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Biochemistry & Biotechnology 4-Year Degree Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your BS in Biochemistry and Biotechnology degree in a timely manner. The plan below is one of several possible ways for you to complete the Biochemistry and Biotechnology.

Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Biological Chemistry Emphasis

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your BS in Biochemistry and Biotechnology with Biological Chemistry emphasis degree in a timely manner. The plan below is one of several possible ways for you to complete the Biochemistry and Biotechnology with Biological Chemistry emphasis degree. Your individualized plan may look different if you have already fulfilled some requirements. Check your Financial Aid as it may require additional term credits for full-time funding. You must complete all university and program requirements successfully to complete this degree (GPA, 120 credits, LASC, WI, residency).

Program: Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Biological Chemistry Emphasis
Total Credits: 120
Catalog: 2024-2025

First Year

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (1st Fall)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	CHEM 150	General Chemistry I Lecture	3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3¹	CHEM 150L	General Chemistry I Lab	1
Graduation Requirement: First-Year Experience Course	FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
LASC Goal 2¹			3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	BIOL 115/115L	Organismal Biology with Lab	4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 4²	MATH 261	Calculus I	4
Total Credits: 16
Spring (1st Spring)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	CHEM 210	General Chemistry II Lecture	3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3¹	CHEM 210L	General Chemistry II Lab	1
Core Requirement:	BCBT 220	Survey of BCBT Research and Methodology	1
Emphasis Requirement: LASC Goal 4	MATH 262	Calculus II	4
LASC Goal 1B	ENGL 101	English Composition	4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	BIOL 111/111L	Cell Biology with Lab	3
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

¹ CHEM 275 can be taken in place of either general chemistry lab and counts as a LASC 2. Students in LC will either take Biol 100 or Chem 275
² ACT math score is needed to inform whether a student should begin directly in calculus or a lower math class.

Second Year

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (2nd Fall)
Core Requirement:	CHEM 350	Organic Chemistry I Lecture	3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 355	Organic Chemistry I Lab	1
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	PHYS 200	Physics I with Calculus and Lab	4
Core Requirement:	BIOL 341/341L	Genetics with Lab	4
Core Requirement:	BCBT 360	Team-Based BCBT Research	3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (2nd Spring)
Core Requirement:	CHEM 360	Organic Chemistry II Lecture	3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 365	Organic Chemistry II Lab	1
Emphasis Requirement:⁵	CHEM 380/380L	Analytical Chemistry I with Lab	4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	PHYS 201	Physics II with Calculus and Lab	4
Core Requirement:	BIOL 385/385L	Molecular Biology with Lab	4
Total Credits: 16

Notes:

⁵ CHEM 480 may be taken instead.

Third Year

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (3rd Fall)
LASC Goal/WI Elective			3
LASC Goal Elective			3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 400	Biochemistry I	3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 405	Biochemistry I Lab	1
Core Requirement: Biology Elective⁷	BIOL 323/323L	Human Anatomy with Lab	4
Total Credits: 14
Spring (3rd Spring)
Core Requirement:	CHEM 410	Biochemistry II	3
Emphasis Requirement:	CHEM 450	Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics	3
Core Requirement: Physiology Elective⁹	BIOL 349/349L	Human Physiology with Lab	4
LASC Goal/WI Elective			5
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

⁷ Other classes such as BIOL 350/350L, BIOL 365/365L or BIOL 430 can be taken instead
⁹ Other physiology classes such as BIOL 347/347L or BIOL 360/360L can be taken instead

Fourth

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (4th Fall)
Emphasis Requirement:	CHEM 300	Inorganic Chemistry	3
Restricted Electives:³			3
LASC Goal Elective⁴			4
LASC Goal/WI Elective⁴			4
Total Credits: 14
Spring (4th Spring)
Core Requirement: Biotechniques Elective-WI for major⁶	BCBT 463	Proteomics	3
Emphasis Requirement:	BCBT 497	Senior Research Thesis	1
Emphasis Requirement:	BCBT 450	Biophysical Chemistry	3
Elective:			4
Elective:			4
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

³ Consult with an advisor as the list of possible electives is extensive.
⁴ In considering electives, keep in mind that all of the Liberal Arts and Science Curriculum requirements must be fulfilled.
⁶ Other biotechniques courses numbered BCBT 461-464 may be taken. Only one biotechniques course is taught per semester on a 2 year rotation so plan accordingly.
⁸ Classes like HIST 374/379 (5/10/WI), HIST 105 (5/8), POL 160 (5/8), POL 120 (5/9), ENGL 407 (6/10), PHIL 215/311/312/318 (6/9/WI?), PHIL 102/120/235 (6/7), MUS 240 (6/7), PHIL 302 (6/8) double count. The right set of 4 of these takes out all required LASC 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 + 2WI.

*Official degree requirements can only be found in the MSUM Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.

Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Molecular Biology Emphasis

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your BS in Biochemistry and Biotechnology with Molecular Biology emphasis degree in a timely manner. The plan below is one of several possible ways for you to complete the Biochemistry and Biotechnology with Molecular Biology emphasis degree. Your individualized plan may look different if you have already fulfilled some requirements. Check your Financial Aid as it may require additional term credits for full-time funding. You must complete all university and program requirements successfully to complete this degree (GPA, 120 credits, LASC, WI, residency).

Program: Bachelor of Science: Biochemistry & Biotechnology with Molecular Biology Emphasis
Total Credits: 120
Catalog: 2024-2025

First Year

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (1st Fall)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	CHEM 150	General Chemistry I Lecture	3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3¹	CHEM 150L	General Chemistry I Lab	1
Graduation Requirement: First-Year Experience Course	FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
LASC Goal 2¹			3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	BIOL 115/115L	Organismal Biology with Lab	4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 4²	MATH 261	Calculus I	4
Total Credits: 16
Spring (1st Spring)
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	CHEM 210	General Chemistry II Lecture	3
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3¹	CHEM 210L	General Chemistry II Lab	1
Core Requirement:	BCBT 220	Survey of BCBT Research and Methodology	1
Emphasis Requirement: LASC Goal 4³	MATH 262	Calculus II	4
LASC Goal 1B	ENGL 101	English Composition	4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	BIOL 111/111L	Cell Biology with Lab	3
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

¹ CHEM 275 can be taken in place of either general chemistry lab and counts as a LASC 2. Students in LC will either take Biol 100 or Chem 275.
² ACT math score is needed to inform whether a student should begin directly in calculus or a lower math class.
³ Students may take BIOL 275 or MATH 234 instead.

Second Year

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (2nd Fall)
Core Requirement:	CHEM 350	Organic Chemistry I Lecture	3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 355	Organic Chemistry I Lab	1
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	PHYS 200	Physics I with Calculus and Lab	4
Core Requirement:	BIOL 341/341L	Genetics with Lab	4
Core Requirement:	BCBT 360	Team-Based BCBT Research	3
Total Credits: 15
Spring (2nd Spring)
Core Requirement:	CHEM 360	Organic Chemistry II Lecture	3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 365	Organic Chemistry II Lab	1
Emphasis Requirement:⁵	CHEM 380/380L	Analytical Chemistry I with Lab	4
Core Requirement: LASC Goal 3	PHYS 201	Physics II with Calculus and Lab	4
Core Requirement:	BIOL 385/385L	Molecular Biology with Lab	4
Total Credits: 16

Notes:

⁵ Students may take CHEM 300, a fall class, instead.

Third Year

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (3rd Fall)
LASC Goal/WI Elective			3
LASC Goal Elective			3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 400	Biochemistry I	3
Core Requirement:	CHEM 405	Biochemistry I Lab	1
Core Requirement: Biology Elective⁷	BIOL 323/323L	Human Anatomy with Lab	4
Total Credits: 14
Spring (3rd Spring)
Core Requirement:	CHEM 410	Biochemistry II	3
Core Requirement: Physiology Elective⁹	BIOL 349/349L	Human Physiology with Lab	4
LASC Goal/WI Elective			5
LASC Goal Elective			4
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

⁷ Other classes such as BIOL 350/350L, BIOL 365/365L or BIOL 430 cam be taken instead.
⁹ Other physiology classes such as BIOL 347/347L or BIOL 360/360L can be taken instead.

Fourth

Curriculum	Course	Course Title	Credits
Fall (4th Fall)
Emphasis Requirement: Biology Elective¹¹			3
Restricted Electives:¹¹			3
Elective⁴			4
Elective⁴			4
Total Credits: 14
Spring (4th Spring)
Core Requirement:⁶	BCBT 463	Proteomics	3
Emphasis Requirement:¹⁰	BCBT 450	Biophysical Chemistry	3
Electives:⁴			9
Total Credits: 15

Notes:

⁴ In considering electives, keep in mind that all of the Liberal Arts and Science Curriculum requirements must be fulfilled.
⁶ Other biotechniques courses numbered BCBT 461-464 may be taken. Only one biotechniques course is taught per semester on a 2 year rotation so plan accordingly.
⁸ Classes like HIST 374/379 (5/10/WI), HIST 105 (5/8), POL 160 (5/8), POL 120 (5/9), ENGL 407 (6/10), PHIL 215/311/312/318 (6/9/WI?), PHIL 102/120/235 (6/7), MUS 240 (6/7), PHIL 302 (6/8) double count. The right set of 4 of these takes out all required LASC 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 + 2WI.
¹⁰ CHEM 450 may be taken instead.
¹¹ Consult with an advisor as the list of possible electives is extensive.