Oct 10, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Biochemistry (BS)


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The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biochemistry is a comprehensive undergraduate program of intensive course work in chemistry and biochemistry with a laboratory emphasis. It provides for flexibility in the selection of in-depth biology course electives to complement the rigorous chemistry foundation of the program.

Please see the UNLV College of Sciences, Chemistry department web page at www.unlv.edu/chemistry for information about department programs, faculty and facilities. Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available at www.unlv.edu/degree/bs-biochemistry.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of all undergraduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, students will have a broad understanding of chemistry’s sub-disciplines by satisfactorily completing:

  • Introductory and foundational course work in chemistry, and in-depth course work in chemistry; all with laboratory emphasis. Additionally;
    • Students completing the B.S. program in Chemistry will complete intensive and comprehensive courses as identified by the American Chemical Society Guidelines for Bachelor Degree Programs including a research experience that provides for the development of the skills needed to be an effective professional chemist. The B.S. program in Chemistry is recognized by the ACS-CPT, and has enjoyed this status for over 40 years. Only about 30% of B.S. Chemistry programs in the United States have achieved this recognition.
    •  Students completing the B.S. program in Biochemistry will complete most of the same intensive and comprehensive courses in Chemistry with laboratory emphasis as students in the B.S. ACS program above. Additionally, students in this program will complete four intensive and comprehensive courses in Biochemistry along with an advanced Biochemistry Lab. This program also provides for flexibility in the selection of in-depth Biology course electives to complement the rigorous chemistry foundation of the program.
    • Students completing the B.A. program in Chemistry will complete much of the in-depth course work in chemistry along with elective courses offered by departments from within the College of Sciences as well as other colleges within the university. There is greater flexibility in program design for customization of the program to individual student’s career interests.
  • Build and develop communication skills through writing laboratory reports, term papers, and presentation of seminars and poster seminars.
  • Develop critical thinking. Critical thinking skills, development of problem solving abilities are implemented in the very first introductory courses common to all undergraduate programs offered. These skills are developed as students progress through the sequence of courses (meeting each course prerequisite in a well thought out and logical pattern) required for graduation in all of our programs.
  • Develop intellectual growth by integrating into all of our courses concepts of ethics, laboratory safety and environmental stewardship applicable to the profession as well as to local, state, regional, national and international communities and society. Emphasis will be placed on the development of UULOs regarding Global/Multicultural Knowledge and Awareness, and Citizenship and Ethics.
  • Graduates shall be able to demonstrate technical competency in the performance of basic laboratory operations, including solution preparation and standardization, common synthetic procedures, standard qualitative and quantitative analysis procedures, and operation of standard laboratory equipment.
  • Graduates shall have an in-depth understanding of the theoretical basis of biochemistry, as well as areas of application of chemical principles.
  • Graduates must be well versed in the language of biochemistry and should be capable of effectively communicating chemical knowledge in both written and oral forms.
  • Graduates shall be able to function as chemical professionals in entry-level jobs or to succeed in graduate studies in biochemistry or related scientific fields.

Career Possibilities

A B.S. degree in biochemistry provides a wide variety of career opportunities in areas as diverse as the pharmaceutical industry, the chemical industry, the medical industry, environmental analysis, and cosmetics, as well as many others. It is also an excellent stepping stone for admission to graduate schools in biochemistry and related sciences, as well as professional schools.

Advising


Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Sciences Advising Center.

Modality: Blended


This program requires some In-Person courses to graduate, while other courses can be taken online. A blended student is one who has committed to pursuing their degree, minor, certificate, or microcredential through both in-person and online education.

Accreditation


For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Transfer Policy


Biology, chemistry, physics, and math transfer courses will be accepted to fill specific degree requirements only with a grade of C or better.

University Graduation Requirements


Please see Graduation Policies  for complete information.

Biochemistry (BS) Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits


General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 33-36 Credits


First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3


 (See note 1 below)

English Composition - Credits: 6


Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3


Constitutions - Credits: 4-6


Mathematics - Fulfilled by the major requirements


Distribution Requirements - Credits: 18


Please see Distribution Requirements  for more information.

  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 Credits
    • Two courses 3 credits each from two different humanities areas - 6 credits
    • One course in fine arts- 3 credits
  • Social Science: 9 Credits
    • One course each from three different fields
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking:
    • Automatically satisfied by Major requirements

Multicultural and International


Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to: www.unlv.edu/provost/multicultural-requirements.

Major Requirements - BS in Biochemistry - Subtotal: 86 Credits


General Electives: 0-2 Credits


The number of general electives necessary for each student varies based on how many credits a student uses to satisfy the requirements identified above. The minimum credits required to earn a degree from College of Sciences is 120.

Total Credits: 120


Notes


  1. It is strongly recommended that students take SCI 101  to satisfy the First-Year Seminar requirement.
  2. The sequence PHYS 180  - PHYS 181  -PHYS 182  (including labs) is an acceptable replacement for PHYS 151A  -PHYS 152A  (including labs) sequence; however, any two course combination from PHYS 180 , PHYS 181 , and PHYS 182  is not an acceptable replacement.
  3. At least 40 credits must be earned at the upper-division level (300 and above).
  4. CHEM 355  and CHEM 355L  are Milestone Experience courses for Biochemistry B.S.

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