For information call: Tel: (818) 77-81 Fax: (818) 77-08 E-mail: chemistry.office@csun.edu Website: http://www.csun.edu/chemistry Or write: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry California State University, Northridge 18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 910-822 Biochemistry (B.S.) THE MAJOR Biochemistry is the application of chemistry to the study of biomolecules and biological processes at the cellular and molecular level, and as such is both a life science and a chemical science. It uses the methods of chemistry, physics, molecular biology and immunology to study the structure and behavior of the complex molecules found in biological systems. Biochemists are interested, for example, in the mechanism of electron transport in DNA and proteins, in mechanisms of brain function, cellular multiplication and differentiation, communication within and between cells and organs, and the chemical bases of inheritance and disease. The biochemist seeks to determine how specific molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, vitamins and hormones function in such processes. Particular emphasis is placed on regulation of chemical reactions in living cells. CAREERS A B.S. degree in biochemistry will prepare you for: (a) medical, dental, pharmacy or veterinary schools; (b) graduate study in biochemistry, or (c) careers in the life sciences that require an understanding of biological phenomena at the molecular level (genetic engineering, biotech, etc.). For additional information on the program, see the current university catalog. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY Students should consult course descriptions to determine whether course prerequisites have been met. Entry of any student into Chemistry 101/101L is subject to a satisfactory score on the Chemistry Placement Test (see catalog section on the Chemistry Placement Test). Passing Chem 100 course at CSUN only with a grade of C or better may also satisfy this requirement. (A grade of "C-" is unacceptable.) LOWER DIVISION REQUIRED COURSES (2 UNITS) CHEM 101/L CHEM 102/L BIOL 10/L BIOL 107/L MATH 2A/2B PHYS 220A/L PHYS 220AR PHYS 220B/L PHYS 220BR General Chemistry I/Lab... General Chemistry II/Lab... Biological Principles I/Lab... Biological Principles II/Lab... Calculus I and II... Mechanics/Lab... Recommended Mechanics recitation... Electricity and Magnetism/Lab... Recommended Electricity and Magnetism recitation... UPPER DIVISION REQUIRED COURSES ( UNITS) CHEM 21/L CHEM 22/L CHEM /L/R CHEM /L/R CHEM 1 CHEM 1L CHEM 2 CHEM 01 CHEM 1 CHEM 2 CHEM BIOL 80 Chemical Analysis I/Lab... Chemical Analysis II/Lab... Principles of Organic Chemistry I/Lab/Rec... Principles of Organic Chemistry II/Lab/Rec... Physical Chemistry I... Recommended Physical Chemistry I Lab... Physical Chemistry II... Inorganic Chemistry... Biochemistry I... Biochemistry II... Topics in Biochemistry... Cell Biology... UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVES (9 UNITS) A minimum of units of upper division electives selected from the following courses: CHEM 11 Synthesis CHEM Organic Analysis CHEM 71 Chemical Literature and Presentation CHEM 81 Nuclear and Radiochemistry CHEM 9 A-C Directed Undergraduate Research CHEM 99 A-C Independent Study CHEM 8 Natural Products A minimum of units of upper division electives is required. Because many of these courses have prerequisites, please check with the instructor to make sure that you have an acceptable background for the course. Other appropriate courses may also fulfill this elective requirement, but can be taken only with the approval of your advisor. Possible elective courses: BMPH 0 Introductory Biomedical Physics BMPH 0 Biomedical Physics I BMPH 0 Biomedical Physics II BIOL 0 Genetics Catalog year 2008-2010
BIOL 81 Cell Biology Laboratory BIOL 10/L Medical Microbiology BIOL 17/L Microbial Physiology BIOL 8 Human Genetics BIOL 70 Biotechnology BIOL 82/L Animal Physiology BIOL 8/L Immunology BIOL Biology of Viruses BIOL 1 Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms BIOL 2 Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotic Organisms BIOL Human Biochemical Genetics BIOL 7 Medical Genetics BIOL 71 Molecular Diagnostics BIOL 72/L Recombinant DNA Techniques BIOL 77/L Cell and Tissue Culture BIOL 80/L Cellular Physiology BIOL 82/L Principles of Neurophysiology TOTAL UNITS IN THE MAJOR (8 UNITS) GENERAL EDUCATION ( UNITS) Basic Skills Mathematics and the entire Natural Sciences section are fulfilled by required courses in the major. TITLE ( UNITS) TOTAL UNITS REQUIRED FOR B.S. DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY: 120 Catalog year 2008-2010
EVALUATION-BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY Name Street Address Student File Number City Zip Course Number Course Name Units Required Units & Institution Name of Course Transferred Need LOWER DIVISION 2 Chem 101/101L General Chemistry I & Lab Chem. 102/102L General Chemistry II & Lab Biol 10 & 10L Biological Principles I & Lab Biol 107 & 107L Biological Principles II & Lab Math 2A* Calculus I Math 2B* Calculus II Phys 220A/L Mechanics & Lab Phys 220AR Recommended Mechanics Recitation Phys 220B/L Electricity and magnetism & Lab Phys 220BR Recommended Elec and Magn Recitation UPPER DIVISION Biol 80 Cell Biology Chem 21/L Chemistry Analysis I & Lab (Fall only) Chem 22/L Chemistry Analysis II & Lab (Spring only) Chem /L/R Organic Chemistry I & Lab & Rec Chem /L/R Organic Chemistry II & Lab & Rec Chem 1 Physical Chemistry I (Fall only) Chem 1L Recommended Physical Chemistry I Lab Chem 2 Physical Chemistry II (Spring only) Chem 01 Inorganic Chemistry (Spring only) Chem 1/L Biochemistry I & Lab (Fall only) Chem 2/L Biochemistry II & Lab (Spring only) Chem Topics in Biochemistry (Spring only) UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVE 9 Chemistry elective Biology or biophysics elective *Math 10A and Math 10B may substitute for Math 2A and 2B respectively. Student Signature Advisor Signature Degree Requirements: A total of 120 units, including 8 major units, 0 additional G.E. units, and units of American History and Government.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY A total of 120 units must be completed with at least a 2.0 grade point average in all college work attempted, all units attempted at CSUN and all upper division units in the major. Alternatively, students interested in physical biochemistry can obtain BS in Chemistry. This program will provide additional math, physics and physical chemistry topics that would be helpful for physical biochemistry. SUGGESTED FOUR-YEAR SEQUENCE FOR BIOCHEMISTRY B.S. MAJORS Fall Semester Units Spring Semester Units FRESHMAN YEAR Chem 101/L (General Chemistry I & Lab) Biol 10/L (Biological Principles I & Lab) Math 2A (Calculus I) 1 Chem 102/L (General Chemistry II Lab) Biol 107/L (Biological Principles II Lab) Math 2B (Calculus II) 1 SOPHOMORE YEAR Chem /L/R (Organic Chemistry I & Lab & Rec) Phys 220A/L (Mechanics & Lab) Phys 220AR (Recommended recitation) Chem 21/L (Chemical Analysis I) (Fall only) 17 Chem /L/R (Organic Chemistry II & Lab & Rec) Phys 220B/L (Electricity and Magnetism & Lab) Phys 220BR (Recommended recitation) Biol 80 (Cell Biology) 17 JUNIOR YEAR Chem 1/L (Biochemistry I & Lab) (Fall only) Chem 1 (Physical Chemistry I) (Fall only) Chem 2L (Recommended Lab) (Fall only) 1 Chem 2/L (Biochemistry II & Lab) (Spring only) Chem 2 (Physical Chemistry II) (Spring only) Chem 22/L (Chemical Analysis II) (Spring only) 1 SENIOR YEAR Bio or biophysics Elective (00-00 level) Chem Elective 7 Chem (Topics in Biochemistry) (Spring only) Chem 01 (Inorganic Chemistry) (Spring only) 9 1 1 1 General Education units must include units of American History and government. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR B.S. BIOCHEMISTRY MAJORS The following may be used as a guide and worksheet to select courses to satisfy G.E. requirements. Consult your advisor and the G.E. section of the CSUN catalog before selecting courses. Enter your courses selections in the spaces provided. Chemistry courses may not be used by chemistry majors to satisfy G.E. requirements. Science and Mathematics courses which do satisfy G.E. requirements for the Biochemistry B.S. program have been inserted in the appropriate spaces below. Nine (9) units of G.E. requirements must be upper division selected from two different sections (A through F). Title V requirements ( units) must be satisfied in addition to these requirements. SECTION A: BASIC SUBJECTS (12 units / units minimum from each SECTION B: NATURAL SCIENCE (8 units) SECTION C: HUMANITIES ( units / units minimum from each A-1 B-1 Physics 220A/L & 220B C-1 A-2 B-2 C-2 A- Math 2A C- A- SECTION D: SOCIAL SCIENCES ( units) units from at SECTION E: APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES ( units) units from at SECTION F: COMPARATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES ( units / units minimum from each F-1 F-2 F-
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (B.S.) DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY A total of 120 units must be completed with at least a 2.0 grade point average in all college work attempted, all units attempted at CSUN and all upper division units in the major. Students who do not pass the Mathematics Placement Test or Chemistry Placement Test may need to take preparatory courses such as Math 102/10 (or Math 10) and Chem 100. Alternatively, students interested in physical biochemistry can obtain BS in Chemistry. This program will provide additional math, physics and physical chemistry topics that would be helpful for physical biochemistry. SUGGESTED FIVE-YEAR SEQUENCE OF REQUIRED COURSES FOR B.S. BIOCHEMISTRY MAJORS Chem 101/L (General Chemistry I & Lab) Math 2A (Calculus I) Fall Semester Units Spring Semester Units FIRST YEAR Chem 102/L (General Chemistry II & Lab) Math 2B (Calculus II) Biol 10/L (Biological Principles I & Lab) Phys 220A/L (Mechanics & Lab) Phys 220AR (Recommended recitation) Chem /L/R (Organic Chemistry I & Lab & Rec) Chem 21/L (Chemical Analysis I & Lab) (Fall only) Chem 1/L (Biochemistry I & Lab) (Fall Only) Chem 1 (Physical Chemistry I) (Fall Only) Chem 1 (Recommended Physical Chemistry I Lab) 1 1 1 SECOND YEAR THIRD YEAR FOURTH YEAR Biol 107/L (Biological Principles II & Lab) Phys 220B/L (Electricity and Magnetism & Lab) Phys 220BR (Recommended recitation) Chem /L/R (Organic Chemistry II & Lab & Rec) Chem 22/L (Chemical Analysis II & Lab) (Spring only) Chem 2/L (Biochemistry II & Lab) (Spring Only) Chem 2 (Physical Chemistry) (Spring Only) Biol 80 (Cell Biology) 1 1 1 Chemistry Elective Biology or biophysics Elective 1 12 FIFTH YEAR 1 General Education units must include units of American History and Government. Chem 01 (Inorganic Chemistry) (Spring only) Chem (Topics in Biochemistry) (Spring only) 1 12 GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR B.S. BIOCHEMISTRY MAJORS The following may be used as a guide and worksheet to select courses to satisfy G.E. requirements. Consult your advisor and the G.E. section of the CSUN catalog before selecting courses. Enter your course selections in the spaces provided. Biochem majors may not be use by chemistry courses to satisfy G.E. requirements. Science and Mathematics courses, which satisfy G.E. requirements for the B.S. Biochemistry program has been inserted in the appropriate spaces below. Nine units of G.E. requirements must be upper division selected from two different sections (A through F). Title V requirements ( units) must be satisfied in addition to these requirements. SECTION A: BASIC SUBJECTS SECTION B: NATURAL SCIENCE SECTION C: HUMANITIES (12 units / units minimum from each (8 units) ( units / units minimum from each A-1 B-1 Physics 220A/L & 220B C-1 A-2 B-2 C-2 A- Math 2A C- A- units from at SECTION D: SOCIAL SCIENCES ( units) SECTION E: APPLIED ARTS AND SCIENCES ( units) units from at SECTION F: COMPARATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES ( units / units minimum from each F-1 F-2 F-