Biochemistry
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:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| BIOL 133 | Introductory Molecular Biology and Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 233 | Molecular Cell Biology | 4 |
| BIOL/CHEM 316 | Biochemistry of Metabolism and Molecular Biology (Lab) | 4 |
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry (Lab) | 4 |
| CHEM 201 | Organic Chemistry I (Lab) | 4 |
| CHEM 202 | Organic Chemistry II (Lab) | 4 |
| CHEM/BIOL 307 | Mechanistic Biochemistry (Lab) | 4 |
| CHEM 352 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics (Lab) | 4 |
| MATH 102 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 101 | General Physics I (Lab) | 4 |
| Select at least two of the following: | 8 | |
| Molecular Genetics (Lab) | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Biology of Aging (Lab) | ||
or BIOL 325 | or Biology of Aging | |
| Molecular Revolutions in Medicine | ||
or BIOL 328 | or Molecular Revolutions in Medicine (Lab) | |
| Cancer Cell Biology (Lab) | ||
or BIOL 320 | or Cancer Cell Biology | |
| Immunology (Lab) | ||
or BIOL 331 | or Immunology | |
| Microbiology (Lab) | ||
| Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals (Lab) | ||
or BIOL 351 | or Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals | |
| Genomics | ||
or BIOL 381 | or Genomics (Lab) | |
| Epigenetics | ||
or BIOL 389 | or Epigenetics (Lab) | |
| Inorganic Chemistry (Lab) | ||
| Instrumental Analysis (Lab) | ||
| Mechanistic Enzymology | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry | ||
| Structural Methods | ||
| Drug Design and Development | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 48 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| BIOL 316 | Biochemistry of Metabolism and Molecular Biology (Lab) | 4 |
| CHEM 307 | Mechanistic Biochemistry (Lab) | 4 |
| Select at least three of the following: | 12 | |
| Molecular Cell Biology | ||
| Molecular Genetics (Lab) | ||
| Genetics | ||
| Molecular Revolutions in Medicine | ||
or BIOL 328 | or Molecular Revolutions in Medicine (Lab) | |
| Immunology (Lab) | ||
or BIOL 331 | or Immunology | |
| Microbiology (Lab) | ||
| Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals (Lab) | ||
or BIOL 351 | or Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Animals | |
| Genomics | ||
or BIOL 381 | or Genomics (Lab) | |
| Epigenetics | ||
or BIOL 389 | or Epigenetics (Lab) | |
| Organic Chemistry I (Lab) | ||
| Organic Chemistry II (Lab) | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 20 | |