology (GER)	4
ENG	100	College Writing (GER)	3
		Computer Course (GER)	3
		Other GER classes	3
Total			31

Second Year (for students in the GER system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	216	Organic Chemistry I with Lab	4
CHE	217	Organic Chemistry II with Lab	4
BIO	221	Cellular and Molecular Biology with Lab	3.5
BIO	234	Population Biology with Lab (Elective)	3.5
PHY	204	Physics I with Lab or PHY 208, Physics I with Calculus	4
PHY	205	Physics II with Lab or PHY 209, Physics II with Calculus	4
		Other GER Courses	7
Total			30

Third Year (for students in the GER system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	316	Biochemistry I with Lab (or CHE 317)	4
CHE	318	Biochemistry II with Lab (or CHE 319)	4
CHE	323	Physical Biochemistry	3
***	***	Electives	8
***	***	Other GER Courses	12
Total			31

Fourth Year (for students in the GER system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	425	Chemical Instrumentation with Lab (Writing intensive course)	4
CHE	410	Physical Biochemistry Techniques	3
***	***	Electives	15
***	***	Other GER Courses	6
Total			28
Total for major			120
57.6 required, 26.5 electives, and 36 GER

Recommended Course Sequence: Biochemistry Major (BS) taking LAC classes (i.e. entrance year fall 2007 or later)
Check all course descriptions for prerequisites before planning a course schedule.

Fall First Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	210	General Chemistry I Lecture	3
CHE	212	General Chemistry I Lab	1
BIO	115	Principles of Biology with Lab	4
MAT	130	Pre-Calculus (Tier I LAC)	4
***	***	Health and Wellness (Tier I LAC)	2
***	***	First year cluster (link two above classes) optional	1
Total			15

Spring First Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	211	General Chemistry II Lecture	3
CHE	213	General Chemistry II Lab	1
BIO	125	Organismal Biology with Lab	4
ENG	100	College Writing (Tier I LAC)	3
***	***	First year Liberal Arts Colloquium	4
Total			15

Fall Second Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	216	Organic Chemistry I with Lab	4
BIO	221	Cellular and Molecular Biology with Lab	3.5
MAT	243	Calculus I with Technology	4
***	***	Tier I LAC class (Arts and Humanities: Art Context)	3
Total			14.5

Spring Second Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	217	Organic Chemistry II with Lab	4
BIO	234	Population Biology with Lab	3.5
MAT	244	Calculus II with Technology	4
***	***	Tier I LAC class (Historic Perspectives)	3
Total			14.5

Fall Third Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	316	Biochemistry I Lecture	3
CHE	317	Biochemistry I Lab	1
***	***	300 - 400 Science Elective with lab	4
***	***	Tier I LAC class (Arts Humanities: Art, Lit. and Thought)	3
PHY	204	Physics I with Lab	4
Total			15

Spring Third Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	318	Biochemistry II Lecture	3
CHE	319	Biochemistry II Lab	1
CHE	323	Physical Biochemistry	3
***	***	Tier I LAC class (Social Sciences)	3
PHY	205	Physics II with Lab	4
Total			14

Fall Fourth Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	425	Chemical Instrumentation with Lab	4
***	***	300 - 400 Science Elective with lab	4
***	***	Tier II LAC class (Cultural Expressions)	3
***	***	Tier II LAC class (Cultural Expressions)	3
***	***	Tier II LAC class (Applied Information Technology)	3
Total			17

Spring Fourth Year Course (for students in the LAC system):
Subject	Course	Title	Credits
CHE	410	Physical Biochemistry Techniques	3
***	***	300 - 400 Science Elective with lab	4
***	***	Tier III LAC class (Capstone)	3
***	***	Tier III LAC class (Individual and Society)	3
***	***	Elective	3
Total			16