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 General Education Curriculum: Communication.
Completion of General Education Curriculum: Mathematics and Statistics.
Completion of General Education Curriculum: Second Language.

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

CHEM 1215 and 1215L.
CHEM 1225 and 1225L.

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

BIOL 2110C and 202L.
BIOC 445 and 446.
(CHEM 1215 or 131) and 1215L, (1225 or 132) and 1225L, 2310C, **301, **302, 303L, 304L, (**311 and **312) or **315.
(MATH 1430 and 1440) or (MATH 1512 and 1522).
(PHYS 1230 and 1230L and 1240 and 1240L) or (PHYS 1310 and 1310L and 1320 and 1320L).

Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry

In addition to the Biochemistry core, the requirements for the B.A. are as follows:

BIOC 448L or 3 credit hours from an approved advanced course in Biochemistry;
6 credit hours from approved elective Biochemistry courses above BIOC 450;
Other 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 requirements for the B.S. are as follows:

BIOC 448L;
9 credit hours from approved elective Biochemistry courses above BIOC 450
Other 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 a minimum 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