2017-2018 Catalog

Major Requirements

BIOLOGY COMPONENT

(5 courses)

BIO 130Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology

4 units

BIO 349Biochemistry I

4 units

Students must select one course from the list below:

BIO 105Marine Biology

4 units

BIO 106Biology of California

4 units

BIO 110Organisms on Earth

4 units

BIO 115General Zoology

4 units

Students must select one course from the list below:

BIO 221Molecular Biology

4 units

BIO 224Genetic Analysis

4 units

BIO 226Cell Biology

4 units

Students must select one course from the list below:

BIO 320Developmental Biology

4 units

BIO 323Histology

4 units

BIO 325Microbial Diversity

4 units

BIO 326Molecular Evolution and Phylogenomics

4 units

BIO 330Immunology

4 units

BIO 333Neurobiology

4 units

BIO 336Microbial Pathogenesis

4 units

CHEMISTRY COMPONENT

(6 courses)

CHEM 220Organic Chemistry I

4 units

CHEM 221Organic Chemistry II

4 units

CHEM 240Integrated Concepts in General Chemistry

4 units

CHEM 350Biochemistry

4 units

Students must select one course from the list below:

CHEM 120Foundations of General Chemistry

4 units

CHEM 130Advanced Placement General Chemistry

4 units

Students must select one course from the list below:

CHEM 300Physical Chemistry I

4 units

CHEM 301Biophysical Chemistry

4 units

MATHEMATICS COMPONENT

Students are required to take both courses listed below:

Calculus 1Scientific Modeling and Differential Calculus

4 units

Calculus 2Scientific Modeling and Integral Calculus

4 units

PHYSICS COMPONENT

Students are required to select one option (2 required courses) from the list below:

Option 1 -

PHYS 110Introductory Mechanics

4 units

PHYS 120Introductory Electricity and Magnetism

4 units

Option 2 -

PHYS 115General Physics I

4 units

PHYS 125General Physics II

4 units

SENIOR SEMINAR

Students are to enroll in BICH 490 (2 units) each semester of their senior year.

SECOND-STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT

Students majoring in Biochemistry will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by completing a research paper during the fall semester of BICH 490, Senior Seminar. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. Students should meet with the Biochemistry Program chair for detailed information about the writing requirement process.

COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT

The student must pass the Graduate Record Examination in Biochemistry at the 50th percentile rank or the American Chemical Society undergraduate examination in Biochemistry at the 50th percentile rank. The student will also satisfactorily write a research paper and present a seminar during the senior year on an area of current research in the field of Biochemistry to an audience of Occidental students and faculty. A student can earn distinction in Biochemistry with a 75th percentile rank and a distinguished paper and seminar presentation.

HONORS

In addition to the requirements for College honors, the student will successfully defend a written thesis based upon the outcome of his or her laboratory research effort as an undergraduate. See the Honors Program for more information.