Biochemistry

This is an archived copy of the 2015-2016 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://e-catalog.sewanee.edu.

Website: sewanee.edu/academics/biochemistry/

Students in this interdisciplinary field explore life’s molecular building blocks and the intersections of biology and chemistry. Majors complete six required courses in biology and chemistry, then choose electives from such courses as cell biology, organic chemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics, genetics, immunology, microbiology, environmental physiology and biochemistry of animals, inorganic chemistry, chemical analysis, and advanced biochemistry.

Science students pursue their work in Spencer Hall, Sewanee’s new, LEED-certified $22 million science facility.

Assistant Professor Kikis

Professor

Associate Professors Pongdee, B. Seballos, A. Summers (Chair), R. Summers

The biochemistry major is an interdisciplinary major administered by the Departments of Biology and Chemistry.

Requirements for the Major in Biochemistry

The major requires successful completion of the following:

Course Requirements
BIOL 133Introductory Molecular Biology and Genetics4
BIOL 233Molecular Cell Biology4
BIOL/CHEM 316Biochemistry of Metabolism and Molecular Biology (Lab)4
CHEM 120General Chemistry (Lab)4
CHEM 201Organic Chemistry I (Lab)4
CHEM 202Organic Chemistry II (Lab)4
CHEM/BIOL 307Mechanistic Biochemistry (Lab)4
CHEM 352Thermodynamics and Kinetics (Lab)4
MATH 102Calculus II4
PHYS 101General Physics I (Lab)4
Select at least two of the following:8
Molecular Genetics (Lab)
Genetics
Biology of Aging (Lab)
or Biology of Aging
Molecular Revolutions in Medicine
or Molecular Revolutions in Medicine (Lab)
Cancer Cell Biology (Lab)
or Cancer Cell Biology
Immunology (Lab)
or Immunology
Microbiology (Lab)
Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals (Lab)
or Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals
Genomics
or Genomics (Lab)
Epigenetics
or Epigenetics (Lab)
Inorganic Chemistry (Lab)
Instrumental Analysis (Lab)
Mechanistic Enzymology
Advanced Biochemistry
Structural Methods
Drug Design and Development
Total Semester Hours48
Additional Requirements
A comprehensive examination 1
1

The comprehensive exam in biochemistry has three parts: a written exam covering CHEM 201, CHEM 202, and BIOL 233, which students are expected to take in the first semester of their junior year; a written exam covering CHEM 307, BIOL 316, and CHEM 352, which students are expected to take in the second semester of their senior year; and an oral exam that follows the second written exam.

Honors

In order to receive honors in biochemistry, a student must have a 3.20 or higher GPA in the major courses and must complete a research project that the biochemistry committee considers worthy of honors. The research project may be done as part of a course (usually BIOL 444 or CHEM 494), or it may be done in the context of a summer research program at this University or at another institution. The honors project must involve some original work. A formal written report and seminar presentation on the research are required. Students must inform the biochemistry committee of their intention to seek honors no later than October 1 of their senior year.

Requirements for the Minor in Biochemistry

The minor requires successful completion of the following:

Course Requirements
BIOL 316Biochemistry of Metabolism and Molecular Biology (Lab)4
CHEM 307Mechanistic Biochemistry (Lab)4
Select at least three of the following:12
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics (Lab)
Genetics
Molecular Revolutions in Medicine
or Molecular Revolutions in Medicine (Lab)
Immunology (Lab)
or Immunology
Microbiology (Lab)
Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals (Lab)
or Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals
Genomics
or Genomics (Lab)
Epigenetics
or Epigenetics (Lab)
Organic Chemistry I (Lab)
Organic Chemistry II (Lab)
Advanced Biochemistry
Total Semester Hours20