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Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

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Undergraduate Student Affairs Office
4010 York Hall, Revelle College
(858) 534-4856
Chair’s Office
2040 Urey Hall Addition
(858) 534-3577
https://bmb.ucsd.edu

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

 

Major(s)

Capped

Transfer Major Prep

Biochemistry (CH38)

No

Yes

Pharmacological Chemistry (CH35)

No

Yes

The Undergraduate Program

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics (BMB) offers undergraduate programs leading to the following degrees:

  • BS, Biochemistry
  • BS, Pharmacological Chemistry

Entry to the Majors

The degree programs in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics are open to all first-years, transfers, and continuing students. Information for new and prospective students can be found on the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics undergraduate programs website: https://bmb.ucsd.edu/undergraduates.

Students who plan to transfer to UC San Diego and major in one of the degree programs should refer to the UC San Diego undergraduate admissions website for more information on the courses required for transfer major preparation: https://admissions.ucsd.edu/transfer/transfer-major-preparation.html.

A biochemistry major (CH38) with appropriate choice of electives provides a strong background for students intending to pursue careers in the medical sciences.

Premedical students are encouraged to complete a three-quarter general chemistry series (CHEM 6A-B-C or 6AH-6BH-6CH) in their first year. Medical schools may not accept Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or A level exam scores to satisfy admissions requirements (see prehealth academic preparation guidance at https://prehealth.ucsd.edu/get-started/academic-preparation.html). Students should complete the organic chemistry series (CHEM 41A-B-C) in their sophomore year. The lower-division biology (BILD 1-2-3) series or equivalent is also required for most medical schools, along with certain upper-division biology courses, some of which may be counted toward the major requirements in biochemistry and molecular biophysics. Students should meet with one of the department’s undergraduate advisers early in order to plan their courses and discuss their options. Career Services offers in-depth advising to prehealth students: https://prehealth.ucsd.edu/.

General Major Requirements

General Chemistry Course Sequences and Placement

Basic Chemistry: CHEM 4 is a one-quarter preparation course for 6A. It is advised to be taken by those who do not have a strong background in chemistry.

General Chemistry: CHEM 6A-B-C sequence is intended for science and engineering majors as well as others who need quantitative courses. It satisfies all pre-professional program requirements.

Advanced Placement: A score of AP3 exempts from CHEM 4, and students may take CHEM 6A-B-C or CHEM 6AH-BH-CH for credit. A score of AP4 exempts from CHEM 6A only, and students may take CHEM 6B-C for credit. A score of AP5 exempts from CHEM 6A-B-C, but students may take CHEM 6AH-BH-CH for credit and are encouraged to do so.

General Information on Undergraduate Major Requirements

Residency Requirement: To receive a bachelor of science degree from UC San Diego and fulfill the campus residency requirement, all chemistry majors (including transfer students) must complete at least forty-eight or more units of upper-division chemistry course work. This course work must be taken while officially enrolled at UC San Diego.

Grade Requirements for Majors: The minimum GPA requirement (for both the major GPA and overall UC GPA) for graduation is 2.0. The minimum passing grade in required chemistry course work is a D, although students may not graduate with more than one D grade in upper-division required major course work and must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major. All courses for the major, except for independent research (e.g., CHEM 199) and chemistry instruction (CHEM 195), must be taken for a letter grade. These Special Studies classes are taken on a P/NP basis.

American Chemical Society (ACS) Certification: Students completing their degree with a major in biochemistry (CH38) or pharmacological chemistry (CH35) can receive ACS certification with the addition of one or more eligible courses (see below).

Special Studies

We strongly encourage undergraduates to participate in research, which provides hands-on experience in the laboratory under the guidance of our outstanding faculty. This experience gives you skills and knowledge that will help prepare you for graduate study or work in industry. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics offers Special Studies courses (CHEM 196, CHEM 197, CHEM 99/199) in which students can earn academic credit for conducting independent research with a faculty or industry mentor.

For more information on requirements, deadlines, and application procedures, please visit: https://chemistry.ucsd.edu/undergraduate/research/research-for-academic-credit.html.

Biochemistry Major, BS (CH38)

Unit Requirements for the Major

Lower-division units

72

Upper-division units

52

Total units required for the major*

124

* See “Graduation Requirements in the UC San Diego Colleges” for complete graduation requirements in each college.

Major Summary

The biochemistry major deals with the chemical processes in living organisms, including structure and function of nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. It is suitable for those planning to go to graduate school or to medical, dental, veterinary, or other professional schools. It is also suitable at the bachelor’s level for jobs in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical field.

Lower-Division Requirements

  1. General chemistry including laboratory (CHEM 6A-B-C or 6AH-BH-CH, and 7L or 7LM)
  2. Physics, including laboratories (PHYS 1A-B-C and PHYS 1AL-BL-CL)*
  3. Calculus (MATH 10A-B-C) or Calculus for Science and Engineering Majors (MATH 20A-B-C)
  4. Calculus-based Introductory Probability and Statistics (MATH 11)
  5. General Cell Biology (BILD 1-2)
  6. Organic chemistry, including laboratory (CHEM 41A-B-C and 43A or 43AM)

*PHYS 2 series (PHYS 2A, 2B, 2C, or 2D and 2BL, 2CL, or 2DL) is also acceptable. PHYS 1 series is recommended.

Upper-Division Requirements

  1. Two quarters of physical biochemistry (CHEM 126A-B).
  2. Three quarters of biochemistry (CHEM 114A-B-C).
  3. Protein Biochemistry Laboratory (CHEM 108)
  4. Recombinant DNA Laboratory (CHEM 109)
  5. Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 100A)
  6. Three restricted biochemistry electives chosen from the following courses:
    • Physical Chemistry of Biological Macromolecules (CHEM 113)
    • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry (CHEM 114D)
    • Genome, Epigenome, and Transcriptome Editing (CHEM 115)
    • Chemical Biology (CHEM 116)
    • Pharmacology and Toxicology (CHEM 118)
    • RNA Biochemistry (CHEM 119)
    • Bioinorganic Chemistry (CHEM 125)
    • Introduction to Glycosciences (CHEM 142)
    • Biofuels and Renewable Materials (CHEM 145)
    • Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry (CHEM 157)
    • Structural Biology of Viruses (CHEM 164)
    • 3D Electron Microscopy of Macromolecules (CHEM 165)
    • Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM 167)
    • Drug Synthesis and Design (CHEM 168)
  7. One additional elective. This elective is defined as a four-unit (minimum) upper-division course offered by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, the Department of Chemistry, or a course from the following list of courses offered by the School of Biological Sciences:
    • Genetics (BICD 100)
    • Cell Biology (BICD 110)
    • Immunology (BICD 140)
    • Virology (BIMM 114)
    • Microbiology (BIMM 120)
    • Human Physiology I (BIPN 100)
    • Human Physiology II (BIPN 102)
    • Cellular Neurobiology (BIPN 140)

For ACS Certification

  1. CHEM 120A and 105A are required
  2. Must complete one additional laboratory course from among the following: CHEM 100B, 105B, 123, 143C, or 143D

Major Specific Information

Sample academic plans are available at plans.ucsd.edu or on the UC San Diego Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics website: https://bmb.ucsd.edu/undergraduates/biochemistry-major.

 

Pharmacological Chemistry Major, BS (CH35)

Unit Requirements for the Major

Lower-division units

72

Upper-division units

48–50

Total units required for the major*

120–122

* See “Graduation Requirements in the UC San Diego Colleges” for complete graduation requirements in each college.

Major Summary

The pharmacological chemistry major provides a strong background in chemistry. The major is intended primarily to prepare students for pharmacy school (PharmD). As for any professional school, students will need to supplement this program with other courses to meet all entrance requirements. Many pharmacy schools require a course in Economics (usually ECON 1 or 3) and a course in public speaking. Many pharmacy schools also require a year of biology with lab. Students may elect an upper-division biology lab or they may consult with pharmacy schools as to their requirements. Students fulfilling their elective requirements with appropriate courses should be prepared for graduate school in biochemistry or other areas of science. Degree recipients would also be prepared for jobs in the biotechnology and chemical industries.

Advanced Placement: Pharmacological chemistry students are encouraged to complete a full year of general chemistry and a full year of lower-division biology. Some pharmacy programs may not accept tests such as the Advanced Placement exam to satisfy these requirements.

Lower-Division Requirements

  1. Biology (BILD 1 and 2)
  2. General chemistry, including laboratory (CHEM 6A-B-C or 6AH, 6BH, 6CH, and 7LM or 7L)
  3. Calculus (MATH 10 A-B-C recommended, MATH 20 A-B-C acceptable)
  4. Calculus-based physics including laboratory (PHYS 1A, 1B, 1C and 1AL, 1BL, 1CL or PHYS 2A, 2B, 2C or 2D and 2BL, 2CL, or 2DL) (Note: the PHYS 1 series is recommended)
  5. Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH 11)
  6. Organic chemistry, including laboratory (CHEM 41A-B-C and 43A or 43AM)

Upper-Division Requirements

  1. Two quarters of physical chemistry (CHEM 126A-B recommended; CHEM 130, 131, and 132 acceptable)
  2. Three quarters of biochemistry (CHEM 114A-B-C)
  3. Three laboratory courses (CHEM 100A, 143B and either 108, 109, or 143C)
  4. One PHARM restricted chemistry elective, chosen from:
    • Pharmacology and Toxicology (CHEM 118)
    • Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM 167)
    • Drug Synthesis and Design (CHEM 168)
  5. Two restricted electives, chosen from:
    • Pharmacology and Toxicology (CHEM 118)
    • Medicinal Chemistry (CHEM 167)
    • Drug Synthesis and Design (CHEM 168)
    • Human Physiology I (BIPN 100)
    • Human Physiology II (BIPN 102)
    • Microbiology (BIMM 120)
    • Microbiology Lab (BIMM 121)
  6. One chemistry elective course chosen from among all the upper-division courses offered by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; or one upper-division course in the topics of physiology, anatomy, microbiology, or human behavior from the School of Biology (except nonletter graded courses). Four units of CHEM 199 may be petitioned.

For ACS Certification

  1. CHEM 120A and 105A are required
  2. Must complete one additional laboratory course from among the following: CHEM 100B, 105B, 123, or 143C/108/109 (if not already taken as part of the requirements above)

Major Specific Information

Sample academic plans are available at plans.ucsd.edu or on the UC San Diego Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics website: https://bmb.ucsd.edu/education/undergraduates/pharmacological-chemistry-major.

Honors

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics offers an Honors Program to those students who have demonstrated excellence in any of the majors. Students are eligible to apply for Departmental Honors at graduation if they have met all of the following:

  1. Achieved an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher.
  2. Achieved a major GPA of 3.4 or higher.
  3. Completed a minimum of two quarters of CHEM 199 (eight units). A student who has successfully petitioned to use a CHEM 199 course to fulfill elective credit toward their major may not also use those four units to fulfill the honors requirements as well.
  4. Presented an oral report about their research before a group of at least three faculty. This can be at an undergraduate research conference, such as the ACS-SA Undergraduate Research Symposium held each spring. Obtained faculty signatures to submit with the honors application form.

Students who are interested in the Honors Program should contact the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Student Affairs Office in 4010 York Hall.

Advising Information

The chemistry Academic Advising office serves undergraduate student majors and students enrolled in chemistry courses. For more information about advising services in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, please visit:
https://bmb.ucsd.edu.

Study Abroad

Majors are encouraged to explore the programs that allow students to study abroad or at other US universities for a term or longer. Consider especially the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP) and UC San Diego’s Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). Subject to approval by our faculty, courses taken through EAP/OAP may be accepted for credit toward the major. Students interested in studying abroad, should see a departmental program adviser to discuss appropriate courses and programs for their plan of study. More information can be found with the Study Abroad Office: https://studyabroad.ucsd.edu/.