The departments of chemistry and biology offer a bachelor of arts degree with a major in Biochemistry. Within this interdisciplinary major, students will take courses that address the interface between biology and chemistry. This interdisciplinary course of study is designed for students who are interested in careers and fields involving the application of biochemical processes (e.g., graduate study in medicine, biochemistry, chemistry, and molecular biology; laboratory technician in biochemical industries).

A bachelor of arts degree with a major in biochemistry requires the following courses in biology and chemistry: CHE 122, CHE 205, CHE 206, CHE 301, CHE 302, CHE 401, CHE 450 or BIO 450, BIO 233, BIO 234, BIO 321, and BIO 452. At least four credit hours of research (BIO 360, 361, 460, & 461 or CHE 310, 315, 410, & 415) is required. In addition, a student will be required to take two courses in physics (PHY 111 or higher) and at least one course in calculus numbered 200 or higher.

A grade of C- or higher is required in each course in the major. Students working towards a major in biochemistry who transfer credit from other schools must satisfactorily complete in residence a minimum of 16 hours of the above requirements in biology or chemistry courses numbered over 200 (and excluding independent study). Courses in chemistry and biology which are more than ten years old will not normally be counted toward the major. Any student majoring in biochemistry must complete all requirements for the bachelor of arts degree.

Prospective biochemistry majors may apply for acceptance into the major after completing the following three courses in the biochemistry curriculum: CHE 122, CHE 206, and BIO 233. The student's grade point average must be at least 2.50 in biology and chemistry courses and 2.50 overall to be accepted into the major. Pluses and minuses are used in the GPA calculation for admission to the major.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this major, courses used to meet requirements for the biochemistry major may not also be used to meet requirements of the chemistry major or of the Oxbridge Science Molecular Biology major. (This means that students will not be able to double major in biochemistry and one of these other fields.)

Students preparing for the health professions will find that biochemistry is an especially suitable area of concentration, since they can easily fulfill the prerequisites for medical study in the course of obtaining the major.

Students with a serious interest in the sciences will normally start the study of chemistry with either CHE 121 or 122. Some students' initial enrollment is in CHE 121, a spring-semester course, which assumes a minimal knowledge of chemistry. However, those with a strong background in chemistry and mathematics are encouraged to consider beginning with CHE 122 in the fall semester. Students planning to major in biochemistry are encouraged especially to consider beginning with CHE 122, since it makes the entry into higher-level chemistry courses much more efficient.