Total Semester Hours required for the Degree: 120 semester hours
Major
Semester Hours required for the B.S. in Biochemistry: 78 - 100 semester hours
The Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry听is comprised of Core Courses plus one of the listed concentrations. The Biochemistry Concentration meets the requirement of an American Chemical Society certified degree (see Footnotes 1 and 2) and consists of Biochemistry Foundation, Biochemistry Electives, and Biochemistry Laboratory Electives courses. The Health Sciences Concentration does not meet the requirements of an American Chemical Society degree (see Footnote 3) and consists of Health Sciences Foundation, Behavior and Social Sciences Foundation, and Health Sciences Electives courses.
A five-year accelerated BS/MS program is available.听Detailed information is available at .
Core Courses:
Total Semester Hours: 58
CHM 1310
General Chemistry I. (3 credits)
CHM 1390
OR
General Chemistry I, Honors. (3 credits)
CHM 1315
General Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)
CHM 1395
OR
General Chemistry Laboratory I, Honors. (1 credits)
CHM 1410
General Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 1415
General Chemistry Laboratory II. (1 credits)
CHM 2310
Inorganic Chemistry I. (3 credits)
CHM 2440
Organic Chemistry I. (3 credits)
CHM 2445
Organic Chemistry Laboratory I. (1 credits)
CHM 2730
Quantitative Analysis. (3 credits)
CHM 2840
Organic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 2845
Organic Chemistry Laboratory II. (1 credits)
CHM 3000
Undergraduate Seminar.
CHM 3001
Undergraduate Seminar. (1 credits)
CHM 3450
Biochemistry I. (3 credits)
CHM 3455
Biochemistry Laboratory. (2 credits)
CHM 3460
Biochemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 3500
Introduction to Chemical Research. (1 credits)
CHM 3910
Physical Chemistry Foundations. (3 credits)
CHM 4860
Advanced Biochemistry. (3 credits)
BIO 1500
General Biology I. (4 credits)
MAT 1441
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I. (5 credits)
Two semesters of physics (including labs) are required, with the option of taking all the calculus-based or all the algebra-based courses.
PHY 1351
General Physics I. (3 credits)
PHY 1352
General Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1361
General Physics II. (3 credits)
(see Footnote 4)
PHY 1362
General Physics II Laboratory. (1 credits)
OR
PHY 1151
Principles of Physics I. (3 credits)
PHY 1152
Principles of Physics I Laboratory. (1 credits)
PHY 1161
Principles of Physics II. (3 credits)
PHY 1162
Principles of Physics II Laboratory. (1 credits)
Biochemistry Concentrations
1. Biochemistry Concentration (See Footnotes 1 and 2)
Biochemistry Concentration is comprised听of Biochemistry Foundation, Biochemistry Electives, and Biochemistry Laboratory Electives
Total Semester Hours 23 - 26
Biochemistry Foundation
Total Semester Hours: 11 - 12
MAT 2250
Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)
OR
MAT 2442
Calculus and Analytic Geometry II. (5 credits)
CHM 4000
Undergraduate Seminar.
CHM 4001
Undergraduate Seminar. (1 credits)
CHM 4830
Instrumental Analysis. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
OR
CHM 4920
Advanced Physical Chemistry. (3 credits)
Biochemistry Elective Courses (see Footnote 5)
Total Semester Hours: 10
4 semester hours from the following courses:
BIO 3200
Genetics. (4 credits)
BIO 3300
General Microbiology. (4 credits)
BIO 3390
General Microbiology, Honors. (4 credits)
And 6 semester hours from the following courses: (see Footnote 6)
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4780
X-ray Crystallography. (3 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 4 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4920
Advanced Physical Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study III. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study IV. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study III. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study IV. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research IV. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4555
Honors Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4555
Honors Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4555
Honors Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
BIO 3200
Genetics. (4 credits)
(see Footnote 2)
BIO 3300
General Microbiology. (4 credits)
(see Footnote 2)
BIO 3390
General Microbiology, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 4751
Advanced Molecular Cell Biology. (3 credits)
Other BIO 3000-level or 4000-level courses with advisor approval. Credits: 1 - 4 (see Footnote 9)
Biochemistry Laboratory Elective Courses
Total Semester Hours: 2 - 4
EITHER
CHM 4780
X-ray Crystallography. (3 credits)
AND 1 semester hour from the following courses:
CHM 3915
Physical Chemistry Laboratory. (2 credits)
CHM 4770
Molecular Spectroscopy. (2 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory. (3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research IV. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4555
Honors Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4555
Honors Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4555
Honors Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
OR 2 semester hours from the following courses:
CHM 3915
Physical Chemistry Laboratory. (2 credits)
(see Footnote 2)
CHM 4770
Molecular Spectroscopy. (2 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory. (3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research IV. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4555
Honors Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4555
Honors Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
CHM 4555
Honors Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
(see Footnote 8)
2. Health Sciences Concentration (See Footnote 3)
Health Sciences Concentration is comprised of Health Sciences Foundation, Health Science听Electives, and Behavioral and Social Sciences Foundation courses.
Total Semester Hours: 42
Health Science Foundation Courses
Total Semester Hours: 24
MAT 2250
Elementary Statistics. (4 credits)
OR
BIO 4750
Statistical Analysis of Scientific Data. (4 credits)
BIO 2210
Anatomy and Physiology I. (4 credits)
OR
BIO 2291
Anatomy and Physiology I, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 2220
Anatomy and Physiology II. (4 credits)
OR
BIO 2292
Anatomy and Physiology II, Honors. (4 credits)
BIO 3120
Molecular and Cellular Biology. (4 credits)
BIO 3200
Genetics. (4 credits)
BIO 3300
General Microbiology. (4 credits)
OR
BIO 3390
General Microbiology, Honors. (4 credits)
Behavioral and Social Sciences Foundation Courses
Total Semester Hours: 12
PHI 1900
Logical and Critical Reasoning. (3 credits)
OR
PHI 2500
The Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics. (3 credits)
PSY 1879
Introductory Psychology. (3 credits)
SOC 1838
Introductory Sociology. (3 credits)
AND 3 semester hours from the following courses:
ECN 2800
Economics of Social Issues. (3 credits)
ECN 2801
Principles of Macroeconomics. (3 credits)
ECN 2802
Principles of Microeconomics. (3 credits)
Health Sciences Elective Courses (See footnotes 6 and 9)
Total Semester Hours: 6
Six semester hours from the following courses with at least three semester hours in courses offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (CHM):
CHM 4750
Environmental Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4770
Molecular Spectroscopy. (2 credits)
CHM 4780
X-ray Crystallography. (3 credits)
CHM 4790
Medicinal Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4800
Selected Topics in Chemistry. (1 to 4 credits)
CHM 4830
Instrumental Analysis. (3 credits)
CHM 4900
Inorganic Chemistry II. (3 credits)
CHM 4915
Advanced Laboratory. (3 credits)
CHM 4920
Advanced Physical Chemistry. (3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study III. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4410
Independent Study IV. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study III. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4444
Honors Independent Study IV. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4400
Undergraduate Research IV. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4555
Honors Research I. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4555
Honors Research II. (1 to 3 credits)
CHM 4555
Honors Research III. (1 to 3 credits)
BIO 3460
Clinical Rotation. (4 credits)
BIO 4751
Advanced Molecular Cell Biology. (3 credits)
Other BIO 3000-level or 4000-level courses with advisor approval. Credits: 1 - 4 (see Footnote 7)
Footnotes:
(Major GPA based on all chemistry courses taken at EIU.)
1 Satisfies certification requirements of the American Chemical Society if 1 credit hour of Undergraduate Research CHM 4400X or Honors Research CHM 4555X is taken. 2 Recommended for graduate studies in the chemical and biochemical sciences. 3 Designed to meet requirements for entry into prescribing healthcare professions (pre-medicine, pre-veterinarian, pre-pharmacy, pre-dental, pre-physicians assistant (PA), pre-optometry, etc.) Professional health program requirements vary. It is important to review the admissions requirements of the specific programs where you plan to apply and to consult your academic advisor. 4听Note: MAT 2442 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II is a corequisite. 5 The following may not be used as electives towards the Biochemistry Concentration: CHM 1040G, 3025G, 3200, and 3300. 6听Completion of additional prerequisite courses may be necessary. 7听Only 3000-level or higher-level BIO courses selected in consultation with student's major advisor and approved by the Chemistry and Biochemistry department chair may count for electives. 8听Electives must include two semester hours of 3000-level or higher chemistry laboratory work. Courses that may be used to satisfy this requirement include Undergraduate Research I-IV: CHM 44001-44004, Honors Research I-II: CHM 45551 and CHM 45552, CHM 4770 or CHM 4915. A maximum of 3 semester hours of Undergraduate Research I-IV, CHM 44001-44004, and Honors Research I-II, CHM 45551-45553, and/or Clinical Rotations, BIO 3460 may be used to satisfy the requirements for a biochemistry degree. 9听The following may not be used towards the Health Sciences Concentration: CHM 1040G, 3025G, 3200, 3300, 4001.
听
Information sourced from the 2026-2027 EIU Undergraduate Catalog.
