Chemistry - Biochemistry Emphasis, B.S.
Requirements
Biochemistry studies the chemical composition of living things. Biochemistry combines the study of biology with organic and inorganic chemistry as applied to topics such as enzymology, genetics, toxicology, pharmacology, food science, and medicine. Students with this degree may pursue graduate study or work in the field of biotechnology or in one of the many related areas or be eligible for many employment opportunities in chemistry and biology.
Total Program Credits: 121
| General Education Requirements: | 39 Credits | ||
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Writing | 3 | |
| ENGL 2020 | Intermediate Writing--Science and Technology | 3 | |
| MATH 1210 | Calculus I | 5 | |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | ||
| HIST 1700 | American Civilization (3.0) | ||
| HIST 2700 | US History to 1877 (3.0) | ||
| and | HIST 2710 | US History since 1877 (3.0) | |
| HIST 1740 | US Economic History (3.0) | ||
| POLS 1000 | American Heritage (3.0) | ||
| POLS 1100 | American National Government (3.0) | ||
| Complete the following: | |||
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values | 3 | |
| HLTH 1100 | Personal Health and Wellness (2.0) | ||
| or | PES 1097 | Fitness for Life | 2 |
| Distribution Courses: | |||
| Biology | 3 | ||
| or | BIOL 1610 | College Biology I (4.0) (Required for Forensic Chemistry and Biochemistry) | |
| CHEM 1210 | Principles of Chemistry I (To be taken with CHEM 1215) | 4 | |
| CHEM 1220 | Principles of Chemistry II (To be taken with CHEM 1225) | 4 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | ||
| Discipline Core Requirements: | 46 Credits | ||
| CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory (To be taken with CHEM 1210) | 1 | |
| CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory (To be taken with CHEM 1220) | 1 | |
| CHEM 2310 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 | |
| CHEM 2315 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 | |
| CHEM 2320 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 | |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 | |
| CHEM 3000 | Analytical Chemistry | 2 | |
| CHEM 3005 | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| CHEM 3100 | Advanced Inorganic Chemistry | 4 | |
| CHEM 3600 | Biological Chemistry | 3 | |
| CHEM 3605 | Biochemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| CHEM 4000 | Instrumental Analysis | 2 | |
| CHEM 4005 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 2 | |
| CHEM 4920 | Chemistry Capstone I | 1 | |
| CHEM 4930 | Chemistry Capstone II | 1 | |
| CHEM 4940 | Chemistry Capstone III | 1 | |
| MATH 1220 | Calculus II | 5 | |
| PHYS 2210 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I | 4 | |
| PHYS 2220 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II | 4 | |
| PHYS 2215 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Lab | 1 | |
| PHYS 2225 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Lab | 1 | |
| Emphasis Requirements: | 16 Credits | ||
| BIOL 1615 | College Biology I Laboratory | 1 | |
| BIOL 1620 | College Biology II | 3 | |
| BIOL 1625 | College Biology II Laboratory | 1 | |
| BIOL 3400 | Cell Biology | 3 | |
| BIOL 3405 | Cell Biology Laboratory | 1 | |
| CHEM 3090 | Physical Chemistry Applications in Biology | 3 | |
| CHEM 3115 | Physical and Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| CHEM 3620 | Biological Chemistry II | 3 | |
| Emphasis Elective Requirements: | 20 Credits | ||
| One Upper-division (3000 and above) Chemistry course except CHEM 3060 and CHEM 3070 | 3 | ||
| A minimum of 17 credits from the following: | 17 | ||
| BIOL 3300 | Developmental Biology (3.0) | ||
| BIOL 3500 | Genetics (3.0) | ||
| BIOL 3515 | Advanced Genetics Laboratory (1.0) | ||
| BIOL 3550 | Molecular Biology (3.0) | ||
| BIOL 4300 | Bioinformatics and Genome Analysis (4.0) | ||
| BIOL 4450 | Immunology (3.0) | ||
| BIOL 4455 | Immunology Laboratory (1.0) | ||
| ZOOL 2320 | Human Anatomy (3.0) | ||
| and | ZOOL 2325 | Human Anatomy Laboratory (1.0) | |
| ZOOL 2420 | Human Physiology (3.0) | ||
| and | ZOOL 2425 | Human Physiology Laboratory (1.0) | |
| ZOOL 4300 | Histology (4.0) | ||
| CHEM 496R | Special Topics in Chemistry (1.0) | ||
Graduation Requirements:
- Completion of a minimum of 121 semester credits with a minimum of 40 upper-division credits.
- Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above with a minimum of 2.25 in Major.
- Residency hours -- minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
- Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
- A minimum of 54 credit hours must be in the major with a minimum of 20 credits taken at UVU. A minimum of 28 chemistry credits must be upper-division.
- Complete all chemistry and physics courses with a minimum grade of "C-" or better.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
Milestone courses (pre-requisites for a course in one of the subsequent semesters) are marked in red and Italicized.
| Semester 1 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 1210* | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MATH 1210* | Calculus I | 5 |
| ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Writing | 3 |
| HLTH 1100 or PES 1097 |
Personal Health and Wellness or Fitness for Life |
2 |
| Semester total: | 15 | |
| Note: *Pre-requisites are required. Please see the advisor. | ||
| Semester 2 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 1220 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| MATH 1220 | Calculus II | 5 |
| ENGL 2020 | Intermediate Writing: Science/Tech | 3 |
| Humanities Distribution | See general education list | 3 |
| Semester total: | 16 | |
| Semester 3 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 2310 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 2315 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
|
Biology Distribution or
BIOL 1610 |
Biology Distribution or College Biology I (College Biology I required for Forensic Chemistry and Biochemsitry) | 3 |
| BIOL 1615 | College Biology I Lab | 1 |
| American Institutions | See general education list | 3 |
| Fine Arts Distribution | See general education list | 3 |
| Semester total: | 15 | |
| Semester 4 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 2320 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 1620 | College Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 1625 | College Biology I Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 2210 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I | 4 |
| PHYS 2215 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers I Lab | 1 |
| Semester total: | 14 | |
| Semester 5 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 3600 | Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 3605 | Biological Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 3000 | Analytical Chemistry | 2 |
| CHEM 3005 | Analytical Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| CHEM 3115 | Physical and Inorganic Chemistry Lab | 1 |
| PHYS 2220 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II | 4 |
| PHYS 2225 | Physics for Scientists and Engineers II Lab | 1 |
| Biology Elective | Choose from Biology Elective list | 3 |
| Semester total: | 17 | |
| Semester 6 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 3620 | Biological Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3100 | Advance Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
| BIOL 3400 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 3405 | Cell Biology Lab | 1 |
| PHIL 205G | Ethics and Values | 3 |
| CHEM 4920 | Chemistry Capstone I | 1 |
| Semester total: | 15 | |
| Semester 7 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| Chemistry Elective | Any CHEM course not previously taken, except CHEM 3060 or CHEM 3070 | 3 |
| Biology Elective | See Advisor to Choose from Biology Elective List* | 4 |
| Biology Elective | See Advisor to Choose from Biology Elective List* | 3 |
| Social/Behavioral Science Distribution | See general education list | 3 |
| CHEM 4930 | Chemistry Capstone II | 1 |
| Semester total: | 14 | |
| Semester 8 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
| CHEM 3090 | Physical Chemistry Applications in Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 4000* | Instrumental Analysis | 2 |
| CHEM 4005 | Instrumental Analysis Lab | 2 |
| Biology Elective | See Advisor to Choose from Biology Elective List* | 4 |
| Biology Elective | See Advisor to Choose from Biology Elective List* | 3 |
| CHEM 4940 | Chemistry Capstone III | 1 |
| Semester total: | 15 | |
| Note: *Pre-requisites/Co-requisites are required. Please see the advisor. | ||
| Degree total: | 121 | |
Department
| Name: | Chemistry |
| Location: | PS 230 |
| Telephone: | 801-863-6295 |
| Email: | hancocke@uvu.edu |
| Web Address: | www.uvu.edu/chemistry/ |
| Chair: | Fern Caka |
Mission Statement
The Chemistry Department is dedicated to providing a high quality chemistry education for the students at Utah Valley University. The department offers a wide variety of classes to support other departments and to provide excellent training leading to a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Physics Education. The chemistry faculty is committed to encouraging students to learn and to do research not only in their course work, but in their lifelong careers.
Chemistry
- Department Chair: Fern Caka
- Telephone: 801-863-8581
- Email: FernC@uvu.edu
- Administrative Support: Kellie D. Hancock
- Telephone: 801-863-6295
- Email: hancocke@uvu.edu
Advisors:
- Cody Peterson
- Office: PS 201b
- Telephone: 801-863-5642
- Email: cody.peterson@uvu.edu
Pre-Health Professions Counseling:
- Office: LC 402
- Telephone: 801-863-6484
- Email: prehealth@uvu.edu
Staff:
Lab Manager: Craig Moore
Lab Manager/Instructor, Inorganic Chemistry: Tom Strangfeld
Lab Manager/Instructor, Organic Chemistry: Maraia Uluave
Manager, Central Stock Room: Keshar Tamrakar
Career Opportunities
Graduates with a bachelor degree in Chemistry will be prepared to work in industry or pursue a graduate degree in chemistry. Current employment opportunities for graduates in Chemistry programs are good.
Graduates with a bachelor degree in Chemistry Education will be prepared to teach chemistry in junior and senior high. Current employment opportunities for graduates from Chemistry Education programs are excellent.
Programs
Students may receive:
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Biochemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Forensic Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an Emphasis in Professional Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Education
Admission Requirements
A student who wants to pursue a chemistry major should meet with the department chair or chemistry advisor for advisement.
Faculty
Calvin Bond(2001)
Associate Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Fern Caka(2001)
Associate Professor
Department: Chemistry
Department Chair, Faculty
Stephen Chamberland(2015)
Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Asmahan El Ezzi(2009)
Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Gamini Gunawardena(1996)
Associate Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Merrill Halling(2012)
Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Young Ham(2012)
Associate Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Moana Hopoate-Sitake(2013)
Lecturer
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Matthew Horn(2002)
Associate Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Elena Laricheva(2015)
Lecturer
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Sara Rocks(2017)
Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
James Shurtleff(2012)
Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Craig Thulin(2006)
Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Mark Wathen(2014)
Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Lilia White(2016)
Lecturer
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Bruce Wilson(2001)
Associate Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Ming Yu(2016)
Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Faculty
Careers
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