Biochemistry

Graduates with a degree in biochemistry will be well prepared for employment, graduate study in biochemistry or other chemistry-related fields, or professional school. Biochemists are employed in research, quality control, design, sales and management. Many graduates pursue masters and doctoral degrees in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and in other life science fields. A biochemistry degree is excellent preparation for medical school and related fields, and also for careers in business, law or education.

The curriculum at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology provides a rigorous introduction to all subdisciplines of chemistry along with biochemistry and applied biology. Students have access to modern instrumentation along with a well-equipped biochemistry lab. Rose-Hulman students are introduced to modern computational methods beginning in the sophomore year. There are many opportunities for research or other individual projects, and students are encouraged to present their results at regional and national chemistry conferences. Close interaction with engineering departments provides students with a point of view not available at most other undergraduate institutions.

BIOCHEMISTRY PLAN OF STUDY

Freshman Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 111* General Chemistry I 4
MA 111 Calculus I 5
AB 110 Cell Structure & Function 4
CLSK 100 College & Life Skills 1
RH 131

HSS		 Rhetoric and Composition
or
Elective		 4
Total 18
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 113* General Chemistry II 4
MA 112 Calculus II 5
PH 111 Physics I 4
RH 131

HSS		 Rhetoric and Composition
or
Elective		 4
Total 17
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 115 General Chemistry III 4
MA 113 Calculus III 5
PH 112 Physics II 4
HSS Elective 4
Total 17
Sophomore Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry I 4
PH 113 Physics III 4
MA 212 Matrix Algebra and Systems
of Differential Equations		 4
AB 210 Mendelian &
Molecular Genetics		 4
Total 16
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 200 Career Preparation
(take in winter or spring)		 1
CHEM 252 Organic Chemistry II 4
CHEM 291 Intro to Undergradute
Research		 4
MA 381 Introduction to Probability
with Applications to Statistics		 4
AB 220 Prokaryotic Cell &
Molecular Biology		 4
Total 16 or 17
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 200 Career Preparation
(take in winter or spring)		 1
CHEM 253 Organic Chemistry III 4
CHEM 225 Analytical Chemistry 4
AB 230 Eukaryotic Cell &
Mol. Biology		 4
HSS Elective 4
Total 16 or 17
Junior Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 326 Bioanalytical Chemistry 4
CHEM 330 Biochemistry I 4
CHEM 361 **Physical Chemistry I 4
HSS Elective 4
Total 16
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 327 Advanced Analytical 4
CHEM 362 **Physical Chemistry II 4
CHEM 331 Biochemistry II 4
CHEM 400 Chemical Communication I 1
HSS Elective 4
Total 17
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 363 Quantum Chemistry &
Molecular Spectroscopy		 4
CHEM 430 Advanced Biochemistry 4
CHEM 433 Biochemistry Lab 1
HSS Elective 4
CHEM 490# Research 1
Total 14
Senior Year
Fall Term Credit
CHEM 441 Inorganic Chemistry I 4
CHEM 401 Chemical Communication II 1
CHEM 490 Chemistry Research
##Advanced Chemistry or
Biochemistry Elective
Advanced Biology Elective		 1

4
4
Free Elective 4
Total 18
Winter Term Credit
CHEM 402 Chemical Communication III 1
CHEM 490 Chemistry Research 1
HSS Elective
##Advanced Biology,
Chemistry, Biochem

Free Elective		 4
4
Total 14
Spring Term Credit
CHEM 403 Chemical Communication IV 1
CHEM 490 Chemistry Research 1
HSS Elective
Free Elective
Free Elective		 4
4
4
Total 14
Total credits required: 194
Notes: Two degree or double major programs in biochemistry and either chemistry or biochemistry and molecular biology is not allowed.
CHEM111 General Chemistry I is an automatic substitution for the former CHEM105 Engineering Chemistry I.
CHEM113 General Chemistry II is an automatic substitution for the former CHEM107 Engineering Chemistry II.
*Subject to approval, CHEM 112 may be substituted for CHEM 111 and CHEM 113.
**CHE 303, CHE 304 and CHEM 360 may be substituted for CHEM 361 and CHEM 362.
#Students must complete at least 3 credits of CHEM 490 prior to the Spring quarter of their senior year.
Students may count up to 8 credits of research toward their electives, of which no more than 2 credits can come from CHEM 290.
##Research and independent study do not meet this requirement.

List of Required Chemistry Courses

Course Numbers Credits
General Chemistry 111, 113, 115 12
Organic Chemistry 251, 252, 253 12
Analytical Chemistry 225, 326, 327 12
Physical Chemistry 361, 362, 363 12
Inorganic Chemistry 441 4
Biochemistry 330, 331, 430, 433 13
Research 291, 490 8
Chemical Communication 400, 401, 402, 403 4
Career Preparation 200 1
Electives 8
Total 86

Summary of minimum graduation requirements:

Course or areas Required Elective Total
Chemistry 78 8 86
Physics 12 0 12
Mathematics 23 0 23
Biology 20 0 20
Humanities and Social Sciences 4 32 36
Electives 0 16 16
College and Life Skills 1 0 1
Total 136 56 194

Environmental Chemistry Minor for Most Students

Course Number Course Title Credits
*CHEM111 General Chemistry I 4
*CHEM113 General Chemistry II 4
*CHEM115 General Chemistry III 4
CHEM225 Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM251 Organic Chemistry I 4
CHEM264 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
CHEM371 Environmental Analytical Chemistry 4
CHE465 Energy and the Environment 4
Total 32

*CHEM 105 and CHEM 107 can be substituted for CHEM11You may replace CHEM111, CHEM 113, and CHEM 115.

Environmental Chemistry Minor for Chemical Engineers and Applied Biology Majors Environmental Certificate for Chemistry and Biochemistry Majors

Course Number Course Title Credits
CHEM225 Analytical Chemistry
or CHEM253 Organic Chemistry III 4
CHEM330 Biochemistry I
or CHEM361 Physical Chemistry I 4
CHEM303 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 4
CHEM264 Introduction to Environmental Science 4
CHEM371 Environmental Analytical Chemistry 4
CHEM465 Energy and the Environment 4
Total 24
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
5500 Wabash Ave.
Terre Haute, IN 47803
812-877-1511
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