Department of Chemistry
Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry
Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 requirements BIOCBA
Biochemistry studies the chemical processes of living organisms, bringing together biology and chemistry to understand and solve biological problems.
The Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry offers flexibility and is primarily intended for students planning to enter professional schools such as medicine, dentistry, or law. It also offers great preparation for careers in business, scientific writing, or teaching.
Requirements
The major requires at least 32 credit hours (44 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
- 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
- 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
- Organic Chemistry I. One (1) course:
- CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures
- CHEM-H 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures, Honors
- CHEM-J 341 Principles of Organic Chemistry I
- Organic Chemistry II. One (1) course:
- CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures
- CHEM-H 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures, Honors
- CHEM-J 342 Principles of Organic Chemistry II
- Analytical or Organic Chemistry 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
- Biochemistry.
- Biochemistry I. One (1) course:
- CHEM-C 484 Biomolecules and Catabolism
- Biochemistry II. One (1) course:
- CHEM-C 485 Biosynthetic Pathways and Control of Metabolism
- Biochemistry III. One (1) course:
- CHEM-B 486 Gene Expression and Physiology
- Biochemistry Laboratory. One (1) course:
- CHEM-B 487 Biochemistry Laboratory
- Biochemistry I. One (1) course:
- Concentration or Electives. One (1) of the following options:
- Concentration. One (1) of the following concentrations (see requirements below):
- Materials
- Synthesis
- Chemistry Electives. Eight (8) credit hours:
- CHEM-A 314 Biological and Environmental Chemical Analysis
- CHEM-B 488 Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory
- 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 321 Advanced and Nanoscale Materials
- 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 Chemistry with 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
- Concentration. One (1) of the following concentrations (see requirements below):
- Addenda Requirements*.
- Biology. One (1) course:
- BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
- Mathematics. One (1) course:
- MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
- MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I
- MATH-M 211 Calculus I
- Physics. One (1) course:
- PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
- PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
- PHYS-P 221 Physics I
- Biology. One (1) course:
- Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Major GPA. 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.
- Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
- Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Major Residency. 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.
- College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.
Notes
Major Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
CHEMsubject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent - Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
Exclusions
The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements or the College Breadth requirement:
- CHEM-C 100 The World as Chemistry
- CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry I
- CHEM-C 102 Elementary Chemistry II
- CHEM-C 103 Introduction to Chemical Principles
- CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II
- CHEM-C 107 Frontiers of Chemical Research
- CHEM-C 120 Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory I
- CHEM-C 122 Elementary Chemistry Laboratory II
- CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II
- CHEM-C 240 Problem Solving in Organic Chemistry
- CHEM-C 243 Supplemental General Chemistry
- CHEM-C 372 Chemistry with Molecular Modeling
- CHEM-C 383 Human Biochemistry
- CHEM-C 401 Computer Sources for Chemical Information
- CHEM-C 860 Research Physical Chemistry
- CHEM-G 207
- CHEM-G 209
- CHEM-G 307
- CHEM-G 407
- CHEM-X 170 Chemistry Community Outreach Seminar
- CHEM-X 270 Overseas Study Seminar: Timmy Global Health
- CHEM-X 371 Internship in Chemical Instruction
- CHEM-X 373 Professional Practice in Chemistry
- CHEM-X 399 Chemical Research
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry (CHEMBA)
- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (BIOCBS)
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (CHEMBS)
- Minor in Chemistry (CHEMMIN)
- [Name unavailable] (CHEMTSBA)
- [Name unavailable] (CHEMTSBS)
Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Bachelor of Arts degree requires at least 120 credit hours, to include the following:
- College of Arts and Sciences Credit Hours. At least 100 credit hours must come from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines.
- Upper Division Courses. At least 42 credit hours (of the 120) must be at the 300–499 level.
- College Residency. Following completion of the 60th credit hour toward degree, at least 36 credit hours of College of Arts and Sciences coursework must be completed through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
- College GPA. A College grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.000 is required.
- CASE Requirements. The following College of Arts and Sciences Education (CASE) requirements must be completed:
- CASE Foundations
- CASE Breadth of Inquiry
- CASE Culture Studies
- CASE Critical Approaches: 1 course
- CASE Foreign Language: Proficiency in a single foreign language through the second semester of the second year of college-level coursework
- CASE Intensive Writing: 1 course
- CASE Public Oral Communication: 1 course
- CASE Sustainability Literacy: 1 course
- Major. Completion of the major as outlined in the Major Requirements section above.
Most students must also successfully complete the Indiana University Bloomington General Education program.