Graduate Courses

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2017–2018 and 2018–2019; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.

Biochemistry: BCH

BCH 080M. Dual MD/PhD Program with UT Medical Branch.

Preclinical medical study at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. May not be taken concurrently with another course at the University of Texas at Austin. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and admission to the MD/PhD dual degree program in biochemistry.

BCH 381D. Structure-Aided Drug Discovery.

Investigation of structure-based drug design subjects including the modern model of drug discovery in pharmaceutical and biotech companies, high-throughput Assay development, structure-aided drug discovery, case studies of hot targets, and hands-on experience with docking program. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biochemistry 381D and Chemistry 391L (Topic: Structure-Based Drug Design) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

BCH 387D. Physical Methods in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Theory of physical methods used in biochemistry and molecular biology. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, an undergraduate course in physical chemistry, and an undergraduate course in biochemistry.

BCH 190. Seminar in Biochemistry.

The equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Biochemistry 190 and Chemistry 190 (Topic 3) may not both be counted. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in biochemistry.

BCH 192G. Biochemistry Student Seminar.

Student presentations on current research topics. The equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Biochemistry 192G and Chemistry 192G may not both be counted. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing in biochemistry.

BCH 394. Structure and Function of Proteins and Nucleic Acids.

Explores the structures and functions of proteins and nucleic acids. Emphasis is placed on quantitative methods used to evaluate the roles of structural features in function and in developing new ways of thinking about the dynamics of macromolecules. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biochemistry 394 and Chemistry 394 may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

BCH 394P. Bioinformatics.

Subjects include physical methods for the study of macromolecules, chemistry of proteins, enzyme chemistry, regulatory mechanisms for gene expression, and protein-nucleic acid interactions. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biochemistry 394P and Chemistry 391L (Topic: Bioinformatics) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

BCH 395G. Structure and Function of Proteins and Membranes.

Same as Biology 395G and Molecular Biology 395G. Detailed consideration of the structure and function of proteins, with discussion of enzyme mechanisms and kinetics, the biochemistry of energy production, and the metabolism of lipids and nucleotides. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biochemistry 395G, Biology 395G, Chemistry 395G, Molecular Biology 395G. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; a one-year undergraduate sequence in biochemistry, such as Chemistry 339K and 339L, is strongly recommended.

BCH 395J. Genes, Genomes, and Gene Expression.

Same as Biology 395J and Molecular Biology 395J. Detailed consideration of prokaryotic and eukaryotic mechanisms of DNA replication and transcription; posttranscriptional processing of transcription products; and mechanism and regulation of the translation of messenger RNAs. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biochemistry 395J, Biology 395J, Chemistry 395J, Molecular Biology 395J. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Biology 395F and 395G, or Chemistry 395F and 395G, or Molecular Biology 395F and 395G, or consent of instructor.

BCH 396S. Synthetic Biology.

Survey of current high-throughput technologies and computational methods for generating data and integrating information at all levels of biological organization. Emphasis on how hypotheses can be generated and tested with these techniques to better understand how model organisms function and evolve. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biochemistry 396S and Chemistry 391L (Topic: Synthetic Biology) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

BCH 197C, 297C, 397C, 497C, 597C, 697C. Advanced Study and Research in Biochemistry.

For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one and a half laboratory hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of graduate adviser.

BCH 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in biochemistry and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Biochemistry 698A.

BCH 398T. Professional Development for Graduate Students in Biochemistry.

Restricted to graduate students in biochemistry. Provides professional development skills to graduate students in biochemistry. Subjects include excellence in teaching, scientific communication, grantsmanship, ethics, and career planning. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biochemistry 398T and Chemistry 398T may not both be counted. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in biochemistry.

BCH 399R, 699R, 999R. Dissertation.

Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree and registration for Chemistry 190 when it is given.

BCH 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Biochemistry 399R, 699R, or 999R; and registration for Chemistry 190 when it is given.

Chemistry: CH

CH 380L. Inorganic Reactions and Structures.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 380M. Advanced Study in Chemistry.

For nonchemistry majors. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, a bachelor's degree with a major in science or mathematics, and consent of the graduate adviser in chemistry.

CH 380N. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Spectroscopy and Structure.

Advanced inorganic chemistry, with emphasis on structure, spectroscopy, and ligand field theory. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 080R. Dual MD/PhD Program with UT Medical Branch.

Preclinical medical study at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. May not be taken concurrently with another course at the University of Texas at Austin. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and admission to the MD/PhD dual degree program in chemistry.

CH 380T. Current Concepts in Chemistry and Biochemistry: UTeach.

Designed for beginning graduate students seeking a review of modern chemical concepts. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

CH 381M. Advanced Analytical Chemistry.

Theory and application of special methods and recent advances. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry and consent of instructor.

CH 382J. Survey of Physical Chemistry.

Surface chemistry and catalysis, transport properties, macromolecules, electrochemistry and electrolyte solutions, molecular thermodynamics, solution kinetics, and photochemistry. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 382K. Advanced Physical Chemistry: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Chemistry 354 or the equivalent.

CH 382L. Advanced Physical Chemistry: Statistical Mechanics.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 382M. Advanced Physical Chemistry.

Quantum chemistry. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Chemistry 354, 382K, or consent of instructor.

CH 182T, 282T, 382T, 682T. Advanced Study and Research: UTeach.

Designed for beginning graduate students seeking review of modern chemical concepts. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

CH 386J. Advanced Organic Chemistry.

Advanced organic chemistry, with emphasis on theory and reaction mechanisms. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, six semester hours of coursework in organic chemistry, and six semester hours of coursework in physical chemistry.

CH 386K. Advanced Organic Chemistry.

Advanced organic chemistry, with emphasis on synthetic methods. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, six semester hours of coursework in organic chemistry, and six semester hours of coursework in physical chemistry.

CH 387K. Biochemical Techniques.

Discussion of procedures and equipment used in modern biochemical investigation, with laboratory work to provide experience in techniques of general importance. Two lecture hours and seven laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, six semester hours of undergraduate coursework in biochemistry, and consent of instructor.

CH 190. Seminar in Chemistry.

The equivalent of one class hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry.

Topic 1: Analytical-Physical Chemistry. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only.
Topic 2: Organic Chemistry. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only.
Topic 4: Inorganic Chemistry. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only.

CH 390K. Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry.

Topics include magnetic resonance; organometallic, main-group, and transition metal chemistry; nonaqueous solvents; high-temperature superconductors; new developments in synthetic chemistry; and aspects of inorganic chemistry relevant to material science. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry, Chemistry 380L, and consent of instructor.

Topic 1: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Organometallics & Catalysis. Explores the evolution of organometallic and inorganic coordination chemistry, and its importance in a range of industrial processes; and covers a range of topical catalytic processes. Chemistry 390K (Topic 1) and 390K (Topic: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Organometallic Chemistry and Catalysis) may not both be counted.
Topic 2: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry: Bio-Inorganic Chemistry. Explores the roles of transition metals in biology, mostly with respect to protein structure, function and catalysis. Examines established and developing methods of spectroscopy used to probe the geometrical and electronic structure of metal ions in proteins. Analyzes modern areas of study in bio-inorganic chemistry, especially relating to the roles of metals in metalloenzymes, but also including emerging topics such as metallodrugs, metal-based imaging agents, and molecular sensors. The principles of transition metal chemistry will be explored, expanded and demonstrated in the context of biological systems. Chemistry 390K (Topic: Bio-Inorganic Chemistry) and 390K (Topic 2) may not both be counted.

CH 390L. Advanced Topics in Analytical Chemistry.

Topics include electrochemistry, electronics, mathematical methods, mass spectrometry, and optical methods. For most topics, three lecture hours a week for one semester; for topics on electronics and optical methods, two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Topic 1: Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Electrochemistry. Designed to introduce the fundamental principles of electrochemistry. An overview of the structure and properties of the electrode/solution interface is presented, and followed by a more detailed discussion of how thermodynamics, kinetics, and mass transfer affect electrochemical processes. Includes specific electrochemical methods, including potential step and sweep techniques, pulse voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and hydrodynamic methods. Focuses on specialized electrochemical phenomena, including: photoelectrochemistry, coupled electrochemical and homogeneous reactions, and bulk electrolysis. Introduces the use of digital simulations to solve electrochemical problems. Chemistry 390L (Topic: Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Electrochemistry) and 390L (Topic 1) may not both be counted.
Topic 2: Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Mass Spectrometry. Overview of the instrumentation, methods, and theory of mass spectrometry and gas-phase ion chemistry. Subjects include ionization methods, mass analyzers, vacuum components and pressure measurement, ion activation methods, analytical figures of merit, and integration of mass spectrometry with separation methods. Other subjects include gas-phase thermochemistry, kinetic theory of ion fragmentation, interpretation of mass spectra, and special subjects that may include ion mobility, proteomics, imaging, and elemental analysis, among others. Chemistry 390L (Topic: Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Mass Spectrometry) and 390L (Topic 2) may not both be counted.

CH 391. Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry.

Topics include organic photochemistry; molecular orbital theory; free radical chemistry; organometallic compounds; nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry; organic synthesis. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 392H. Biomolecular Structure by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Theory and application of modern nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy methods. Emphasis on applications to biological macromolecules, including protein and nucleic acid structure determination. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 392J. Molecular Biology of the Yeast Saccharomyces.

The use of yeast as a tool for the study of important areas of eukaryotic biology; the use of classical and molecular genetic techniques in the study of gene expression, DNA replication and repair, development and growth control, protein targeting, and metabolism. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Chemistry 329D or the equivalent or consent of instructor.

CH 392N. Physical Chemistry of Macromolecular Systems.

Theory of macromolecular solutions and methods for characterization of macromolecular systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and undergraduate coursework in physical chemistry or consent of instructor.

CH 392T. Biotransformations of Drugs and Other Nonnutritive Compounds.

Absorption and metabolism of naturally occurring and synthetic nonnutritive compounds. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and Chemistry 394 or consent of instructor.

CH 392U. Comparative Biochemistry.

Comparative aspects of protein structure, metabolism, respiration, and cellular regulation. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and Chemistry 395G and 394, or consent of instructor.

CH 192W. Analytical Student Seminar.

Student seminar presentations covering current research topics. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 393L. Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry and consent of instructor.

CH 395F. Genetics.

Same as Biology 395F and Molecular Biology 395F. Basic principles of Mendelian and molecular genetics, and an exploration of the genetic toolbox using examples of analytic methods and modern genetic manipulations. Focus on the genetic analysis of model organisms. Use of genetic tools in dissecting complex biological pathways, developmental processes, and regulatory systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. An introductory course in genetics, such as Biology 325, is strongly recommended.

CH 395H. Cell Biology.

Same as Biology 395H and Molecular Biology 395H. Detailed consideration of mechanisms of growth control, cell cycle regulation, mitosis, cell signaling, protein targeting, and the integration of these processes. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and consent of instructor or Biology 395F and 395G, Chemistry 395F and 395G, Molecular Biology 395F and 395G.

CH 395K, 695K. Advanced Individual Study in Chemistry.

Supervised reading or individual tutorial sessions on advanced topics in chemistry. For each semester hour of credit earned, one class hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry and consent of the graduate adviser.

CH 197C, 297C, 397C, 597C, 697C. Problems in Chemistry.

Conference course with laboratory work. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

CH 197P, 297P, 397P, 597P, 697P. Problems in Chemistry.

Conference course with laboratory. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in chemistry and consent of instructor.

CH 397S. Advanced Topics in Chemistry.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CH 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in chemistry and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Chemistry 698A.

CH 398T. Professional Development for Graduate Students in Chemistry.

Restricted to graduate students in chemistry. Provides professional development skills to graduate students in chemistry. Subjects include excellence in teaching, scientific communication, grantsmanship, ethics, and career planning. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

CH 399R, 699R, 999R. Dissertation.

Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

CH 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Chemistry 399R, 699R, or 999R.