Biochemistry, Bachelor of Science (519)
Advisor:
Dr. Kevin Williams, Department of Chemistry
Kelly Thompson Hall, Office 4056
Phone: 270-745-8899
Faculty:
Department of Chemistry: M. Kim, K. Williams, D. Wolfgang
Department of Biology: R. King, A. Srivastava
Biochemistry is the study of the chemical basis of living organisms. The subject includes the investigation of the various classes of biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates) and their metabolic interactions.
Training in biochemistry offers many exciting opportunities in teaching, research, and public service. It provides excellent preparation for students intending to enter professional programs such as Dentistry and Medicine as well as graduate study in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or Biology. The Biochemistry program is the only stand-alone Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry at a public institution in the Commonwealth. It is administered jointly through the Departments of Biology and Chemistry. Students may enroll for biochemistry courses through either the Department of Biology or the Department of Chemistry, depending upon their major emphasis.
Biochemistry I (BIOL 446/CHEM 446) is strongly recommended for pre-medicine and pre-dentistry students as well as for chemistry and biology majors.
Program Requirements (60 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
The major in biochemistry requires a minimum of 60 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. This sequence of required chemistry and biology courses along with elective courses from biology, chemistry, agriculture, and physics offers the student a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary training.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 120 | College Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 121 | College Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 222 | College Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 223 | College Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 330 | Quantitative Analysis | 5 |
| CHEM 340 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 341 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 120 | Biological Concepts: Cells Metabolism and Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 121 | Biological Concepts: Cells, Metabolism, and Genetics Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 122 | Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 123 | Biological Concepts: Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 319 | Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 322 | Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOL 411 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL/CHEM 446 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| BIOL/CHEM 447 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL/CHEM 467 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select at least 12 hours of the following courses: | 12 | |
| Genome Discovery Exploration | ||
| Plant Biology and Diversity | ||
| Plant Biology and Diversity Lab | ||
| Animal Biology and Diversity | ||
| Animal Biology and Diversity Lab | ||
| Microbial Biology and Diversity | ||
| Microbial Biology and Diversity Lab | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Evolution: Theory and Process | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Animal Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Introduction to Recombinant Genetics | ||
| Introductory Biostatistics | ||
| Research Problems in Biology | ||
| Molecular Basis of Cancer | ||
| Techniques and Theory of Electron Microscopy | ||
| Virology | ||
| Cell Biology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Toxicology | ||
| Developmental Genetics | ||
| Recombinant Gene Technology | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Selected Topics in Biology | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I | ||
| Research Problems in Chemistry | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry II | ||
| Forensic Chemistry | ||
| Instrumental Analysis | ||
| Physical Chemistry I | ||
| Physical Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Physical Chemistry II | ||
| Physical Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Bioinorganic Chemistry | ||
| Selected Topics in Chemistry | ||
| Crop Physiology | ||
| Soils | ||
| Soils Laboratory | ||
| Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | ||
| Weed Science | ||
| Weed Science Laboratory | ||
| Soil Microbiology | ||
| Principles of Animal Nutrition | ||
| Physiology of Reproduction in Domestic Animals | ||
| Physiology of Reproduction in Domestic Animal Laboratory | ||
| Animal Feeds and Feeding Practices | ||
| Research Problems in Agriculture | ||
| General Biophysics | ||
| Radiation Biophysics | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Additional Courses (12-14 Hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 136 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Select one of the following groups: | ||
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 & PHYS 233 & PHYS 332 | Introduction to Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics I and Laboratory for Physics and Biophysics II and Introduction to Physics and Biophysics II | 8 |
| PHYS 255 & PHYS 256 & PHYS 265 & PHYS 266 | University Physics I and University Physics I Lab and University Physics II and University Physics II Laboratory | 10 |
Finish in Four Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 120 & BIOL 121 | 4 | BIOL 122 & BIOL 123 | 4 |
| CHEM 120 & CHEM 121 | 5 | CHEM 222 & CHEM 223 | 5 |
| ENG 100 | 3 | MATH 136 | 4 |
| COMM 145 | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CHEM 330 | 5 | BIOL 319 & BIOL 322 | 4 |
| PHYS 231 & PHYS 232 | 4 | CHEM 340 & CHEM 341 | 5 |
| ENG 200 | 3 | PHYS 332 & PHYS 233 | 4 |
| Colonnade - Social & Behavioral Science | 3 | Colonnade - Arts & Humanitites | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CHEM 342 & CHEM 343 | 5 | BIOL 446 | 3 |
| Biochemistry Elective | 3 | BIOL 447 | 2 |
| Colonnade - Writing in the Disciplines | 3 | BIOL 411 | 3 |
| World Language or Elective | 3 | Biochemistry Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Social & Cultural | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 399 or CHEM 399 | 3 | BIOL 467 | 3 |
| Biochemistry Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Biochemistry Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Local to Global | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Colonnade - Systems | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||