Biochemistry, Biochemistry Honors (BSBioch)
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry is intended to prepare students for professional careers as biochemists, either upon graduation or after graduate study in biochemistry or related fields. In addition, it may serve as the basis for work in biotechnology, computational biology, biomaterials, forensics, biomedical research, pharmaceutics, patent law, biotechnology/biomedical business, health professions, or environmental science. Biochemistry Honors is intended to prepare students for academic or research careers.
Students who plan to follow Biochemistry Honors, must be admitted to the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars Honors Program.
Total Hours Required: 120
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| BIO 315H | Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | 3 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| SDS 325H | Honors Statistics | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIO 325H | Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 204 | Introduction to Chemical Practice | 2 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| CH 328M | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 128K | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| Liberal Arts/Fine Arts course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| CH 328N | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 128L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| BCH 219L | Introduction to Biochemical Laboratory Practices and Skills | 2 |
| Liberal Arts/Fine Arts course | 3 | |
| Additional Science honors course | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHY 317K | General Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 117M | Laboratory for Physics 317K | 1 |
| BCH 339F | Foundations of Biochemistry | 3 |
| RHE 309S | Critical Reading and Persuasive Writing | 3 |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| NSC 109.2 | Health Science Scholars Capstone Experience Preparation | 1 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHY 317L | General Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 117N | Laboratory for Physics 317L | 1 |
| MBS 344 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BCH 370 | Physical Methods of Biochemistry | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BCH 339J | Chemical and Synthetic Biology | 3 |
| CH 455 | Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
| BCH 368H | Capstone Honors Research | 3 |
| BCH 339M | Structure and Function of Molecular Machines | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BCH 339N | Systems Biology and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BCH 368H | Capstone Honors Research | 3 |
| CH 353M | Physical Chemistry I for Life Sciences | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major | ||
| Honors Breadth Requirement (credit earned by examination may not be counted toward this requirement) | ||
| An honors mathematics or Statistics and Data Science course | 3 | |
| BIO 315H | Advanced Introduction to Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| BIO 325H | Genetics: Honors | 3 |
| CH 301C | Foundations of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 302C | Foundations of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Hours chosen from: College of Liberal Arts and/or the College of Fine Arts coursework | 6 | |
| Hours chosen from: additional coursework approved by the departmental honors advisor | 13 | |
| Choose a sequence below: | 8 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Differential and Integral Calculus | ||
| Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Differential Calculus for Science | ||
| Integral Calculus for Science | ||
| Multivariable Calculus | ||
| SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics | 3 |
| Choose a sequence below: | 2 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Practice I | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Practice II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Introduction to Chemical Practice | ||
| Sequence 3: | ||
| Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Choose a sequence below: | 8 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| BCH 219L | Introduction to Biochemical Laboratory Practices and Skills | 2 |
| BCH 339F | Foundations of Biochemistry | 3 |
| BCH 339J | Chemical and Synthetic Biology | 3 |
| BCH 339M | Structure and Function of Molecular Machines | 3 |
| BCH 339N | Systems Biology and Bioinformatics | 3 |
| BCH 370 | Physical Methods of Biochemistry | 3 |
| CH 353 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 353M | Physical Chemistry I for Life Sciences | |
| CH 455 | Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry | 4 |
| MBS 344 | Molecular Biology | 3 |
| UGS 302 | First-Year Signature Course (approved by the departmental honors advisor) | 3 |
| or UGS 303 | First-Year Signature Course | |
| Hours chosen from: | 1 | |
| Planning Your Capstone Experience (for Health Science Scholars) | ||
| Health Science Scholars Capstone Experience Preparation (for Dean's Scholars) | ||
| Polymathic Capstone Field Invention (for Polymathic Scholars) | ||
| Hours chosen from: | 3 | |
| Choose a sequence below: | 6 | |
| Sequence 1: | ||
| Capstone Honors Research (two semesters) | ||
| Sequence 2: | ||
| Capstone Honors Research | ||
a 3-semester-hour upper-division research course, approved by the departmental honors advisor | ||
| Sequence 3: | ||
Hours chosen from: | ||
| Supervised Literature Review | ||
or BCH 368R | Supervised Capstone Research | |
or BCH 368T | Biotechnology Capstone | |
or BCH 368M | Capstone Experience in Biochemistry | |
| Natural Sciences Topics | ||
| Capstone Thesis Seminar | ||
| Subtotal | 95 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 2 | |
| Subtotal | 2 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 23 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 23 | |
| College Requirements - Natural Sciences | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Degree- Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (BSBioch)
All students must complete at least 21 semester hours of upper-division coursework; at least 12 semester hours of upper-division coursework in chemistry must be completed in residence at the University.
Grade Requirements
Students must earn a grade of at least C- in each mathematics and science course required for the degree, and a University grade point average in these courses of at least 2.00. More information about grades and the grade point average is given in the General Information Catalog.
Order and Choice of Work
The student must consult the BIO Advising Office or Honors Advisor each semester regarding order and choice of work.
Special Requirements
To graduate under Biochemistry Honors, students must remain in good standing in the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars Honors Program, must submit an honors thesis approved by the departmental honors advisor and present their research in an approved public forum, such as the Spring Undergraduate Research Forum or Fall Undergraduate Research Symposium or CNS Honors Thesis Symposium.