Chemistry B.A. with a Biochemistry Concentration
Degree Requirements
A major in Chemistry with a Biochemistry Concentration is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:
Required Core Courses
| CHM 131 | Accelerated General Chemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| | or | |
| CHM 134 | Accelerated Environmental Chem | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 222 | Organic Chemistry II | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 311 | Analytical Chemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 340/CHM 345 | Biochemistry I | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 361 | Thermochemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 440 | Biochemistry II | 1 Course Credit |
| BIO 441 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 1 Course Credit |
All four (4) advanced-laboratory courses
| CHM 370 | Adv Lab - Chromatography | 1/2 Course Credit |
| CHM 371 | Advanced Lab - Spectroscopy | 1/2 Course Credit |
| CHM 470 | Adv Lab - Nuclear Magnetic Res | 1/2 Course Credit |
| CHM 471 | Adv Lab - Synthesis Lab | 1/2 Course Credit |
Required Capstone Course/Experience
An approved research experience is required. To satisfy this requirement, and in consultation with the Academic Advisor, courses can be for credit or not for credit. Some possibilities are CHM 398/CHM 498, a research course, or an approved summer research project. Each student must submit a formal report summarizing the work accomplished on his/her project. See http:/portal.acs.org/portal/fileFetch/C/CTP_005606/pdf/CTP_005606/pdf for guidelines. All student capstone experiences, regardless of concentration, will be approved case-by-case.
Required Collateral Courses
The Biochemistry concentration requires 4 collateral courses:
| BIO 110 | Modern Biology | 1 Course Credit |
| MAT 135 | Calculus I | 1 Course Credit |
| PHY 127 | General Physics I with Algebra | 1 Course Credit |
| | or | |
| PHY 221 | Intro Physics I with Calculus | 1 Course Credit |
| PHY 128 | Gen. Physics II with Algebra | 1 Course Credit |
| | or | |
| PHY 222 | Intro Physics II with Calculus | 1 Course Credit |
Exploring the Major— Students considering a major in Chemistry should enroll in CHM 131 or CHM 134 after having completed or waived the MAT 012 and CHM 101 prerequisites, which may be taken concurrently with permission of instructor. Students who wish to waive CHM 101 will take a standardized chemistry examination over high-school chemistry content. Students who perform at an appropriate level will be waived from the CHM 101 course and will be allowed to move directly into CHM 131 or CHM 134. The focus of the test is on concepts and not quantitative skills. Students may only take the waiver test one time; however, students who wish to move up to CHM 131 or CHM 134 in the Fall Term from CHM 101 once they start the course will be allowed to do so in consultation with the instructor of the course. Similarly, students in CHM 131 or CHM 134 who find the pace too fast will be allowed to move back to CHM 101. The goal is to provide flexibility and help each student find the appropriate starting point for their chemistry career. Also see foreign-language recommendation in “Other Considerations and Recommendations,” to follow.
If a student has a clear commitment to studying Chemistry, s/he will be encouraged to consult with a Chemistry faculty membe to discuss options and consider the pros and cons to specific Chemistry Concentrations. For example, students interested in pursuing a Professional Concentration will be encouraged to compelte their required Calculus courses early and take the Calculus-based Physics (PHY 221 and 222) rather than the Algebra-based physics. Students interested in Biochemistry Concentration will be advised to complete BIO 110 as quickly as possible and to consider other biology electives that might align with the students' academic and professional interests.
Admission to the Major— While there are no strict requirements, it is advisable that students satisfactorily complete a minimum of two CHM courses, plus waive or complete CHM 101, before declaring a Chemistry major with a Biochemistry Concentration.
Course Sequencing Considerations (in order to complete degree requirements within eight terms)— Because they are prerequisites, if not waived, concurrent enrollment in CHM 101 and MAT 012 is suggested for students who plan to take CHM 131 (offered in Fall and Spring terms) or CHM 134 (offered in Spring Term). The remaining courses that should be completed in sequence during the first two years are CHM 221, CHM 222, and CHM 311. BIO 110 should be taken concurrently with one of these chemistry courses. All required collateral courses should be completed by the beginning of the junior year (other than PHY 127 and PHY 128, which may be taken during the junior year).
Proficiency Requirements for Retention in and Completion of the Major— The laboratory component of the major requires that all students maintain a portfolio that will be reviewed as part of the advanced laboratory sequence. Each portfolio must demonstrate proficiencies in a range of chemistry subdisciplines (i.e., biochemistry, physical, inorganic, organic, and analytical), as well as proficiency in a variety of instrumental methods (i.e., spectroscopy like FTIR, UV/Visible, NMR, and AA; chromatography like GC and HPLC; and mass spectrometry like EI-Quadrupole, ESI-Ion Trap, and MALDI-TOF). Students are required to give at least two presentations related to their research efforts. One presentation must be on campus and one must be off campus. Off campus venues include, but are not limited to, meetings of the American Chemical Society, the Kentucky Academy of Sciences, or the National Council of Undergraduate Research. In addition, all students must pass a program proficiency exam, administered in CHM 471, in order to graduate. For a Biochemistry Concentration, students will need to document additional biochemistry experiences gained through the lab portion of BIO 441, Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Other Considerations and Recommendations (including advice for graduate school and anything that did not fit into the other categories).— Students completing the Biochemistry Concentration who plan to attend graduate school in biochemistry are encouraged (but not required) to take both CHM 361 and CHM 362. Students with strong mathematics backgrounds are encouraged to take the calculus based physics sequence, PHY 221/PHY 222, in place of PHY 127/PHY 128. Students who do not already speak a second language are encouraged (but not required) to study at least one year of a foreign language to fulfill the Berea College perspective requirement. Additional coursework in Biology, particularly in courses with a molecular component like BIO 222 and BIO 330, is strongly encouraged.
Students interested in gaining certification to teach in the area of chemistry (grades 8-12) must double major in Teaching and Curriculum with Certification and in Chemistry. For more information, see the requirements for majoring in Teaching and Curriculum with Certification under the Education Studies section of this publication.