Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following locations:
- Corvallis
- OSU-Cascades
Options available:
- Advanced Molecular Biology
- Computational Molecular Biology
- Pre-Medicine/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Administered by the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics under the School of Life Sciences.
The BS degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides a degree path centered on the molecular basis of living systems with training in molecular genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology, as well as in rapidly developing areas such as bioinformatics. Majors must select an option either in Advanced Molecular Biology, Computational Molecular Biology, or Pre-Medicine/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The first two options are designed for students interested in careers in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries or graduate work in the molecular life sciences, with the second especially well-suited for students interested in computational aspects of molecular biology. The third option is ideal for students interested in careers in medicine and related health professions.
Major Code: 971
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate a core knowledge base in the theory and practice of modern Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB).
- Demonstrate experimental design and laboratory skills relevant to biochemistry and molecular biology, including preparation, experimental design, evaluation of data, and safe laboratory practices.
- Critically evaluate data and design experiments to test hypotheses relevant to the practice of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- Read and evaluate primary literature in the discipline.
- Effectively communicate scientific data and ideas, using various formats appropriate for different target audiences.
- Use databases, computational tools and other online resources effectively.
- Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in the practice of science.
Students majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology cannot seek a double major in Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biology, BioHealth Sciences, Botany, Microbiology or Zoology.
Completion of one of the following options is required to earn a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Advanced Molecular Biology, Computational Molecular Biology, or Pre-Medicine/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. For further information, see MyDegrees or the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics website.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students are required to achieve a C- or better in the following courses (or their honors counterparts) required for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major: | ||
| BI 221 & BI 222 & BI 223 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS | 12 |
| CH 231 & CH 261 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | 5 |
| CH 232 & CH 262 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | 5 |
| CH 233 & CH 263 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | 5 |
| MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| BB 111 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS RESEARCH | 1 |
| BB 314 | CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
| BB 315 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY | 3 |
| BB 317 | ^SCIENTIFIC THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| BB 481 | MACROMOLECULAR STRUCTURE | 3 |
| or BB 470 | CELL BIOPHYSICS | |
| BB 486 | ADVANCED MOLECULAR GENETICS | 3 |
| BB 490 | BIOCHEMISTRY 1: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | 3 |
| BB 491 | BIOCHEMISTRY 2: METABOLISM | 3 |
| BB 492 | BIOCHEMISTRY 3: GENETIC BIOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
| BB 494 | BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES 2 | 3 |
| BB 498 | ASBMB CERTIFICATION EXAM | 0 |
| BI 221 & BI 222 & BI 223 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS | 12 |
| CH 231 & CH 261 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | 5 |
| CH 232 & CH 262 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | 5 |
| CH 233 & CH 263 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | 5 |
| CH 334 & CH 335 & CH 336 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 9 |
| CH 337 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
| or CH 324 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS | |
| MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| PH 201 & PH 202 & PH 203 | *GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS | 15 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Required Option | ||
| Complete one of three options in Advanced Molecular Biology, Computational Molecular Biology, or Pre-Medicine/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 21-22 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Bacc Core and Electives | 62-63 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
Major Code: 971
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BI 221 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS | 4 |
| BB 111 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS RESEARCH | 1 |
| CH 231 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| CH 261 | *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | 1 |
| WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI 222 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS | 4 |
| CH 232 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| CH 262 | *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | 1 |
| HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
| MTH 251 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI 223 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS | 4 |
| CH 233 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| CH 263 | *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | 1 |
| MTH 252 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS | 4 |
| COMM 114 | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or +*PUBLIC SPEAKING or +*INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BB 314 | CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
| CH 334 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| PH 201 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 335 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| PH 202 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BB 317 | ^SCIENTIFIC THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| CH 336 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| PH 203 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| BB 315 | MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BB 490 | BIOCHEMISTRY 1: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | 3 |
| CH 337 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
| Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| BB 491 | BIOCHEMISTRY 2: METABOLISM | 3 |
| CH 324 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS | 4 |
| Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BB 492 | BIOCHEMISTRY 3: GENETIC BIOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
| Bacc Core Course | 6 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BB 481 or BB 470 | MACROMOLECULAR STRUCTURE or CELL BIOPHYSICS | 3 |
| Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 6 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BB 494 | BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES 2 | 3 |
| BB 486 | ADVANCED MOLECULAR GENETICS | 3 |
| BB 498 | ASBMB CERTIFICATION EXAM | 0 |
| Bacc Core Course | 3 | |
| Option Course | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Option Course | 6 | |
| Electives | 8 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)