The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry includes courses in all major chemical subdisciplines: analytical, biochemistry, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. Substantial laboratory work, plus complementary courses in mathematics and physics, provide an excellent background for careers in a wide range of areas in science and academia, as well as preparation for professional schools, especially in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.
The series of courses follows the approved guidelines from the esteemed American Chemical Society (ACS). Students can also be certified as professional chemists and awarded the ACS certificate in chemistry upon successful completion of course requirements.
Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Some courses require a minimum grade to progress in the program. Minimum grade requirements, including those listed on course requisites, are considered graduation requirements.
Course Requirements for the Major: 79 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
This major has approved GE modification(s). See below for information on how to apply these modification(s).
CHEM 401W is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Physical and Biological Sciences (UD-5).
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Many courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) requires you to take four Writing (W) courses, two of which are upper-division courses designated for your major. Specifically, you must:
Take one Writing (W) course.
Take one Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) course.
Complete a GE English Composition (1A) course before taking the GW course.
Earn a grade of C- or higher to receive GW credit.
See Writing and Math Requirements for details on additional writing requirements you need to complete for graduation.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are clear, measurable statements that describe how students demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, and values of the discipline as appropriate to the degree. Graduates of this program are expected to achieve the following PLOs:
Have a deep understanding of the basic theories of matter and be able to explain more complex phenomena using that knowledge.
Have a good understanding of the theories of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry.
Be able to apply advanced mathematical operations to problem solving as it relates to chemical concepts.
Be able to perform independent analysis of chemical compounds and mixtures using modern instrumentation.
Have working knowledge of the capabilities of modern instrumentation and be able to design and modify experiments to use the instruments effectively.
Understand the hazards of various classes of chemicals and be able to perform experiments safely to minimize risk to themselves and the environment.
Be able to solve chemical problems by analyzing experimental results and interpreting them based on chemical theory.
Be able to perform quantitative analyses with good accuracy and precision.
Be able to categorize data statistically using computer technology.
Be able to retrieve information from chemical literature and incorporate it into written reports and new experiments of their own design.
Be able to communicate their knowledge of chemistry and their experimental results to other students and other chemists through well-written reports.
Be able to communicate their knowledge of chemistry and their experimental results to other students and other chemists through clear and concise oral presentations.
