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Department of Chemistry

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry

Students on Summer 2018, Fall 2018, or Spring 2019 requirements BIOCBA
The Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry is primarily intended for students planning to enter professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, or law, but it also offers great preparation for careers in business, scientific writing, or teaching. The B.A. program offers flexibility. The B.A. major prepares students for careers outside the laboratory, such as medical school, dental school, or non-traditional careers in chemistry. Biochemistry studies the chemical processes of living organisms, bringing together biology and chemistry to understand and solve biological problems.

Requirements

The major requires at least 32 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I
    • CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I
    • CHEM-H 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I, Honors
    • CHEM-J 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry for Science Majors
  2. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry I
    • CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory
    • CHEM-H 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory, Honors
    • CHEM-X 150 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab I
  3. Organic Chemistry I. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures
    • CHEM-J 341 Principles of Organic Chemistry I when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • CHEM-S 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures, Honors
  4. Organic Chemistry II. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures
    • CHEM-J 342 Principles of Organic Chemistry II when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • CHEM-S 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures, Honors
  5. Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-A 316 Bioanalytical Chemistry Laboratory
    • CHEM-J 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Majors
    • CHEM-X 325 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab II
  6. Biomolecules and Catabolism. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 484 Biomolecules and Catabolism
  7. Biosynthetic Pathways and Control of Metabolism. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-C 485 Biosynthetic Pathways and Control of Metabolism
  8. Gene Expression and Physiology. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-B 486 Gene Expression and Physiology
  9. Biochemistry Laboratory. One (1) course:
    • CHEM-B 487 Biochemistry Laboratory
  10. Chemistry Electives. Eight (8) credit hours:
    • CHEM-A 314 Biological and Environmental Chemical Analysis
    • CHEM-B 488 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
    • CHEM-C 321 Advanced and Nanoscale Materials
    • One of the following:
      • CHEM-A 316 Bioanalytical Chemistry Laboratory
      • CHEM-J 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Majors
      • CHEM-X 325 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab II
    • CHEM-C 344 Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
    • CHEM-C 360 Introductory Physical Chemistry
    • CHEM-C 361 Physical Chemistry of Bulk Matter
    • CHEM-C 362 Physical Chemistry of Molecules
    • CHEM-C 372 Chemical Informatics II: Molecular Modeling
    • CHEM-C 416 Surface Analysis and Surface Chemistry
    • CHEM-C 427 Advanced and Nanoscale Materials Laboratory
    • CHEM-C 430 Inorganic Chemistry
    • CHEM-C 432 Spectroscopic Methods in Inorganic Chemistry
    • CHEM-C 437 Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
    • CHEM-C 443 Organic Spectroscopy
    • CHEM-C 446 Organic Chemistry III
    • CHEM-C 460 Nuclear Chemistry
    • CHEM-C 481 Physical Biochemistry
    • CHEM-M 401 Introduction to Hard Materials
    • CHEM-M 402 Introduction to Soft Materials
    • CHEM-N 331 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry
    • CHEM-N 337 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory
    • CHEM-P 360 Physical Chemistry for Biochemists
    • CHEM-X 499 Chemical Research Capstone
  11. Additional Requirements*.
    1. Biology. One (1) course:
      • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
    2. Mathematics. One (1) course:
      • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
      • MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I
      • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
    3. Physics. One (1) course:
      • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
      • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
      • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
  12. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    5. Exceptions to major requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.