About the Program
The Biochemistry major provides students with an integrated education in biochemistry that brings together the basics of biochemistry and its application to biological systems. The major takes advantage of the diversity of molecular/biochemical research and coursework that is offered at Rutgers at SEBS and the other schools. Students will apply their basic understanding of biochemistry to a specific area of interest, ranging from toxicology /pharmacology, to food and nutritional sciences, microbiology, animal science, and plant biology. This redesigned and enhanced curriculum follows the recommendations of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and has components of both a traditional coursecentered approach to teaching and the more current content- and outcome-centered approach. The purpose of the major is to prepare students for futures in science, either through obtaining advanced degrees or through entering the workforce in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological and chemical industries, government service, communications, law and many other fields.
Learning Goals for Biochemistry (11:115)
Degree: Bachelor of Science
All students must complete the SEBS core requirements appropriate for students majoring in Biochemistry (Areas I through VII below), plus the additional major requirements (Area VIII A through Fbelow). To enroll in 11:115:403,404 General Biochemistry (4,3), students, be they majors in Biochemistry or not, must have completed 01:160:307-308 Organic Chemistry (4,4) or 160:315-316 Principles of Organic Chemistry with grades of Cor higher.
V. Human Behavior, Economic Systems, and Political Processes (9 credits)
VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)
VII. Experience-Based Education (3 credits)
VIII. Proficiency in Biochemistry (94 credits)
The major in Integrated Biochemistry consists of the six parts A through F listed immediately below. They are described briefly here; the specific requirements are listed below.
Detailed Requirements
I. Life and Physical Sciences Core The following are required with the exception of 01:160:251 01:119: 101/102 General Biology I and II (4,4) 01:160: 161/162 General Chemistry I and II (4,4) or equivalent 01:160: 171 General Chemistry Laboratory (1) 01:750:193/1941 Physics for the Sciences (4,4) or 01:750:201/202 Extended General Physics (5,5) or 01:750:203/204 General Physics I and II (3,3) 01:160: 307/308 or 315/316 Organic Chemistry I and II (4,4) 01:160:309 or 311 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) 01:447:380 Genetics (4)
II. Biochemistry Core 11:115:201 Contemporary Issues in Biochemistry (new course)2 (2) 11:115:403/404 General Biochemistry I and II (4,3) 11:115:413/414 Experimental Biochemistry I and II (3,3) 11:115:409 Principles of Biophysical Chemistry (3) or 01:160: 342 Physical Chemistry: Biochemical Systems (3) or equivalent (Note: at present 160:342 requires 01:640:251 Multivariable Calculus (4)). 11:115:406 Problem Solving in Biochemistry (2 cr.) 1 Pre-medical students should be aware that two semesters of Physics lab are required for medical school admission. Extended General Physics and Physics for the Sciences contain the lab; General Physics does not, so pre-medical students will have to include the labs in their programs.
2 Normally taken in the sophomore year. Transfer students entering in the fall of the junior year will take it in the fall of that year. Among other matters included in it, this class will satisfy the ethics requirement for Biochemistry majors.
IV. Quantitative Methods 01:640:151/152 Calculus for Math and Physical Sciences I and II (4, 4)
V. Research Experience The curriculum is designed to provide students with the basics of laboratory experimentation followed by independent research experience in a research lab. A minimum of two semesters of research is required. With approval of the Undergraduate Program Director, Cooperative Education may be accepted to meet this requirement. Biochemical Communications provides the opportunity for students to present their own research, in both written and oral formats, as well as research from the biochemical literature.
11:115:493/494 Research Problems in Biochemistry (6 cr.). May be replaced by 11:015:497/ 498 George H. Cook Honors Research (6-12 cr) 11:115:491 Biochemical Communications (3 cr)
VI. Options: Requires four classes from the specific lists below. Biochemistry electives, including Option requirements, must equal at least 12 credits; at least one course with a laboratory (indicated by an *).
The bold faced course(s) in each option is(are) required.
Biochemistry of Microbial Systems 11:680:390 General Microbiology (4) 11:680:394 Applied Microbiology (4) 01:447:498 Bacterial Physiology (3) 11:126:486 Analytical Methods in Microbiology (3) 11:126:407 Comparative Virology (3) 01:146:474 Immunology (3) 01:146:475 Laboratory in Immunology (1) 11:680:480 Microbial Genetics and Genomics (3)
Biochemical Toxicology 11:115:422 Biochemical Mechanisms of Toxicology (3) 11:067:450 Endocrinology (3) 11:115:434 Molecular Toxicology (1.5) 11:115:436 Molecular Toxicology Laboratory (2.5)* 11:115:421 Biochemistry of Cancer (3) 01:146:356 Systems Physiology (3) 01:146:357 Systems Physiology Laboratory (1)* 01:146:474 Immunology (3) 01:146:475 Laboratory in Immunology (1)* 30:718:304 Pathophysiology (3) 30:718:405 Pharmacology I (2) 30:718:406 Pharmacology II (2)
Biochemistry of Plant Systems 16:765:520 Plant Biochemistry and Metabolism (3) 11:776:382 Plant Physiology (4) 11:770:301 General Plant Pathology (3) 11:770:311 General Plant Pathology Laboratory (1) 11:776:242 Plant Science (3) 11:776:305 Plant Genetics (4) 11:776:312 Medicinal Plants (3) 11:776:403 Plant Science Techniques (3) 11:776:452 Plant Tissue Culture (3)
Protein and Structural Biochemistry 01:640:251 Calculus III (4) 11:115:412 Proteins and Enzymes (3) 11:115:428 Homology Modeling of Protein Three Dimensional Structure (3) 11:115:452 Biochemical Separations (3) 01:694:412 Proteomics and Functional Genomics (3) 01:694:413 Chromatin and Epigenomics: the science of chromatin modifications in development and disease (3)
General Option 11:126:481 Molecular Genetics (3) 11:115:412 Proteins and Enzymes (3) OR 11:115:452 Biochemical Separations (3) Two additional courses chosen from the options above with no more than one from any single option with one exception: 11:115:434 Molecular Toxicology (1.5) and 11:115:436 Molecular Toxicology Laboratory (2.5) shall be considered as a single course for this option.
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