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The program for majors provides the foundation for applications in an ever-increasing array of emerging and established areas such as medical genetic diagnostics, pharmaceutical design, neurobiology, bioinformatics, genomics, nano-technology, and paleontology. Career opportunities for students trained in this discipline are vast. The highly integrated curriculum prepares students either for employment at the B.S. level or for further training in professional or graduate schools. Majors receive fundamental instruction in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, and begin their introduction to biochemistry in the sophomore year. The program also encourages students to engage in independent research work in faculty laboratories. A strong high school background in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics is recommended.

Requirements
Students are required to meet with their faculty adviser to discuss course selections.

1. Four courses in biology: 151, 152/153 Introductory Biology I and II, and 283 General Genetics.

2. Five semesters of chemistry including: 121H,122H Honors General Chemistry for Science Majors or 111, 112 General Chemistry for Science Majors; 261, 262 and 269 Organic Chemistry for non-majors

3. Three semesters of mathematics (two for the B.A. degree): Calculus 1 and 2, MATH 131 and 132, or MATH 127 and 128; and a 3rd course chosen from MATH 233, STATISTC 240 or 501, RES-ECON 212, PSYCH 240.

4. Two semesters of general physics with lab sections: 131-132, 151-152 or 181-182.

5. Biochemistry core:
    275 Cell and Molecular Biology
    276 Introductory Biochemistry Lab
    291H is required for Honors students and recommended for all majors
    471 Elementary Physical Chemistry or CHEM 475, 476 Physical Chemistry
    523, 524 General Biochemistry I, II
    526 Biochemistry Laboratory
    491H Senior Seminar

6. Advanced Course Requirements:
B.S. Degree: Eight credits of advanced electives in the life sciences, physics, chemistry, or biochemistry in consultation with adviser. For students who qualify, these may be satisfied by research participation.
B.A. Degree: One advanced course in the life sciences, physics, chemistry, or biochemistry.
Departmental Honors: A student must, in addition to meeting the B.S. and Commonwealth College requirements, write a thesis based on a research project.

7. Grade Requirements for Major:
Majors must obtain a grade of C or better in BIOLOGY 151 and BIOLOGY 152 and C- or better in CHEM 111 and CHEM 112 or CHEM 121H and CHEM 122H for admission to BIOCHEM 275. A grade of B- or better in BIOCHEM 275 is required for admission to BIOCHEM 276, BIOCHEM 523 and BIOCHEM 524. A grade of C- or better is required in all upper level BIOCHEM courses.