Chemical Biology Major
The major in Chemical Biology addresses the growing interest that many biologists have in the molecular aspects of biology and the increasing emphasis that many chemists place on the significance of chemical interactions and reactions in biological systems. The mission of the major in Chemical Biology is to provide students with an inter-disciplinary and thorough training in both biology and chemistry so that they can understand and investigate the chemical processes that take place at the molecular level in living systems. Chemical Biology majors take a wide variety of chemistry and biology courses with the flexibility to focus on particular areas of their own interest. All students majoring in Chemical Biology engage in faculty-directed independent research projects as part of the major requirement. This gives students the opportunity to apply the principles that they have learned in the classroom and laboratory to the solution of real world scientific problems. In doing research, students gain hands-on experience in the use of state-of-the-art instrumentation, data analysis and interpretation. Students have presented their research at local and national conferences and in journal publications.
A major in Chemical Biology provides a strong academic background for students interested in pursuing graduate, professional and industrial careers at the interface between chemistry and biology. Students in the major benefit from the presence of pharmaceutical, chemical and biochemical industries, and many strong graduate and professional programs in the Philadelphia region. Chemical Biology majors have gone on to careers in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacy and pharmacology, medicine, biotechnology, forensic science and neuroscience.
Goal 1: Students will understand the role of chemical properties in biological systems and processes.
Outcome 1.1: Students will understand and be able to describe biochemical processes of living organisms and the role of macromolecules in these processes.
Goal 2: Students will gain knowledge of problems at the chemistry-biology interface and learn the molecular approaches utilized to solve these.
Outcome 2.1: Students will acquire an in-depth understanding of fundamental chemical and biological principles to apply quantitative reasoning to biological problems and their solutions.
Goal 3: Students will acquire research experience through faculty-supervised independent projects in chemistry or biology.
Outcome 3.1: Students will be able to design an experiment, use modern instrumentation for data acquisition and processing in laboratory courses and in independent research.
Goal 4: Students will effectively communicate scientific information.
Outcome 4.1: Students will search the literature for published work relevant to a problem of interest and be able to develop cogent written and oral presentations of scientific content.
Cornerstone Core Curriculum Requirements
Consist of 14 core and 2 overlay requirements. See below for additional detailed information on each of these requirements.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year Course Requirements | ||
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| World History Course Area | 3 | |
| Philosophy Requirements | ||
Either Level One or Level Two (but not both) -- must be Ethics designated. If approved, philosophy courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as Philosophy Level Two and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Theology & Religious Studies Requirements | ||
If approved, Theology & Religious Studies courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive overlay. Students may not double-count the same course as CCC Theology and as a Mission Overlay course. | ||
| Theology | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Diversity & INT 151 Requirements | ||
A student's Diversity course may not count for any other CCC course area requirement or as their Mission Overlay course. If approved, Diversity courses may count for a student's Writing Intensive Overlay requirement. INT 151 may not count for any other CCC requirements. This course must be taken in the first two years | ||
| Diversity | 3 | |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| Math & Natural Science Requirements | ||
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements. | ||
| Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social Science Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Non-Native Language Requirement | 3-4 | |
A single Non-Native Language course may not count as an overlay course but a second language course fulfills a student's Mission Overlay requirement. | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement | 3 | |
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements. | ||
| Overlay Requirements | ||
| Writing-Intensive | 3 | |
If approved, Writing-Intensive courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, electives, or as any CCC course area requirement except for the first-year courses (World History and Rhetoric and Composition). | ||
| Mission-Overlay | 3 | |
Mission Overlay courses may double count as major courses, minor courses, elective courses, or any of the following CCC course areas: Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design, Literature, Mathematics, Natural Science, or Social Science. | ||
| Total Hours | 47-49 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| BIO 101 | Bio I: Cells | 4 |
| BIO 101L | Bio I: Cells Lab | 0 |
| or BIO 150L | Bio I: Cells Lab Phage | |
| BIO 102 | Bio II: Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 102L | Bio II: Genetics Lab | 0 |
| or BIO 151L | Phage Lab | |
| BIO 201 | Bio III: Organismic Biology | 4 |
| BIO 201L | Bio III: Organismic Biol Lab | 0 |
| Physics (will count as CCC: Natural Science) | 3-4 | |
| General Physics I | ||
or PHY 105 | University Physics I | |
| General Physics Laboratory I | ||
or PHY 105L | University Physics Lab I | |
| PHY 102 | General Physics II | 3 |
| or PHY 106 | University Physics II | |
| PHY 102L | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| or PHY 106L | University Physics Lab II | |
| CHM 120 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 120L | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHM 125 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 125L | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| CHM 210 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 210L | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHM 215 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 215L | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| CHM 320 | Physical Chem for Chem Bio | 3 |
| or CHM 310 | Physical Chemistry I | |
| CHM 330 | Instrumental Analysis | 3 |
| CHM 330L | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 2 |
| MAT 128 | Applied Statistics | 3-4 |
| or MAT 162 | Calculus II | |
| Mathematics (will count as CCC: Mathematics) | 3-4 | |
| Fundamentals of Calculus | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Select three of the following: | 12 | |
| Advanced Cell Biology and Advanced Cell Biology Lab | ||
| Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetics Lab | ||
| Neurobiology and Neurobiology Lab | ||
| Immunology and Immunology Lab | ||
| Microbiology and Microbiology Lab | ||
| Molecular&Cellular Biophysics and Mol & Cell Biophysics Lab | ||
| Applied & Environ Microbiology and Applied & Environ Micro Lab | ||
| Biotechnology and Biotechnology Lab | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis and Bacterial Pathogenesis Lab | ||
| Select one of the following in-depth Chemistry courses: | 3 | |
| Nanochemistry | ||
| Biophysical Chemistry | ||
| Medicinal Chemistry | ||
| Atmospheric Environmental Chem | ||
| Mechanisms in Organic Chem | ||
| Organometallic Chemistry | ||
| Water Chemistry | ||
| Inorganic Biochemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Biochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Research in Bio | ||
or BIO 494 | Undergraduate Research in Bio | |
| Undergraduate Research in Bio | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Total Hours | 70-74 | |
- 1
The research requirement can also be satisfied with CMB 490 Introduction to Research and an in-depth Chemistry course or a Biology elective course listed above.
- 2
Students must register for Chemistry or Biology Seminar each semester as a junior and senior (4 total).
Free Electives
At least six courses. Graduation requires 120 credits. Any credits necessary to reach that number outside of the CCC and major requirements are considered free electives.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| CHM 120 & 120L |
General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I |
4 |
| BIO 101 & 101L |
Bio I: Cells and Bio I: Cells Lab |
4 |
| ENG 101 | Craft of Language | 3 |
| MAT 120 |
Precalculus or Fundamentals of Calculus or Calculus I |
3-4 |
| Hours | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 125 & 125L |
General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II |
4 |
| BIO 102 & 102L |
Bio II: Genetics and Bio II: Genetics Lab |
4 |
| INT 151 | Inequality in American Society | 1 |
| World History | 3 | |
| MAT 155 |
Fundamentals of Calculus or Calculus I or Applied Statistics |
3-4 |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHM 210 & 210L |
Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I |
4 |
| BIO 201 & 201L |
Bio III: Organismic Biology and Bio III: Organismic Biol Lab |
4 |
| Non-Native Language | 3 | |
| Philosophy Level One | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHM 215 & 215L |
Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II |
4 |
| BIO Elective 1 (see list) | 4 | |
| Philosophy Level Two | 3 | |
| Religious Studies | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHY 101 or PHY 105 |
General Physics I or University Physics I |
3 |
| PHY 101L or PHY 105L |
General Physics Laboratory I or University Physics Lab I |
1 |
| CHM 340 or BIO 404 |
Biochemistry or Biochemistry |
3 |
| BIO Elective 2 (see list) | 4 | |
| Diversity | 3 | |
| Social Science | 3 | |
| CHM 390 | Chemistry Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHY 102 or PHY 106 |
General Physics II or University Physics II |
3 |
| PHY 102L or PHY 106L |
General Physics Laboratory II or University Physics Lab II |
1 |
| BIO Elective 3 (see list) | 4 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Fine & Performing Arts, Design, & Creativity | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| CHM 390 | Chemistry Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Instrumental Analysis | 3 | |
| Physical Chemistry I | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Research | 3 | |
| Theology | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| CHM 390 | Chemistry Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Instrumental Analysis Lab | 1 | |
| BIO Elective 3 (see list) | 4 | |
| In-depth Chemistry (see list) | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| CHM 390 | Chemistry Seminar | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 123-125 | |
- 1
CMB 390 or CHM 390 non-credit Seminar. In addition to the courses listed above, Seminar is required each semester for juniors and seniors.
- 2
Complete Three of the following Biology Electives
- BIO 402/402LAdvanced Cell Biology
- BIO 411/411L Molecular Genetics
- BIO 412/412L Neurobiology
- BIO 415/415L Immunology
- BIO 416/416L Microbiology
- BIO 422/422L Applied & Environ Microbiology
- BIO 421/421L Molecular & Cellular Biophysics
- BIO 424/424L Biotechnology
- BIO 425/425L Bacterial Pathogenesis
- 3
Complete one of the following In-Depth Chemistry courses:
- CHM 360 Nanochemistry
- CHM 400 Biogeochemistry
- CHM 410 Biophysical Chemistry
- CHM 411 Medicinal Chemistry
- CHM 420 Environmental Chemistry
- CHM 430 Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry
- CHM 435 Technical Applications of Chemistry
- CHM 440 Organometallic Chemistry
- CHM 460 Water Chemistry
- CHM 480 Adv. Biochem: Inorganic Biochemistry
- CHM 490 Spectroscopy
- 4
Research Requirement - Select one of the following:
- BIO 493 Undergraduate Research in Bio
- BIO 494 Undergraduate Research in Bio
- CHM 495 Junior or Senior Chemistry Research
The research requirement can also be satisfied with CMB 490 (Introduction to Research) and an in-depth Chemistry course or a Biology elective course listed above.