The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

Please see General Education, Cultural Diversity, American Institutions, and Literacy Requirements under the BS in Chemistry.

BIOL 151 may be used to fulfill General Education Breadth Area B2.

Course Requirements for the Major: 73-75 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.

Lower-Division Requirements: 36 units

9 courses required:

BIOL 151 Prin of Cell and Molec Biology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
CHEM 111 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 112 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
CHEM 270 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
MATH 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
MATH 121 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 120.
MATH 220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: MATH 121.
PHYS 202A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
PHYS 202B General Physics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.

Upper-Division Requirements: 37-39 units

13 courses required:

BIOL 321 Microbiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 151, BIOL 152, BIOL 153, or faculty permission.
BIOL 360 Genetics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 153 or permission of instructor.
CHEM 300 The Chemical Literature 1.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher, CHEM 270.
CHEM 320 Quantitative Analysis 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
CHEM 331 Physical Chemistry 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, MATH 220, PHYS 204B, PHYS 204C.
CHEM 361 Intermediate Inorganic Chem 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, MATH 220, PHYS 204B, PHYS 204C.
CHEM 370 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
CHEM 370M Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 370.
CHEM 381 Integrated Chemistry Lab I 2.0 FA
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of CHEM 331 and CHEM 361.
CHEM 400 Senior Seminar in Chemistry 1.0 SP
CHEM 451 Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.
CHEM 452 Biochemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 451.
CHEM 455L Biochemistry Laboratory 2.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, CHEM 451; CHEM 370L or CHEM 370M; or faculty permission.

1 course selected from:

BIOL 411 Cell Biology 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 153, BIOL 360.
BIOL 412 Bacterial Physiology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 360, CHEM 270. CHEM 451 is recommended.
BIOL 414 Plant Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 108 or BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270; or faculty permission.
BIOL 416 Vertebrate Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
BIOL 417 Cell Physiology 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
BIOL 464 Medical Genetics 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 360.
BIOL 466 Immunology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 153.
BIOL 470 Medical Bacteriology 5.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 466, CHEM 270. Immunization against tetanus and diphtheria required.
BIOL 472 Microbial Genetics 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 360. BIOL 321 is recommended.
BIOL 476 General Virology 4.0 F2
Prerequisites: BIOL 153. Recommended: BIOL 321.
CHEM 332 Physical Chemistry 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: CHEM 331.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your department chair or undergraduate advisor for specific information.