This concentration provides for a documented specialization within the Chemistry major and provides students a chemistry-focused option that complements the Molecular and Cellular Biology concentration within Biology. A biochemistry-focused education prepares students for careers in a wide range of areas including, but certainly not limited to, medicine (research and practice), environmental sciences, and agriculture. Biochemistry is a popular major for students interested in attending medical school or pursuing other healthcare professional careers.
Saint Mary’s College is an American Chemical Society (ACS) approved school in chemistry. For those students interested in a more intensive chemistry program, an ACS-certified curriculum is available. Interested students should contact the department chair for information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| CHEM 121 & 121L | Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 122 & 122L | Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 221 & 221L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 222 & 222L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 311 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHEM 324 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 332 | Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 342 | Bio-Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 361 | Advanced Laboratory I | 4 |
| CHEM 362 | Advanced Laboratory II | 4 |
| CHEM 424 | Advanced Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 495 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| PHYS 121 & 121L | General Physics I: Mechanics and Waves and General Physics I Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 122 & 122L | General Physics II: Temperature, Electricity, and Light and General Physics II Laboratory | 4 |
| MATH 131 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 132 | Calculus II for STEM majors | 4 |
| BIO 155 & 155L | Foundations of Molecular Biology and Foundations of Molecular Biology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIO 157 & 157L | Foundations of Cellular Biology and Foundations of Cellular Biology Laboratory | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Genetics and Introduction to Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 64 | |
Each student writes a formal paper consisting of a research topic of her choosing. The formal paper is an in-depth presentation of chemistry and reflects a command of the subject appropriate to a senior chemistry major. Students will work closely with a department faculty member to meet this requirement. It is due by the end of the fall semester of the student’s senior year.
The Senior Comprehensive consists of a poster presentation at the Physical Sciences Poster Session and a 15-minute oral presentation at the Physical Sciences Symposium. The public presentations are on a chemistry topic of the student’s choosing and may or may not be related to the research topic of the formal paper. Both presentations are given in the spring semester of the senior year and include a question and answer period. The goal for students is to demonstrate their ability to orally communicate data/results to a scientific audience in formats that they are most likely to experience as professional scientists.
Undergraduate students upon graduation with a B.S. degree in Chemistry with a Biochemistry Concentration:
Print this page.
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.