Biochemistry B.S.

This is an archived copy of the 2018-2019 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.umt.edu/.

The Biochemistry Program is a joint program between the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Division of Biological Sciences. Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary science that integrates chemistry and biology to understand the molecular basis of life. The program offers a B.S. in Biochemistry and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry & Biophysics. The Biochemistry Program is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).

Undergraduate majors receive a solid foundation in both chemistry and biology. Biochemistry courses are usually taken in the junior year allowing majors to become involved in research with faculty and to take electives in their senior year. The major also introduces students to computer science, an essential tool in modern biochemistry. The B.S. in Biochemistry prepares students for advanced degrees in biochemistry or biophysics, for medical, dental or veterinary schools and for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. A Health Professions option is also offered within the B.S. in Biochemistry for students whose career goals are in fields related to biochemistry, particularly medical school. This option is designed so that students can complete all coursework necessary for the MCAT and other exams required for health-related professional schools by the end of their third year. Students desiring a basic grounding in biochemistry to complement their primary major can choose to pursue a minor in Biochemistry. All students completing a major or minor in Biochemistry are eligible to take the ASBMB certification exam in their junior or senior year.

The graduate degrees in Biochemistry & Biophysics prepare students to be independent researchers in academic laboratories or in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Through coursework and independent research, graduate students in this program will become adept at the physical and structural methods necessary to probe important problems in the life sciences at the molecular level. In collaboration with the Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, the Biochemistry Program provides state-of-the-art facilities for research in biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology. 

Prospective students desiring further information on these degrees should contact the Program Director by visiting the Biochemistry Program web site: http://hs.umt.edu/biochemistry/

High School Preparation: In addition to the general University admission requirements, it is strongly recommended that a student take four years of mathematics, four years of science, and a foreign language. 

Bachelor of Science - Biochemistry

College of Humanities & Sciences

Degree Specific Credits: 95-96

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Catalog Year: 2018-2019

General Education Requirements

Information regarding these requirements can be found in the General Education Section of the catalog. 

Summary

Lower-Division Core54
Biochemistry
Biology
General and Organic Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Computer Science
Upper-Division Core27
Biochemistry
Biology
Analytical Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Advanced Electives15
Total Hours96

Lower-Division Core

Rule: Must complete the following subcategories. 54 total credits required.

Biochemistry

Complete all of the following courses:
BCH 110Intro Biology for Biochemists3
BCH 111Intro Biol for Biochemists Lab1
BCH 294Seminar/Workshop1
Total Hours5

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Biology

Complete all of the following courses:
BIOB 260Cellular and Molecular Biology4
BIOB 272Genetics and Evolution4
Total Hours8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

General and Organic Chemistry

Complete all of the following courses:
CHMY 141N
CHMY 142N
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Lab
5
CHMY 143N
CHMY 144N
College Chemistry II
and College Chemistry II Lab
5
CHMY 221
CHMY 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
5
CHMY 223
CHMY 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
5
Total Hours20

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physics

Complete all of the following courses:
PHSX 215N
PHSX 216N
Fund of Physics w/Calc I
and Physics Laboratory I w/Calc
5
PHSX 217N
PHSX 218N
Fund of Physics w/Calc II
and Physics Laboratory II w/Calc
5
Total Hours10

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Mathematics

Complete all of the following courses:
M 171Calculus I4
M 172Calculus II4
Total Hours8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Computer Science

Complete the following course:
CSCI 125Computation in the Sciences3
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-  


Upper Division Core

Rule: Must complete the following subcategories. 27 total credits required.

Biochemistry

Complete all of the following courses:
BCH 480Advanced Biochemistry I3
BCH 482Advanced Biochemistry II3
BCH 486Biochemistry Research Lab3
Total Hours9

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Biology

Complete the following course:
BIOB 425Adv Cell & Molecular Biology3
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Analytical Chemistry

Complete all of the following courses:
CHMY 311Analytical Chem-Quant Analysis4
CHMY 421Advanced Instrument Analysis4
Total Hours8

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Inorganic Chemistry

Complete the following course:
CHMY 401Advanced Inorganic Chemistry3
Total Hours3

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Physical Chemistry

Note: Students planning to attend graduate school in biochemistry or biophysics are strongly advised to take the CHMY 373-CHMY 371 sequence

Complete one of the following courses:4
Phys Chem-Kntcs & Thrmdynmcs
Total Hours4

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Advanced Electives

Note: No more than 3 credits combined of BIOB 490, CHMY 490, CHMY 498 and BCH 490. No more than 3 credits combined of CHMY 397 and CHMY 494.

Complete 15 credits from the following courses:15
Undergraduate Research
Developmental Biology
General Genetics
Immunology
Immunology Laboratory
Biological Electron Microscopy
Genomics
Adv Undergrad Research
Human AP I for Health Profsns
Human AP II for Health Profsns
Hematology
Principles Medical Physiology
General Microbiology
General Microbiology Lab
Microbial Genetics
Exprmntl Microbial Genetcs Lab
General Parasitology
General Parasitology Lab
Virology
Phys Chem-Qntm Chm & Spctrscpy
Teaching Chemistry
Advanced Inorganic Chem Lab
Descriptive Inorganic Chem
Aquatic Chemistry
Organic Spectroscopy
FT-NMR Optn for Undrgrd Rsrch
Laboratory Safety
Undergraduate Research
Seminar/Workshop
Internship/Cooperative Educ
Computational Biology
Medicinal Chem I
Medicinal Chem II
Total Hours15

Minimum Required Grade: C-