Biomolecular Science - Curriculum

Curriculum

The curriculum is built on strong foundations in both Chemistry and Biology with core courses in analytical, organic and physical chemistry, as well as cell biology, genetics and molecular biology. Courses in calculus and physics add to the rigor. Eight courses from engineering, business and the liberal arts assure a balanced education. And professional electives allow students to build essential strengths in their chosen career areas. The curriculum concludes with a two-semester capstone course in biochemistry supplemented by labs in molecular biology and biotechnology. This is clearly one of the strongest curricula of this type offered anywhere, providing a thorough and rigorous training in both the chemical and biological sciences.

Biology Courses (26 credits)

  • BY152/154 Life’s Diversity with Lab
  • BY153/155 Cell and Molecular Biology with Lab
  • BY214 Genetics
  • BY412 Molecular Biology
  • BY450/451 Biochemistry I and II
  • BY470 Biotechnology Lab

Chemistry Courses (31 credits)

  • CM103/105 Structure and Bonding with Lab
  • CM104/106 Equilibrium and Dynamics with Lab
  • CM221/223 Spectroscopy with Lab
  • CM241/242 Organic Chemistry I and II
  • CM244 Organic Chemistry Lab
  • CM371/372 Physical Chemistry I and II

Biomolecular Science Professional Electives (12 credits)

The four professional elective courses can be selected from the following list which is periodically updated to take into account changes in course offerings. Additional courses at the 300 level or above that enhance the student's professional preparation can also be used, but these should be selected in consultation with the student's advisor(s).

Physics and Math (17 credits)

  • PH131/132 Physics I and II
  • MA131/132 Calculus I and II
  • MA282/383 or MG284 Statistics

Liberal Arts Foundation Courses (18 credits)

  • LS195/196 Great Ideas I and II
  • Four Liberal Arts Elective


Foundation Engineering, Computer, and Business Electives (3 credits each)

Free Electives (10 credits)

Sample Curriculum
Freshman Year
Fall Spring
 
Credits
  
Credits
CM103 Structure and Bonding
3
 CM104 Equilibrium and Dynamics
3
CM105 Chemistry Lab I
2
 CM106 Chemistry Lab II
2
BY152 Life's Diversity
3
 BY153 Cell and Molecular Biology
3
BY154 Diversity Laboratory
2
 BY155 Cellular Biology Lab
2
LS195 Great Ideas I
3
 LS196 Great Ideas II
3
MA131 Calculus I
3
 MA132 Calculus II
3
PY100 First-Year Seminar
0
    
Total
16
  
16
       
Sophomore Year
Fall
Spring
 
Credits
  
Credits
CM221 Spectroscopy
3
 CM242 Organic Chemistry II
3
CM223 Spectroscopy Lab
3
 CM244 Organic Chemistry Lab
3
CM241 Organic Chemistry I
3
 BY214 Genetics
3
PH131 Physics I
4
 PH132 Physics II
4
Liberal Arts Elective
3
 Liberal Arts Elective
3
Total
16
  
16
       
Junior Year
Fall
Spring
 
Credits
  
Credits
CM371 Physical Chemistry I
3
 CM372 Physical Chemistry II
3
BY450 Biochemistry I
3
 BY451 Biochemistry II
3
Statistics
3
 Liberal Arts Elective
3
Professional Elective
3
 Professional Elective
3
Liberal Arts Elective
3
 Engineering Elective
3
Total
15
  
15
       
Senior Year
Fall
Spring
 
Credits
  
Credits
BY412 Molecular Biology
4
 BY470 Biotechnology Lab
3
Professional Elective
3
 Professional Elective
3
Business Elective
3
 Free Elective
7
Free Elective
3
    
       
Total
13
  
13

Professional Electives

Biology

  • BY310 Developmental Biology
  • BY316 Immunobiology
  • BY320 Microbiology
  • BY322 Microbiology Lab
  • BY360 Human Physiology
  • BY418 Human Anatomy
  • BY426 Intro to Biophysics
  • BY471 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • BY472 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • BY474 Endocrinology

Chemistry

  • CM300 Instrumental Lab
  • CM312 Survey of Inorganic Chemistry
  • CM320 Separations and Electrochemistry
  • CM345 Advanced Lab
  • CM440 Computational Chemistry
  • CM444 Medicinal Chemistry
  • CM473 Advanced Techniques in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
  • CM491 Undergraduate Thesis I
  • CM492 Undergraduate Thesis II

Engineering

  • CH465 Biochemical Engineering
  • CE479 Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes

Mathematics

  • MA231 Calculus III
  • MA232 Differential Equations