Undergraduate Program

College of Arts and Sciences and Biochemistry Major Undergraduate Admission Requirements

A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation.

A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all work.

Transfer students must have a 2.00 transfer GPA.
Continuing UNM students must have a 2.00 institutional GPA.

Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following:

Completion of the University Writing and Speaking Core.
Completion of the University Mathematics Core.
Completion of the University Foreign Language Core.

Completion of Biochemistry major admission course work with grades of "C" or better:

CHEM 121 and 123L.
CHEM 122 and 124L.

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry (B.A.)
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (B.S.)

Major Study Requirements

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine is responsible for teaching biochemistry courses and for administering the Biochemistry major in Arts and Sciences. It is expected that students spend at least three semesters (not including summer) completing required biochemistry courses.

Biochemistry Core

MATH 162–163 (or 180-181)
PHYC 151–151L, 152–152L (or 160–160L, 161–161L)
BIOL 201L–202L
CHEM 131 and 123L (or 121 and 123L); 132 and 124L (or 122 and 124L); 253L; **301–**302; 303L–304L; CHEM **315 (or **311–**312)
BIOC 445–446

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry

In addition to the Biochemistry core, the B.A. requires: BIOC 448L or 3 credit hours from an approved advanced course in Biochemistry; 6 credit hours from approved elective Biochemistry courses above BIOC 450 and approved courses in related disciplines to a minimum total of 63 or 65 credit hours. From the two required electives, one must come from the Biochemistry program (choose from: BIOC 451, 463, 464). BIOC 497, 498, and 499 may not be applied to elective requirements. No minor study is required.

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

In addition to the Biochemistry core, the B.S. requires: BIOC 448L; 9 credit hours from approved elective Biochemistry courses above BIOC 450 and approved courses in related disciplines to a minimum total of 66 or 68 credit hours. From the three required electives, two must come from the Biochemistry program (choose from: BIOC 451, 463, 464). BIOC 497, 498, and 499 may not be applied to elective requirements. No minor study is required.

Departmental Honors

Students who will have completed 6 credit hours of Senior Research (BIOC 497–498) may submit a Senior Thesis based on their Senior Research project. The award of Honors is based on the quality of the thesis and on an oral presentation of the research. (Note that the University requires an overall grade point average of 3.20 for departmental honors.)

The Chairperson of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is responsible for the administration of the Biochemistry Major Program and submits an Annual Report on the program to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. As with other Arts and Sciences Programs, the Biochemistry undergraduate major may not be significantly modified without prior advice and approval from the Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee and from the Arts and Sciences Faculty.

Keys and Symbols Reference