Biochemistry Major

This major is administered jointly by the Biology and Chemistry Departments.
 
Chris Yahnke, Chair of Biology Department 
Room 167A, College of Natural Resources Building
Phone: 715-346-2159
E-mail: biology@uwsp.edu
Web: http://www.uwsp.edu/biology


Paul Hladky, Chair of Chemistry Department
Room D129, Science Building
Phone: 715-346-3711
E-mail: chemistry@uwsp.edu
Web: http://www.uwsp.edu/chemistry

Biochemistry is a major that combines the knowledge of biology and chemistry to explain life processes in terms of molecular structure and chemical reactions within living cells. This interdisciplinary major has a chemistry-based curriculum, coupled with a significant biology component. The role of a biochemist is to look for understanding of organismal diversity in the principles and concepts of chemistry and physics, as well as in the structure, mechanisms and chemical processes that are common to all organisms. The Biochemistry major provides the student with a course of study that links biological sciences, like molecular biology and genetics, to physical sciences, like chemistry and physics. In addition, the Biochemistry major combines the interdisciplinary foundation inherent to biochemistry with all the advantages of a liberal arts education.

 

If you are interested in the Biochemistry major, then complete details about the curricula are available in the Student Handbook for the Chemistry Department or in the course catalog. We also encourage you to read the notes under the Chemistry and Biology​ Majors in the course catalog because all items in those sections also apply to the Biochemistry Major.

 

The Biology Department encourages you to graduate in four years. Below is a suggested sequence of courses that was designed to illustrate how a student could successfully complete the Biochemistry Major in 4 years.

Year One
Fall Semester
	Biology 130 Introduction to Plant Biology	5 credits
	Chemistry 105 or 117	5 credits
	English 101 or 150	3 credits
	Wellness	1 credits
		14 total
Spring Semester
	Biology 160 Introduction to Animal Biology	5 credits
	Chemistry 106	5 credits
	English 102 or 150	3 credits
	Communication 101	2 credits
		15 total
Year Two
Fall Semester
	Biology 210 Principles of Genetics	3 credits
	Chemistry 325 Organic Chemistry	4 credits
	Math 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I	3 credits
	General Education or elective	4 credits
		14 total
Spring Semester
	Biology 281 or 285 (Physiology)	4 credits
	Chemistry 326 Organic Chemistry	4 credits
	Math 355 Elementary Statistical Methods	4 credits
	General Education or electives	4 credits
		16 total
Year Three
Fall Semester
	Biology 314 Cell Biology	4 credits
	Chemistry 248 Quantitative Analysis	4 credits
	Physics 203 College Physics I	5 credits
	General Education or electives	3 credits
		16 total
Spring Semester
	Biochem/Chem 365 Biochemistry	4 credits
	Physics 204 College Physics II	5 credits
	Biology/Chemistry/Math elective	3+ credits
	General Education or electives	3 credits
		15+ total
Year Four
Fall Semester
	Biochemistry/Biology 318 Principles of Molecular Biology	3 credit
	Biochemistry/Biology 319 Techniques in Molecular Biology	2 credits
	Biochemistry/Biology 490 Senior Seminar	1 credit
	Biology/Chemistry/Math elective	3+ credits
	General Education or electives	6 credits
		15+ total
Spring Semester
	Biochemistry/Chemistry 333 Biophysical Chemsitry	3 credits
	Biology/Chemistry/Math elective	2+ credits
	General Education or elective	10 credits
		115+ total

 
Notes:

• The above schedule assumes that the student places into English 101 and Math 120. The following courses are also offered during summer session: English 101 and 102; Math 120 and 355; Chemistry 105, 106, and 248.
  
• "Cultural aware" refers to the broad category of Critical Thinking / Cultural Awareness courses offered by the University. Students must take a minimum of 21 credits from this category.
  
• Students taking Chem 117 in the fall may take Chem 248 or Chem 325 in the spring.
  

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