Oct 08, 2024  
2021-2022 Course Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biochemistry, B.S.


Also see

3+3 Pharm.D. Program (Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Health Science B.S. to Pharm.D.)  (B.S. to Doctor of Pharmacy in six years)
Pre-Pharmacy (plan of study)  
Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental (plan of study)  
Pre-Veterinary Studies (plan of study)  

The bachelor degree program in Biochemistry at USJ is accredited by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), a national nonprofit scientific and educational organization. The University is among the first 30 programs in the United States to achieve this status and the first in Connecticut. All students in the University’s undergraduate Biochemistry program are eligible to take the ASBMB certification exam and upon passing, will earn ASBMB-certified degrees.

The Biochemistry major is administered by the Chemistry department. Students majoring in Biochemistry will have an advisor from Chemistry. Biochemistry is an integrated program that combines coursework in Biology and Chemistry. Nationally, this is an increasingly popular major. A bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry can serve as a foundation for direct employment in industry as a biochemist, or as preparation for graduate study in many areas including Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Pharmacy, Forensic Science and Pharmacology.

Program outcomes

The student will:

  • Explain the function of living organisms at the molecular level and the relevance of chemical and biological principles, and their interplay
  • Demonstrate laboratory skills that allow research questions in Biochemistry to be pursued
  • Realize opportunities for undergraduate research working with faculty mentors in their areas of expertise
  • Be able to critique logical arguments in Biochemistry and apply quantitative reasoning to biochemical questions

Degree requirements


Continuation requirements: A grade of C or better is required for all Chemistry courses, required Biology courses and required supporting courses. The GPA for all Chemistry courses, required Biology courses and required supporting courses must be 2.50 or greater. These requirements pertain to all students, including transfer students.

In order for students, including transfer students, to be accepted to the major, and therefore be advised by a Chemistry faculty member, they must have completed the following courses:

Additional information


Students who are enrolled in Calculus II, Organic Chemistry II, Physics II or Molecular Biology may be admitted to the department, pending a grade of C or better in these courses and meeting the departmental GPA requirements. Ordinarily, for students to complete the Biochemistry major in four years, they must complete the nine courses listed above before the beginning of their junior year.

The Biochemistry major is administered by the Chemistry department and requires coursework in both the Chemistry and Biology departments.

Required supporting coursework (16 credits)


Suggested plan of study


Note


The CHEM 300 /CHEM 310  sequence and CHEM 320  will alternate between junior and senior year depending on the year of matriculation. CHEM 320  is a prerequisite for CHEM 430 .