BS in Biochemistry
Degree Program Description
Biochemists are the locksmiths of life science. They use their imagination, ingenuity and understanding of the basics of living processes to unlock life’s mysteries. By unraveling the complexities of nature, they improve the quality of life. Biochemistry combines the tools of biology, chemistry and genetics to fight human disease, increase the production and quality of food, and protect the environment. The knowledge acquired through the program prepares students for careers in many areas, including Medicine, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Government.
Premedical Track Students interested in a medical career may choose from a variety of science-based majors. The most common choice of students is biochemistry because it is a collaborative program between CAFNR and the School of Medicine. The Biochemistry degree provides excellent preparation for the intellectual demands of the medical profession. This training includes, as part of the degree requirements, all of the science courses necessary for application to medical school or related professional fields. Many graduates of this program matriculate at medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy or optometry schools.
In Biotechnology, some of the nation’s largest and most respected private biotechnology companies, such as Bayer, Dow Chemical and Pfizer, employ biochemists in a wide range of specialties, including molecular biology, genetic engineering, pharmaceutical development and microbiology. Many graduates have chosen to pursue Masters or Doctoral degrees at major research institutions across the country. Some have been selected for internships at National Institute of Health and others have earned National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Awards.
In Agriculture, biochemists find employment with agricultural industry companies such as Cargill, Bayer, and Nestle Purina. They may work on projects to develop new varieties of crops that resist drought and insects, nutritionally correct animal feed, or herbicide resistant crops.
In Government, state and federal agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the State Public Health Lab and Epidemiology for Public Health Lab employ biochemists in many fields. They might perform genetic testing and biological sample testing, research epidemics in the region, or identify food-borne pathogens.
Major Program Requirements
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry are required to complete all University general education, University graduation, and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.
Foundational Courses
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | College Chemistry I and College Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| or CHEM 1400H & CHEM 1401H | College Chemistry I - Honors and College Chemistry I Laboratory - Honors | |
| BIO_SC 1500 | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory | 5 |
| or BIO_SC 1500H | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory Honors | |
| MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| or MATH 1500H | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I - Honors | |
| AGSC_COM 2220 | Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| or COMMUN 1200 | Public Speaking | |
Degree and Major Courses
| Major core requirements | ||
| Biochemistry | 25-26 | |
| BIOCHM 1090 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHM 1094 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOCHM 2480 | Introduction to Macromolecular Structure and Function ^ | 3 |
| BIOCHM 2482 | Integrative Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry ^ | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4270 | Biochemistry (I: First semester of two semester sequence) | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4272 | Biochemistry (II: Continuation of BIOCHM 4270) | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4300 | Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems ^ | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4974W | Biochemistry Laboratory - Writing Intensive | 5 |
| BIOCHM 4972 | Post-Normal Biochemistry | 2 |
| Biological Sciences | 3-4 | |
| BIO_SC 2200 | General Genetics | 3-4 |
| or AN_SCI 3213 | Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals | |
| or PLNT_SCI 3213 | Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals | |
| Chemistry | 12 | |
| CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1411 | College Chemistry II and College Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| or CHEM 1410H & CHEM 1411H | College Chemistry II - Honors and College Chemistry II Laboratory - Honors | |
| CHEM 2100 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2110 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2130 | Organic Laboratory I (Concurrent with CHEM 2110) | 2 |
| Mathematics | 5 | |
| STAT 1200 | Introductory Statistical Reasoning | 3 |
| or STAT 2500 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics I | |
| Information Technology | ||
| INFOTC 1040 | Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming | 3 |
| Physics | 8-10 | |
| PHYSCS 1210 | College Physics I | 4-5 |
| or PHYSCS 2750 | University Physics I | |
| PHYSCS 1220 | College Physics II | 4-5 |
| or PHYSCS 2760 | University Physics II | |
| Advanced science (10 or more credit hours; At least 5 credit hours of Biochm courses are required.) * | ||
| BIOCHM 4970 | Senior Problem Based Learning in Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4971 | Biochemistry of Obesity | 2 |
| BIOCHM 4978 | Cancer Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHM 4950 | Advanced Undergraduate Research in Biochemistry (only 3 credit hours of BIOCHM 4950/4996H will count towards advanced science.) | 1-3 |
| BIOCHM 4996H | Honors Thesis Research in Biochemistry | 1-3 |
| AN_SCI 3242 | Principles and Applications of Animal Nutrition | 4 |
| AN_SCI 4312 | Monogastric Nutrition | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3253 | Physiology of Domestic Animals- All Majors | 4 |
| AN_SCI 4314 | Physiology of Reproduction | 3 |
| BIO_SC 3700 | Human Physiology | 5 |
| BIO_SC 3750 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO_SC 4500 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIO_SC 4972 | Developmental Biology | 3 |
| BIO_SC 3780 | Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| BIO_SC 4600 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIO_SC 4990 | Vertebrate Histology and Microscopic Anatomy | 5 |
| CHEM 3200 | Quantitative Methods of Analysis with Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 4170 | Medicinal Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 4200 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis with Lab | 3 |
| F_S 3210 | Kitchen Chemistry | 3 |
| F_S 4310 | Food Chemistry and Analysis | 4 |
| MATH 3000 | Introduction to Advanced Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 4100 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 4110 | Advanced Calculus With Applications | 3 |
| MATH 4120 | Graph Theory and Combinatorics | 3 |
| MATH 4130 | Theory of Equations | 3 |
| MATH 4140 | Matrix Theory | 3 |
| MATH 4160 | Mathematical Logic | 3 |
| MATH 4300 | Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 4310 | Numerical Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 4315 | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
| MPP 3202 | Elements of Physiology | 5 |
| MPP 4202 | Medical Physiology | 4 |
| MPP 4204 | Medical Pharmacology | 4 |
| MICROB 3200 | Medical Microbiology and Immunology | 4 |
| MICROB 4304 | Immunology for Health Professions | 3 |
| NEP 4340 | Human Nutrition II Lecture | 3 |
| PTH_AS 4220W | Forensic Pathology and Death Investigation - Writing Intensive | 2 |
| PTH_AS 4222 | Gross Human Anatomy (The Health Professions) | 7 |
| PLNT_SCI 3225 | Plant Breeding and Genetics | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4313 | Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4315 | Crop Physiology | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4320 | Molecular Plant Physiology | 3 |
| PLNT_SCI 4500 | Biology and Pathogenesis of Plant-Associated Microbes | 4 |
| PSYCH 4210 | Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 4240 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| STAT 3500 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics II | 3 |
- *
Science courses that are not used to fulfill other major requirements. For an approved list of courses, email mubchemadvising@missouri.edu.
- ^
Some courses may only be offered during fall or spring semester. Please check with the department for course offerings.
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOCHM 1090 | 3 | CHEM 1410 & CHEM 1411 | 4 |
| CHEM 1400 & CHEM 1401 | 4 | ENGLSH 1000 | 3 |
| BIO_SC 1500 | 5 | MATH 1500 | 5 |
| INFOTC 1040 | 3 | BIOCHM 1094 or BIO_SC 2200 | 3-4 |
| INTDSC 1001 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOCHM 2480 | 3 | BIOCHM 2482 | 3 |
| BIO_SC 2200 or BIOCHM 1094 | 3-4 | CHEM 2110 | 3 |
| CHEM 2100 | 3 | CHEM 2130 | 2 |
| STAT 1200 | 3 | BIO_SC 2300 (or general elective) | 4 |
| Elective (Humanities) | 3 | Social/Behavioral Sci Elective | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOCHM 4270 | 3 | BIOCHM 4272 | 3 |
| PHYSCS 1210 | 4 | PHYSCS 1220 | 4 |
| HIST 1100 or 1200 | 3 | Advanced Science Elective (3000 level or above) | 4-5 |
| AGSC_COM 2220 | 3 | Elective (Social/Behavioral Sci) | 3 |
| Elective (Humanities) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14-15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOCHM 4300 | 3 | General Electives | 6 |
| BIOCHM 4974W (or Writing Intensive Elective) | 5 | Writing Intensive Elective or BIOCHM 4974W | 3-5 |
| BIOCHM 4972 (or other Adv Science BIOCHM) | 2 | Adv Sci BIOCHM or BIOCHM 4972 | 2 |
| BIOCHM 4978 | 3 | Adv Sci BIOCHM | 2 |
| General Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 13-15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120-125 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.