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UMA Undergraduate Guide 2018-2019
 Academic Departments and Programs Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Getting Started (Majors Guide)
Getting Started (Majors Guide)
How to Explore/Get Started in the MajorSuggested General Education Courses:Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus. For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track. Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses:(These are prerequisites for Second-Year courses.)
How to Declare the MajorMake an appointment as early as possible with BMB Academic Advisor, Ms. Valerie Miller. Book an appointment from the BMB Undergraduate Advising page (https://www.biochem.umass.edu/undergraduate/contacts-undergraduates) Summary of Requirements for the MajorMinimum total # or range of credits required: 72 (including intro science/math courses but not social world gen eds) GPA Requirements: Students in BMB must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in MATH 127, MATH 128, CHEM 111, and CHEM 112 (or equivalent courses) by the end of the third semester as a BMB major. Students may not repeat more than two courses required for the major in the first 3 semesters as a BMB major. Students will be discontinued from the BMB major and advised to transfer into another undergraduate major if they do not meet these qualifications, although students can petition to return into the major if they improve their performance. BMB majors must earn grades of C- or better in all upper level BIOCHEM courses in order for those courses to count toward graduation. BMB majors must earn grades of “C” or better in BIOLOGY 151, BIOLOGY 152 and BIOLOGY 153 as well as grades of “C-” or better in both CHEM courses before taking BIOCHEM 275. BMB majors must also achieve a grade of “B-” or better in BIOCHEM 275 before taking BIOCHEM 423. Required Courses: First year BMB majors generally take BIOLOGY 151, General Chemistry (CHEM 111 or 121H), and Calculus (MATH 127 or 131) in the Fall and BIOLOGY 152 plus BIOLOGY 153, CHEM 112 or 122H, and MATH 128 or 132 in the Spring. BMB majors generally take BIOCHEM 275 during their sophomore year as the entry course into the major. Other required courses include our Introductory Biochemistry Lab (BIOCHEM 276) and an Integrative Experience (BIOCHEM 394RI or NATSCI 494I). In addition, BMB majors take two semesters each of Organic Chemistry and Physics, and a third semester of math, either Statistics or Calculus. BMB Honors students are also required to take BIOCHEM 291H, the one-credit Honors section (BIOCHEM 275 is a prerequisite). BMB majors with a grade of B- or better in BIOCHEM 275 are eligible to take General Biochemistry I (BIOCHEM 423), and then General Biochemistry II (BIOCHEM 424), Gen Biochemistry Lab for Majors (BIOCHEM 426), and Junior Year Writing (BIOCHEM 430H). Other requirements include Physical Chemistry (BIOCHEM 471), as well as one semester of Genetics (BIOCHEM 390G or BIO 283). Independent Study/Research and Advanced Elective courses: To graduate, BMB majors must have a total of 8 credits of Advanced Electives earned by working on Independent Research in a lab and/or by taking approved advanced elective science and/or math courses numbered 300 and above. Is there a minor? If so, what are the requirements? For further information, contact: |