Biochemistry Major: ACS Certified, BS

Calvin's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS), and therefore students have the opportunity to earn degrees that are directly accredited by the ACS. To meet the requirements for an accredited ACS degree, students take additional chemistry courses to round out their chemical and biochemical studies in preparation for graduate school. The accredited ACS major also increases the emphasis on research, requiring all students to have and present on a research experience as part of their graduation requirements.

Program Requirements

CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I AND CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II
OR CHEM 103 - Accelerated General Chemistry *
CHEM 210 - Analytical Chemistry
CHEM 230 - Essential Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 240 - Survey of Organic Chemistry
OR CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I **
BCHM 321 - Principles of Biochemistry
BCHM 322 - Metabolism and Metabolic Disease
CHEM 351 - Physical Chemistry ***
CHEM 295 - Chemistry Seminar (three times)
CHEM 394 - Academic Year Research
OR CHEM 397 - Summer Research
CHEM 395 - Seminar Presentation
CHEM 396 - Writing a Formal Research Report
CHEM 399 - Major Field Test
(offered the Tuesday of Academic Advising each spring semester)
IDIS 310 - Science in Society or a capstone from another major

Take 12 Hours from the Following

(At least 8 hours must be from CHEM or BCHM courses.)

Cognates

MATH 171 - Calculus I
MATH 172 - Calculus II
BIOL 141 - Cell Biology and Genetics for the Health Sciences OR BIOL 161 - Cellular and Genetic Systems (prerequisites may be required)

Take One from the Following

Total Semester Hours: 67

* Students who are well prepared for college chemistry are encouraged to enroll in CHEM 103 .

** Students who enroll in CHEM 241 must also enroll in CHEM 242 .

*** MATH 171 (or MATH 132 ) and a physics course are prerequisites for this course.