Biochemistry, BS
Introduction
Please click here to see Chemistry department information.
Biochemistry is the chemistry of life - the molecules, reactions, and energy transformations that underlie structure and function in all living organisms. The study of biochemistry combines knowledge from chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics (and sometimes other disciplines) to understand how life works at the molecular level. This integrated scientific knowledge will be essential for understanding the future of human health, sustainable energy, and the environment.
The BS Biochemistry program at CU Denver strongly emphasizes connections between basic science and human health. Required coursework covers much of the foundational knowledge and skills for graduate and health professions entrance exams. Several courses explore connections between cutting-edge biochemical research and different diseases. Students are encouraged to take advantage of undergraduate research opportunities in biochemistry and related fields either at CU-Denver or on the nearby Anschutz Medical campus. Graduates learn skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and scientific communication for careers in the health and natural sciences.
A BS in Biochemistry stands out as a premiere accomplishment in applications for professional degree programs, including pharmacy, medicine, nursing, dentistry, medical technology, and many others.
These degree requirements are subject to periodic revision by the academic department, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences reserves the right to make exceptions and substitutions as judged necessary in individual cases. Therefore, the College strongly urges students to consult regularly with their major advisor and CLAS advisor to confirm the best plans of study before finalizing them.
Qualified majors are strongly urged to participate in directed research and departmental honors programs. We also strongly encourage Biochemistry majors to participate in the Chemistry department by serving as learning assistants or teaching assistants.
Students interested in the Biochemistry major or a double Chemistry and Biochemistry major should consult regularly with a Biochemistry Major Advisor: Dr. Kyoung Nan Kim kyoung.kim@ucdenver.edu or Dr. Marta K. Maroń marta.maron@ucdenver.edu.
Program Delivery
- This is an on-campus program.
Declaring This Major
- Click here to go to information about declaring a major.
General Requirements
To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the three areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.
- CU Denver General Graduation Requirements
- CU Denver Core Curriculum
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Graduation Requirements
- Click here for information about Academic Policies
Program Requirements
- Students must complete a minimum of 74 credit hours, including a minimum of 33 CHEM credit hours.
- Students must complete a minimum of 16 upper-division (3000-level and above) CHEM credit hours.
- Students must earn a minimum grade of C- (1.7) in all courses that apply to the major and must achieve a minimum cumulative major GPA of 2.0. Courses taken using P+/P/F or S/U grading cannot apply to major requirements.
- Students must complete a minimum of 14 credits hours with CU Denver faculty including CHEM 4518 Physical Chemistry Laboratory: Reaction Analysis or CHEM 4538 Physical Chemistry Laboratory: Molecular Structure or CHEM 4548 Physical Biochemistry Laboratory.
Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations
- A student who has declared a Biochemistry major at CU Denver may not take additional chemistry courses outside of the department for the purpose of applying those credits toward meeting the requirements of the major without prior written approval of the undergraduate Biochemistry advisor. No more than 3 additional hours of such pre-approved transfer credits will be allowed.
- All courses applied to the Biochemistry major need to be taken within ten years of the graduation date with the exception General Chemistry I and II Lecture and Lab: CHEM 2031 General Chemistry I, CHEM 2081 Honors General Chemistry I, CHEM 2038 General Chemistry Laboratory I, CHEM 2039 Majors General Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM 2088 Honors General Chemistry I Laboratory, CHEM 2061 General Chemistry II, CHEM 2091 Honors General Chemistry II Lecture, CHEM 2068 General Chemistry Laboratory II, CHEM 2069 Majors General Chemistry II Laboratory and CHEM 2098 Honors General Chemistry II Laboratory. In the event that the student would like to apply for expired credit for CHEM 3481 Majors Organic Chemistry I, the student will need to test at the 50th percentile on the ACS Standardized Exam for Organic Chemistry I.
- PHYS 2321 Intro Experimental Phys Lab I and PHYS 2341 Intro Experimental Phys Lab II are specifically designed for students in non-Physics majors and can be paired with either PHYS 2010 College Physics I and PHYS 2020 College Physics II or PHYS 2311 General Physics I: Calculus-Based and PHYS 2331 General Physics II: Calculus-Based lectures. Students pursuing a second major in Physics should complete PHYS 2311 General Physics I: Calculus-Based and PHYS 2331 General Physics II: Calculus-Based and PHYS 2351 Applied Physics Lab I and PHYS 2361 Applied Physics Lab II.
- Students may double major in Biochemistry and Chemistry. Students can apply the requirements for both majors, if the respective courses are a major requirement for both the Chemistry and Biochemistry major. A course cannot fulfill more than two requirement/elective areas in a student’s degree.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following program requirements | ||
| Complete all of the following required CHEM courses: | 33 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 2032 | Majors General Chemistry I | |
| Majors General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
or CHEM 2038 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
or CHEM 2062 | Majors General Chemistry II | |
| Majors General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
or CHEM 2068 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | |
| Majors Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Majors Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Majors Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| Foundations of Physical Chemistry 1 | ||
| Physical Chemistry: Quantum and Spectroscopy | ||
or CHEM 4511 | Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics | |
| Physical Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
or CHEM 4538 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory: Molecular Structure | |
or CHEM 4518 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory: Reaction Analysis | |
| General Biochemistry I | ||
or CHEM 5810 | Graduate Biochemistry I | |
| Biochemistry Lab | ||
| Complete nine credits from three of the following advanced biochemistry courses: | 9 | |
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Genomics and Bioinformatics | ||
| Bioconjugate Techniques and Theranostic Nanomedicine | ||
| Advanced Topics in Chemistry 3 | ||
| Structural Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases | ||
| General Biochemistry II | ||
| Biochemistry of Metabolic Disease | ||
| Biochemistry of Gene Regulation and Cancer | ||
| Molecular Modeling and Drug Design | ||
| Bioinorganic Chemistry: Bioinorganic compounds in medicine | ||
| Directed Research 2 | ||
| Graduate Biochemistry II | ||
| Complete six credits from the following molecular science elective courses, not already completed: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Molecular Biology | ||
| Human Physiology | ||
| General Cell Biology | ||
| General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| General Genetics | ||
| Introduction to Biotechnology | ||
| Cell Biology of Disease | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Cell Signaling | ||
| Instrumental Analysis | ||
| Cannabis Chemistry | ||
| Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics | ||
| Physical Chemistry: Quantum and Spectroscopy | ||
| Programming for Data Analysis in the Physical Sciences and Molecular Informatics 4 | ||
| Artificial Intelligence in Chemistry and Biochemistry | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Directed Research | ||
| Biophysics of the Cell NM | ||
| Neural Basis of Learning | ||
| Complete ancillary coursework. | 26 | |
| Biology | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Physics | ||
| Total Hours | 74 | |
- 1
Students who choose Physics Sequence A can substitute MATH 2421 Calculus III or MATH 3511 Mathematics of Chemistry in place of CHEM 4500 Foundations of Physical Chemistry.
- 2
For faculty-mentored research projects related to biochemistry. Major credit for this course requires prior approval from the Biochemistry majors advisor and the research mentor. Major credits do not count toward departmental Honors requirements.
- 3
Certain topics, with permission from the Biochemistry Advisor.
- 4
These two together fulfill one Molecular Science Elective requirement.
Biology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following: | 8 | |
| Organisms to Ecosystems (Gen Bio) | ||
or BIOL 2030 | Honors Organisms to Ecosystems (Gen Bio) | |
| Organisms to Ecosystems Lab (Gen Bio) | ||
or BIOL 2031 | Honors Organisms to Ecosystems Lab (Gen Bio) | |
| Molecules to Cells (Gen Bio) | ||
or BIOL 2040 | Honors Molecules to Cells (Gen Bio) | |
| Molecules to Cells Lab (Gen Bio) | ||
or BIOL 2041 | Honors Molecules to Cells Lab (Gen Bio) | |
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following: | 8 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus II | ||
Physics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following sequences. Refer to note 3 under Program Restrictions, Allowances and Recommendations for alternative Physics lab information: | 10 | |
| Sequence A 1 | ||
| General Physics I: Calculus-Based | ||
| Intro Experimental Phys Lab I | ||
| General Physics II: Calculus-Based | ||
| Intro Experimental Phys Lab II | ||
| Sequence B | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| Intro Experimental Phys Lab I | ||
| College Physics II | ||
| Intro Experimental Phys Lab II | ||
To learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes for this program, please visit our website.
To review the Degree Map for this program, please visit our website.