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.

First Year Course Requirements
ENG 101Craft of Language3
World History Course Area3
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 One3
Philosophy Level Two3
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.
Theology3
Religious Studies3
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
Diversity3
INT 151Inequality in American Society1
Math & Natural Science Requirements
If approved, Math & Natural Science Requirements may count toward overlay requirements.
Mathematics3-4
Natural Science4
Social Science Requirement3
If approved, such Social Science Requirement may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Non-Native Language Requirement3-4
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 Requirement3
If approved, Literature courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design Requirement3
If approved, Fine and Performing Arts, Creativity, and Design courses may count toward a student's overlay requirements.
Overlay Requirements
Writing-Intensive3
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-Overlay3
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 Hours47-49

Major Requirements 

Required Courses:
BIO 101Bio I: Cells4
BIO 101LBio I: Cells Lab0
or BIO 150L Bio I: Cells Lab Phage
BIO 102Bio II: Genetics4
BIO 102LBio II: Genetics Lab0
or BIO 151L Phage Lab
BIO 201Bio III: Organismic Biology4
BIO 201LBio III: Organismic Biol Lab0
Physics (will count as CCC: Natural Science)3-4
General Physics I
University Physics I
General Physics Laboratory I
University Physics Lab I
PHY 102General Physics II3
or PHY 106 University Physics II
PHY 102LGeneral Physics Laboratory II1
or PHY 106L University Physics Lab II
CHM 120General Chemistry I3
CHM 120LGeneral Chemistry Lab I1
CHM 125General Chemistry II3
CHM 125LGeneral Chemistry Lab II1
CHM 210Organic Chemistry I3
CHM 210LOrganic Chemistry Lab I1
CHM 215Organic Chemistry II3
CHM 215LOrganic Chemistry Lab II1
CHM 320Physical Chem for Chem Bio3
or CHM 310 Physical Chemistry I
CHM 330Instrumental Analysis3
CHM 330LInstrumental Analysis Lab2
MAT 128Applied Statistics3-4
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: 13
Undergraduate Research in Bio
Undergraduate Research in Bio
Undergraduate Research in Bio
Undergraduate Research
Total Hours70-74
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.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
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
 Hours14-15
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
 Hours15-16
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
 Hours14
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
 Hours17
Junior
Fall
PHY 101
General Physics I
or University Physics I
3
PHY 101L
General Physics Laboratory I
or University Physics Lab I
1
CHM 340
Biochemistry
or Biochemistry
3
BIO Elective 2 (see list) 4
Diversity 3
Social Science 3
CHM 390 Chemistry Seminar 0
 Hours17
Spring
PHY 102
General Physics II
or University Physics II
3
PHY 102L
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
 Hours17
Senior
Fall
Instrumental Analysis 3
Physical Chemistry I 3
Undergraduate Research 3
Theology 3
Free Elective 3
CHM 390 Chemistry Seminar 0
 Hours15
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
 Hours14
 Total Hours123-125
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.