Program: Biochemistry, BS - Widener University

Apr 02, 2025

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

The biochemistry major is designed to provide a solid foundation in the sciences. In addition, it allows students the flexibility to focus their attentions on the chemical or biological aspects of the discipline. The curriculum emphasizes the molecular, analytical, and quantitative aspects of living systems and incorporates a research component that trains students to formulate questions, analyze data, and derive answers. The biochemistry curriculum prepares students for careers in academia, government, industry, or graduate education in the life sciences. The biochemistry major is open to those incoming freshmen who meet the following criteria: minimum math and verbal SAT score of 1170 (with math score greater than 620) and GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Transfer students or students enrolled at Widener in another major should consult the biochemistry chair about pursuing the biochemistry major.

Curriculum Sequence

First Year

Fall (15.5 Credits)

FYS 101 - First Year Seminar 1 Credit(s)
ASC 101 - Thinking Through 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 177 - General Chemistry I Lab 1 Credit(s)
ENGL 101 - Reading, Thinking and Writing 3 Credit(s)
MATH 141 - Calculus I 4 Credit(s) **
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)

Spring (16.5 Credits)

BCH 102 - Biochemistry Seminar I 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 178 - General Chemistry Lab II 1 Credit(s)
ENGL 102 - Literature and Critical Writing (W) 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 161 - Physics I 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 163 - Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
PHYS 165 Physics Recitation 0 Credit(s)
MATH 142 - Calculus II 4 Credit(s) **
Physical Education Elective 0.5 Credit(s)

Sophomore

Fall (16 Credits)

BIOL 261 - Biological Concepts III—Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 255 - Organic Chemistry I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 257 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 1 Credit(s)
PHYS 162 - Physics II 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 164 - Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
PHYS 166 - Physics II Recitation 0 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI or Flex Elective 3 Credit(s)

Spring (16 Credits)

BIOL 262 - Principles of Modern Genetic Analysis 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 299 - Research Methods and Statistics (W) 4 Credit(s)
BIOL 298 - Lab for Research Methods and Statistics 0 Credit(s)
CHEM 256 - Organic Chemistry II 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 258 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 1 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI or Flex Elective 3 Credit(s)

Junior

Fall (14 Credits)

BCH 451 - Biochemistry I 3 Credit(s)
BCH 453 - Biochemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
CHEM 385 - Physical Chemistry I 4 Credit(s)
Two HUM/SSCI Electives 6 Credit(s)

Spring (15-16 Credits)

BCH 302 - Biochemistry Seminar III 1 Credit(s)
BCH 408 - Senior Thesis Proposal 1 Credit(s)
BCH 452 - Biochemistry II 3 Credit(s)
BCH 454 - Biochemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
Upper Division Chemistry Course 3-4 Credit(s)*
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
Elective 3 Credit(s)

Senior

Fall (15-16 Credits)

ASC 401 - Transformations Capstone 3 Credit(s)
or
Elective 3 Credit(s)
BCH 409 - Senior Thesis in Biochemistry I 2 Credit(s)
HUM/SSCI Elective 3 Credit(s)
Upper Division Elective 4 Credit(s)*
Upper Division Elective or Elective 3-4 Credit(s)*

Spring (16-17 Credits)

BCH 410 - Senior Thesis in Biochemistry II 2 Credit(s)
ASC 401 - Transformations Capstone 3 Credit(s)
or
Elective 3 Credit(s)
BIOL 302 - Molecular Biology of the Cell 4 Credit(s)
or
BIOL 310 - Molecular Biology of the Gene 4 Credit(s)
Upper Division Elective 4 Credit(s)*
Upper Division Elective or Elective 3-4 Credit(s)*

Total Credits: 124-125

*Upper Division Elective: Four must be upper-division electives from the following with at least one from biology and two from chemistry: CHEM 365 Analytical Chemistry/CHEM 367 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, CHEM 366 Instrumental Analysis/CHEM 368 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory, CHEM 375 Inorganic Chemistry, CHEM 386 Physical Chemistry II and CHEM 461 Advanced Synthesis and Spectroscopy/CHEM 463 Advanced Synthesis and Spectroscopy Laboratory; BIOL 306 Developmental Biology, BIOL 314 Developmental Neurobiology, BIOL 319 Principles of Microbiology, BIOL 320 Immunology, BIOL 326 Medical Genetics and BIOL 419 Environmental Microbiology.

**MATH 131/MATH 132/MATH 133 may be used to substitute for MATH 141/MATH 142.

The program of study that appears here applies to students who were admitted for the summer session of this catalog year and later. Students admitted prior to that term should select the appropriate catalog year of their admission. Choose previous catalogs from the Home, Graduate, or Undergraduate Catalog Page at http://Catalog.widener.edu.