Major

Semester Hours required for the B.S. in Biochemistry: 78 semester hours

The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (see Footnote 1) is comprised of the following courses.

Students who have completed college-level, algebra-based physics courses (e.g., PHY 1151G, 1152G, 1161, 1162) should consult the department chair.

A five-year accelerated BS/MS program is available for the Biochemistry Option. Detailed information is available at http://www.eiu.edu/eiuchemgrad/accelerated_MS.php.

Courses:

Total Semester Hours: 78

• CHM 1310G - General Chemistry I. Credits: 3
• or  CHM 1390G - General Chemistry I, Honors. Credits: 3
• CHM 1315G - General Chemistry Laboratory I. Credits: 1
• or  CHM 1395G - General Chemistry Laboratory I, Honors. Credits: 1
• CHM 1410 - General Chemistry II. Credits: 3
• CHM 1415 - General Chemistry Laboratory II. Credits: 1
• CHM 2310 - Inorganic Chemistry I. Credits: 3
• CHM 2440 - Organic Chemistry I. Credits: 3
• CHM 2445 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I. Credits: 1
• CHM 2730 - Quantitative Analysis. Credits: 3
• CHM 2840 - Organic Chemistry II. Credits: 3
• CHM 2845 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II. Credits: 1
• CHM 3000 - Undergraduate Seminar. Credits: 0
• CHM 3001 - Undergraduate Seminar. Credits: 1
• CHM 3450 - Biochemistry I. Credits: 3
• CHM 3455 - Biochemistry Laboratory. Credits: 2
• CHM 3460 - Biochemistry II. Credits: 3
• CHM 3500 - Introduction to Chemical Research. Credits: 1
• CHM 3780 - Instrumental Analysis. Credits: 3
• CHM 3910 - Chemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics. Credits: 3
• CHM 3915 - Physical Chemistry Laboratory. Credits: 2
• CHM 3920 - Quantum Chemistry. Credits: 3

• OR

• CHM 4900 - Inorganic Chemistry II. Credits: 3
• CHM 4000 - Undergraduate Seminar. Credits: 0
• CHM 4001 - Undergraduate Seminar. Credits: 1
• CHM 4860 - Advanced Biochemistry. Credits: 3
• BIO 1500 - General Biology I. Credits: 4
• BIO 3200 - Genetics. Credits: 4

• OR

• BIO 3300 - General Microbiology. Credits: 4

• (see Footnote 2)

• MAT 1441G - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I. Credits: 5
• MAT 2442 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II. Credits: 5
• PHY 1351G - General Physics I. Credits: 3
• PHY 1352G - General Physics I Laboratory. Credits: 1
• PHY 1361 - General Physics II. Credits: 3
• PHY 1362 - General Physics II Laboratory. Credits: 1

AND

Five Semester Hours of Electives in departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry (see Footnotes 3 and 4) or Biological Sciences (see Footnote 5).

Footnotes:

(Major GPA based on all chemistry courses taken at EIU.)

¹ Satisfies certification requirements of the American Chemical Society.
² One course is required; the other may be used as an elective.
³ The following may not be used as electives; CHM 1040G, 3025G, 3200, and 3300.
⁴ Electives must include two semester hours of 3000 level or higher chemistry laboratory work. Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement include Undergraduate Research I-IV: CHM 44001-44004, Honors Research I-II: CHM 45551 and CHM 45552, CHM 4770 or CHM 4915. A maximum of 3 semester hours of Undergraduate Research I-IV, CHM 44001-44004, and Honors Research I-II, CHM 45551 and CHM 45552 may be used to satisfy the requirements for a biochemistry degree.
⁵ Only 3000 level or higher-level BIO courses selected in consultation with student’s major advisor and approved by the Chemistry and Biochemistry department chair may count for electives.