Chemistry, Biochemistry Concentration, BS

The Biochemistry concentration, offered by the Department of Chemistry , is designed for students interested in graduate work in biochemistry, medicine or related fields, or for responsible positions in industrial or government laboratories.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Prerequisite Requirements

Refer to the SJSU Course Catalog for specific information regarding course prerequisites.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3B, 4, UD 3, UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) (3 units)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures
Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements including exemptions and waivers, are approved for specific majors and on a case-by-case evaluation only.

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division GE: 12 (13 units may be satisfied by major coursework: Areas 5A, 5B, 5C, 2, 3B; 3 units of 1B waived)

6 required units of American Institutions/US123 may be satisfied by selecting applicable GE courses in Areas 3B and/or 4

Upper Division GE: 3 (6 units may be satisfied by major coursework: UD Areas 2or5, 3)

Physical Education: 2

GWAR / WID: 0 (3 units satisfied by CHEM 100W )

Major Preparation: 33

Major Requirements: 64

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (33 units)

BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
BIOL 31 - Principles of Biology II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
BIOL 115 - General Genetics 4 unit(s)
ENGL 1B - Argument and Analysis 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B / Formerly Area C2) (Or equivalent.)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 31 - Calculus II 4 unit(s) (GE Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
PHIL 133 - Ethics in Science 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 2B - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)

3. Major Requirements (64 units)

Core Courses (30 units)

CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 1B - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
CHEM 55 - Quantitative Analysis 2 unit(s)
CHEM 55L - Quantitative Analysis Laboratory 2 unit(s)
CHEM 100W - Writing Workshop: Chemical Communications 3 unit(s) (WID)
CHEM 112A - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 112B - Organic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 113A - Organic Chemistry Lab 2 unit(s)
CHEM 113B - Organic Chemistry Lab 3 unit(s)
CHEM 120S - Chemical Safety Seminar 1 unit(s)
CHEM 191 - Undergraduate Seminar 1 unit(s)

Biochemistry Concentration Required Courses (34 units)

CHEM 130A - Biochemistry 4 unit(s)
CHEM 130B - Biochemistry 4 unit(s)
CHEM 130C - Biochemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 131A - Biochemistry Lab 2 unit(s)
CHEM 160 - Physical Chemistry 4 unit(s)

Capstone Course (3 units)

CHEM 131B - Biochemistry Lab II 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R)

Science Electives (14 units)

Complete 14 units from the following where a maximum of 3 units may be taken on a CR/NC grading basis:

Note: A maximum of 4 units of supervisory courses (CHEM 180 , CHEM 181 , CHEM 184 ) can be applied toward the degree.

BIOL 107 - Immunology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 107L - Immunology Laboratory 2 unit(s)
BIOL 116 - Molecular Genetics 4 unit(s)
BIOL 116L - Molecular Genetics Laboratory 3 unit(s)
BIOL 117 - Human Genetics 3 unit(s)
BIOL 118 - Evolution 4 unit(s)
BIOL 119 - Neurogenetics 3 unit(s)
BIOL 123A - Bioinformatics I 3 unit(s)
BIOL 123B - Bioinformatics II 3 unit(s)
BIOL 124 - Systems Physiology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 125 - Systems Physiology Laboratory 2 unit(s)
BIOL 135A - Eukaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology I 3 unit(s)
BIOL 135B - Eukaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology II 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 2/5 / Formerly Area R) (for majors only)
BIOL 135L - Molecular Cell Biology Lab 3 unit(s)
BIOL 137 - Introduction to Principles of Toxicology 3 unit(s)
BIOL 165 - Advanced Human Anatomy 4 unit(s)
BIOL 170 - Cellular and Molecular Physiology 3 unit(s)
MICR 101 - General Microbiology 5 unit(s)
CHEM 105 - Computational Data Analysis in Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 114 - Advanced Organic Chemistry Lab 3 unit(s)
CHEM 118 - Special Topics in Organic Chemistry 1 unit(s)
CHEM 126 - Introduction to Nuclear Science 3 unit(s)
CHEM 127 - Nuclear Science Lab 3 unit(s)
CHEM 145 - Inorganic Chemistry 3 unit(s)
CHEM 155 - Instrumental Analysis 4 unit(s)
CHEM 162L - Physical Chemistry Lab 2 unit(s)
CHEM 170A - Macromolecular, Supramolecular & Nanoscale Systems 1 unit(s)
CHEM 180 - Individual Studies 1-4 unit(s)
CHEM 181 - Advanced Undergraduate Research 1-4 unit(s)
CHEM 184 - Directed Reading 1-3 unit(s)
CHEM 191 - Undergraduate Seminar 1 unit(s)

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