Biochemistry
Coordinator: Barbara Brennessel and Elita Pastra-Landis
Department home page: http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/Acad/Biochemistry/
A student interested in understanding the molecular basis of living systems may major in biochemistry, offered jointly by the biology and chemistry departments. A background in the physical sciences necessary to understand life at the molecular level is required and the opportunity to study living organisms as functioning systems is provided.
The major in biochemistry is interdisciplinary and requires courses from the Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics departments.
Major
Print a major planning worksheet
Senior majors are required to write an essay or prepare an oral report on a topic designed to demonstrate their ability to integrate biochemical concepts. The topic selected by the biochemistry advisors will be distributed at the beginning of the second semester.
The major consists of the following courses or their equivalents:
Biology
Bio 112 Cells and Genes
and Bio 305 Biochemistry
Two of the following courses at the 200 level:
Bio 211 Genetics
Bio 219 Cell Biology
Bio 221 Microbiology and Immunology
Bio 254 Developmental Biology
and one of the following at the 300 level:
Bio 307 Cell Evolution
Bio 316 Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Bio 321 Immunology
Bio 324 Neurobiology
Bio 347 Endocrinology
Chemistry
Chem 153 Chemical Principles
Chem 253 Organic Chemistry I
Chem 254 Organic Chemistry II
Chem 331 Analytical Chemistry I
Chem 355 Physical Chemistry I
Chem 356 Physical Chemistry II
Mathematics
Math 104 Calculus II
Physics
Phys 170 Introductory Physics I
Phys 171 Introductory Physics II
Capstone
The capstone in biochemistry shall consist of an oral presentation by seniors at a symposium for biochemistry majors held in the spring semester. The presentation will be based on a review of recent primary literature on an approved topic or a student's independent research.