Requirements

Structure of the Concentration

Concentrators major in either biology or chemistry and take additional courses to fulfill the concentration requirements. All students also complete a year-long independent research program.

General Requirements: Classes of 2026 onward (class of 2025 may also follow these requirements)

• Successful completion of the course requirements for a major in Chemistry or Biology.
• A full year of research or the equivalent, leading to a thesis with a public defense at the Academic Conference.  Students will identify a research advisor during their junior year, present a thesis prospectus in the fall of their senior year, and an update in the early spring semester of their senior year.
• For Chemistry majors: Concentration students completing the chemistry major must include a full year of Biochemistry with Lab as part of their major-required courses. In addition, Chemistry majors need to take Bio 161 and one upper-level Biology course with a lab that is molecular in nature (e.g., Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, or another course approved by the concentration directors). Please note that some upper division biology courses have additional prerequisites that will not be waived.
• For Biology majors: Concentration students completing the Biology major must include Chem 181, Chem 221, Chem 222, Chem 231, a full year of Biochemistry with Lab, and at least one upper-level Biology course with a lab that is molecular in nature (e.g., Genetics, Cell Biology, Microbiology or another course approved by the concentration directors) as part of their major-required courses. In addition, Biology majors need to take a semester of physics and a 300-level course in Chemistry (e.g., Instrumental Chemistry and Analytical Methods, Chemical Thermodynamics, Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy, Inorganic Chemistry, Advanced Biochemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Molecular Pharmacology, or another course approved by the concentration directors). Please note that some of these chemistry courses have attached labs and/or additional prerequisites that will not be waived.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all math and science courses, including labs. 
• Fulfillment of the course requirements, including end of year presentations and seminars, set by the research advisor of my full-year research project. (Note that it is possible to fulfill the research requirement in an off-campus lab. If you elect this option, the Biochemistry committee member from your major department will serve as your on-campus research advisor.)
• Submission of a bound thesis, including a thesis acceptance coversheet signed by the research advisor (and a second reader at advisor's and student's discretion), to the Biochemistry committee before the last day of class during senior year. 

General Requirements: Classes of 2024 and 2025

• Successful completion of the course requirements for the concentration. In addition to completing the requirements for a degree in Chemistry or Biology, these include one semester of Biol 161 with lab, both semesters of Biochemistry with lab, Chemical Thermodynamics, at least one semester of Physics, and an additional course in Biology with a lab that is biochemistry-oriented (please consult the concentration directors for approval).  Also note that Thermodynamics requires Calculus 2.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all math and science courses, including labs. If you have your current academic transcript (available from STAR), you can use this on-line calculator to determine your current math and science GPA.
• A full academic year of research, devoted to the completion of a thesis.
• Fulfillment of the course requirements, including end of year presentations and seminars, set by the research advisor of my full-year research project. (Note that it is possible to fulfill the research requirement in an off-campus lab. If you elect this option, the Biochemistry committee member from your major department will serve as your on-campus research advisor.)
• Participation in the year-end college-wide Academic Conference with fellow Biochemistry Concentrators, which will include an oral presentation of thesis work.
• Submission of a brief research prospectus, signed by future research advisor and approved by the Biochemistry Concentration committee, submitted by May 1 of junior year.
• Submission of a research-progress report, signed by advisor, by February 18 of senior year.
• Submission of a bound thesis, including a thesis acceptance coversheet signed by research advisor (and a second reader at advisor's and student's discretion), to the Biochemistry committee before the last day of class during senior year. All concentrators must fulfill the requirements for their major (Biology or Chemistry).

Sample Schedules

Please note that these schedules are only advisory and the College catalogue is the definitive source for course requirements.

Concentration Calendar

Application Process

Students interested in the concentration must apply during the spring semester of their second year, and have declared a major in biology or chemistry.

A meeting is held each spring for interested first- and second-year students.  Applications to the Concentration are processed through the program's Canvas page.  There, you can download the application instructions and the Excel template for GPA calculations. Applications for 2024 can be submitted via Canvas and are due Feb. 16th at 3 p.m.

Please email Prof Mills to be added to the Canvas page.