The Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry is recommended for those students interested in integrating the subjects of biology and chemistry. The cross-disciplinary nature of the degree provides students with a good foundation for careers in research and development in the private sector and in academia. Many will continue their education in graduate schools or in health related fields such as medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Mathematics requirement (met with MATH in major) | ||
| Some couses are categorized in more than one Knowledge Domain. Courses can only be used once within the GE model. | ||
| Arts and Humanities (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) | ||
| This requirement is met through courses in the major | ||
| Social Science (6 s.h.) | 6 | |
| General Education Electives (9 s.h.) | ||
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Any 2 Gen Ed Courses | 6 | |
| The following CHEM core courses are required: | ||
| CHEM 1515 | General Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 1515L | General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1515R | Recitation for General Chemistry 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 1516 | General Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 1516L | General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1516R | Recitation for General Chemistry 2 | 1 |
| CHEM 2604 & 2604L | Quantitative Analysis and Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 3719 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 3719L | Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3719R | Organic Chemistry Recitation 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 3720 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 3720L | Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3720R | Organic Chemistry Recitation 2 | 1 |
| CHEM 3739 | Physical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 3739L | Physical Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3785 | Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 3785L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3786 | Biochemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 4850 | Chemistry Research | 1 |
| CHEM 4851 | Chemistry Research Project | 2 |
| CHEM 5876 | Enzyme Analysis | 2 |
| Dual Credit Requirements | ||
| Select 9 s.h. in upper-level CHEM electives from the list below. At least one elective must be a laboratory course or include a laboratory component: | 9 | |
| Advanced Organic Laboratory and Advanced Organic Laboratory | ||
| Chemical Instrumentation and Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry 1 | ||
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry 2 | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry 1 | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry 1 | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Research | ||
| Special Topics Organometallics | ||
| Special Topics Quantum Chemistry | ||
| The following BIOL core courses are required (14 s.h.): | ||
| BIOL 2601 & 2601L | General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells and General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 3702 & 3702L | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 3711 | Cell Biology: Fine Structure | 3 |
| BIOL 3721 | Genetics | 3 |
| At least 3 s.h. in upper-level BIOL courses required from the list below; 6 s.h. recommended if needed to attain 120 s.h. required for graduation. | 6 | |
| Bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Microbial Physiology | ||
| Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Advanced Microbiology | ||
| The following support courses are required (22 s.h.): | ||
| MATH 1571 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1572 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| STAT 3717 | Statistical Methods | 4 |
| or STAT 3743 | Probability and Statistics | |
| PHYS 2610 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 2610L | General Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| PHYS 2611 | General Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 2611L | General Physics laboratory 2 | 1 |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
Dual Credit Requirements
Accelerated 4+1 Program
Undergraduate Biochemistry students can apply for admission into the accelerated 4+1 MS in Chemistry graduate program after completing 78 undergraduate semester hours with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. After being admitted to the accelerated 4+1 MS program, students will be allowed a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate coursework, specified as 5000 level or higher, to be double counted toward both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The courses chosen to count for both undergraduate and graduate coursework must be approved by the Graduate Program Director. An additional three hours of graduate coursework can be completed as an undergraduate and used exclusively for graduate credit. This allows the student to graduate with a master’s degree with one year of additional full-time study beyond the bachelor’s degree, as the total hours counted towards the Master's degree is greater than or equal to 30 hours.
Courses Counting Towards Requirements
Select 3 of these courses, as only 3 can be double counted. Can select a 4th that would only count for the Master's degree.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| CHEM 1515 | General Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 1515L | General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1515R | Recitation for General Chemistry 1 | 1 |
| MATH 1571 | Calculus 1 | 4 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| Semester Hours | 13-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 1516 | General Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 1516L | General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 1516R | Recitation for General Chemistry 2 | 1 |
| MATH 1572 | Calculus 2 | 4 |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 2601 | General Biology 1: Molecules and Cells | 3 |
| BIOL 2601L | General Biology I: Molecules and Cells Laboratory | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 3719 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 3719L | Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3719R | Organic Chemistry Recitation 1 | 1 |
| CHEM 2604 & 2604L | Quantitative Analysis and Quantitative Analysis Laboratory | 5 |
| PHYS 2610 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 2610L | General Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 3720 | Organic Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 3720L | Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3720R | Organic Chemistry Recitation 2 | 1 |
| PHYS 2611 | General Physics 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 2611L | General Physics laboratory 2 | 1 |
| STAT 3717 or STAT 3743 | Statistical Methods or Probability and Statistics | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 3785 | Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 3785L | Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 3739 | Physical Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 3739L | Physical Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 3721 | Genetics | 3 |
| GER | 6 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 3786 | Biochemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 5876 | Enzyme Analysis | 2 |
| BIOL 3711 | Cell Biology: Fine Structure | 3 |
| BIOL 3702 & 3702L | Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| GER | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 4850 | Chemistry Research | 1 |
| CHEM Upper-Level Elective | 6 | |
| CHEM 4851 | Chemistry Research Project | 2 |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| GER | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM Upper-Level Elective | 4 | |
| BIOL Upper-Level Elective | 5 | |
| GER | 6 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
Learning Outcomes
The undergraduate student learning outcomes for the major in biochemistry are as follows:
- Undergraduate students will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry and biochemistry.
- Undergraduate students will demonstrate independent and critical thinking.
- Undergraduate students will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of modern chemical instrumentation.
- Undergraduate students will be able to interpret experimental data.
- Undergraduate students will effectively communicate their ideas both orally and in writing.