Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BSc Program)

Keith Egger, Professor Emeritus

Todd Whitcombe, Professor and Chair
Dezene Huber, Professor
Chow Lee, Professor
Kathy Lewis, Professor
Geoffrey Payne, Professor
Stephen Rader, Professor
Kerry Reimer, Professor
Mark Shrimpton, Professor
Andrea Gorrell, Associate Professor
Brent Murray, Associate Professor
Daniel Erasmus, Senior Lab Instructor


Website: http://www.unbc.ca/biochemistry


Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BSc)
Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BSc Honours)
Minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB) investigates how molecules work in living systems. There is no clear line dividing living from non-living systems; rather, there is a gradual increase in complexity from clearly inanimate molecules up to obviously complex organisms.  The goal of biochemistry and molecular biology is to understand how simple, inanimate molecular interactions support life. 

The BCMB major has two main components: learning about molecules and learning about the scientific method. The former involves acquiring expertise in the foundations of biochemistry, such as organic and physical chemistry, and then exploring biological molecules and how they operate in living systems.  The latter involves exploring how science asks questions to understand the workings of nature, while developing competence in laboratory skills and analysis. These two aspects are linked because an understanding of how information is acquired is as important as the information itself, since different experimental systems can yield different insights into complex biological problems. 

BCMB majors continue on to successful careers in a diverse range of fields, notably medicine, teaching, pharmacy, the biotechnology industry, science policy, and law.  BCMB majors acquire strong skills in laboratory techniques, and are therefore qualified for many kinds of research positions, including graduate programs such as immunology, molecular genetics, and developmental biology. BCMB majors are encouraged to pursue their interests by combining BCMB with minors in other fields, such as computer science, physics, business, or education.


Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


The major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology requires students to take at least 74 credit hours of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-oriented courses, of which 33 credit hours must be upper division (i.e. 300 or 400 level).

The minimum requirement for completion of a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is 127 credit hours.

Program Requirements

Lower-Division Requirement

100 Level

BIOL 103-3 Introductory Biology I
BIOL 104-3 Introductory Biology II
BIOL 123-1 Introductory Biology I Laboratory
BIOL 124-1 Introductory Biology II Laboratory
CHEM 100-3 General Chemistry I
CHEM 101-3 General Chemistry II
CHEM 120-1 General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 121-1 General Chemistry Laboratory II
MATH 100-3 Calculus I
MATH 101-3 Calculus II
PHYS 100-4 Introduction to Physics I
    or PHYS 110-4
Introductory Physics I:  Mechanics
Introduction to Physics II 
    or PHYS 111-4
Introductory Physics II:  Waves & Electricity 
200 Level
 
Introduction to Biochemical Methods
BIOL 203-3 Microbiology
BIOL 210-3 Genetics
CHEM 201-3 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 203-3 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 204-3 Introductory Biochemistry
CHEM 250-1 Organic Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 251-1 Organic Chemistry Lab II
Basic Statistics
     or STAT 371-3
Probability and Statistics for Scientists and Engineers

Upper-Division Requirement

300 Level
 
BCMB 306-3 Intermediary Metabolism
BCMB 310-3 Molecular Biology Methods
BCMB 320-3 Biochemical Methods
BCMB 340-3  Physical Biochemistry
BIOL 311-3 Cell and Molecular Biology

400 Level
 
Proteins and Enzymology
Four of the following: 
Basic Science of Oncology 
Macromolecular Structure 
Advanced Nucleic Acids 
Special Topics in Biochemistry
BIOL 312-3 Molecular Cell Physiology
Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 423-3 Molecular Evolution and Ecology
BIOL 425-3 Applied Genetics and Biotechnology

Subject Requirements


Nine additional credit hours chosen from the following, of which at least 6 credit hours must be at the 300 or 400 level.  Note:  NRES 430-6 can count towards this requirement with permission of the Biology Program Chair.


Any 200-level or above BCMB, BIOL or CHEM courses
Bioinformatics
Human Physiology I
HHSC 306-3 Human Physiology II
PSYC 318-3 Sensation and Perception
PSYC 421-3 Biopsychology

Elective and Academic Breadth Requirements

Elective credit hours as necessary to ensure completion of 127 credit hours, including any additional credit hours necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation 15).

Note:  No more than 3 credit hours of continuing education courses may be used towards the BCMB major.


BSc Honours - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The BSc Honours - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology provides a higher level of specialization and research experience, especially for students planning to pursue postgraduate work.

Honours students are required to complete the degree requirements for the BSc - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major. In addition to the total number of credit hours required for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major, each student must complete 6 credit hours of undergraduate thesis course work, normally of BCMB 430-6, under the supervision of a faculty member. Another undergraduate thesis course can be substituted with approval of the BCMB Curriculum Chair.

Students may apply to the BCMB Honours Program after completion of 60 credit hours in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with a Cumulative GPA of not less than 3.33. Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee entry to the Honours Program. Entrance to the Honours Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is at the discretion of the BCMB Program, and is contingent on the availability of a faculty member willing to supervise the undergraduate research thesis. Maintenance of a Cumulative GPA of 3.33 is required to remain in the Honours Program.

The minimum requirement for completion of a BSc Honours - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is 133 credit hours.


Minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


The minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is designed to provide students with a core of study in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The program of study includes a grounding in chemistry and biology since these are the disciplines from which modern biochemistry and molecular biology arose.

The minimum requirement for completion of the minor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is 42 credit hours, of which at least 12 credit hours must be at the upper-division level.

100 Level

Introductory Biology I 
Introductory Biology II
Introductory Biology II 
Introductory Biology II Laboratory
General Chemistry I 
General Chemistry II 
General Chemistry Lab I 
General Chemistry Lab II 
 200 Level
Introduction to Biochemical Methods 
BIOL 210-3 Genetics
CHEM 201-3 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 203-3 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 204-3 Introductory Biochemistry

Note:  Students are allowed to double-count all applicable first- and second-year courses; however, they must take upper-division courses for the minor that are not included in their major requirements or upper-division subject requirements to ensure completion of 12 upper-division credit hours outside of their major.

Students must ensure that all prerequisites are fulfilled prior to taking a course.

300 and 400  Level

12 credit hours must be chosen from the following: 

BCMB 306-3 Intermediary Metabolism
BCMB 310-3 Molecular Biology Methods
   or BCMB 320-3 Biochemical Methods
Physical Biochemistry
Basic Science of Oncology
Macromolecular Structure
Advanced Nucleic Acids
BCMB 404-3 Proteins and Enzymology
Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
BIOL 311-3 Cell and Molecular Biology
Molecular Cell Physiology 
Evolutionary Biology 
Molecular Evolution and Ecology 
Applied Genetics and Biotechnology 
Updated: June 3, 2022