Biochemistry Major

Major Requirements

The major program consists of the following requirements:

All of the Following

• BIOL 182 - Molecules, Cells, and Genes and BIOL 182L (usually taken by the sophomore year)
• BIOL 361 - Biochemistry of Gene Expression (another 300- or 400-level BIOL course may be substituted with approval from chemistry department chair)
• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I and CHEM 101L (usually completed in the first year)
• CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II and CHEM 102L (usually completed in the first year)
• CHEM 263 - Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 263L (usually completed in the sophomore year)
• CHEM 264 - Organic Chemistry II and CHEM 264L (usually completed in the sophomore year)
• CHEM 336 - Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (in rare cases, CHEM 333  or CHEM 334 may be substituted with department chair approval)
• CHEM 353 - Proteins and Nucleic Acids
• CHEM 385 - Biophysical Chemistry Methods
• CHEM 481 - Advanced Chemistry Research (research conducted by biochemistry majors while participating in Colgate's Bethesda Biomedical Research in the fall of their senior year fulfills this requirement.)
• CHEM 482 - Advanced Chemistry Research  (usually completed in the spring of senior year)
   Note: CHEM 111/CHEM 111L, a one-term course designed for the well-prepared student, may be substituted for CHEM 101/CHEM 101L  and CHEM 102/CHEM 102L and facilitates an early entry into CHEM 212/CHEM 212L 

Electives

One of the following:

• CHEM 212 - Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM 212L 
• CHEM 214 - Inorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 371 - Instrumental Methods

Integrated Laboratory Course

At least one of the following CHEM 380-series integrated laboratory courses:

• CHEM 381 - Practical Quantitative Analysis
• CHEM 382 - Molecular Spectroscopy
• CHEM 384 - Molecular Dynamics
• CHEM 387 - Special Topics: Structure and Analysis

Half-Semester Courses

At least one course credit from the half-semester courses:

• CHEM 452 - Metabolic Chemistry
• CHEM 454 - Bioenergetics
• CHEM 456 - Bioinorganic Chemistry
• CHEM 468 - Medicinal Chemistry

Note

Independent Studies (CHEM 291, CHEM 391, and CHEM 491) may not normally be substituted for one of the courses listed in the above requirements, but if it can be demonstrated that such a course provides sufficient breadth at the advanced level, the department will consider a petition for substitution.

Additional Requirements

Calculus Course Option

At least one course from the following:

• MATH 162 - Calculus II
• MATH 163 - Calculus III
   MATH 161 is the recommended starting point for students with minimal secondary school calculus experience.

Physics Sequence

One of the following sequences (usually taken by the sophomore year):

• PHYS 111 - Fundamental Physics I and PHYS 111L 
• PHYS 112 - Fundamental Physics II and PHYS 112L 
  or
• PHYS 131 - Atoms and Waves and PHYS 131L 
• PHYS 232 - Introduction to Mechanics and PHYS 232L 
  or
• PHYS 232 - Introduction to Mechanics  and PHYS 232L 
• PHYS 233 - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism and PHYS 233L 

Seminar Series

Junior and senior majors are expected to attend a weekly seminar series at which students, faculty, and guests present topics from the current literature and their own research.

GPA Requirement

An overall GPA of at least 2.00 is required for the chemistry and biology courses (and associated labs) chosen to meet major requirements.

Honors and High Honors

Students interested in pursuing honors can find the additional requirements on the Chemistry department page.

Recommendations

Those who wish to major in biochemistry normally take CHEM 101/CHEM 101L and CHEM 102/CHEM 102L (or CHEM 111/CHEM 111L) and the necessary math courses in the first year. The standard sophomore courses are CHEM 263/CHEM 263L and CHEM 264/CHEM 264L, plus the year of introductory physics or BIOL 182/BIOL 182L. Typically, juniors will take CHEM 353 and CHEM 385 in the fall or spring semester, and CHEM 336 in the spring semester. Students can elect to take either CHEM 371/CHEM 381 in the fall term or CHEM 214 and a CHEM 380-series integrated laboratory course CHEM 382, CHEM 384, or CHEM 387 in the junior year. Seniors take CHEM 481, CHEM 482 along with one course credit from CHEM 452, CHEM 454, CHEM 456, or CHEM 468.

Chemistry Department

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the Chemistry department catalog page.