X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Biochemistry (BIOC)

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science

A B.Sc. in Biochemistry offers a multidisciplinary curriculum that gives students broad exposure to the life sciences with specific attention paid to the physical and chemical nature of biomolecular systems. The lab-intensive experience in this program prepares students to pursue post-graduate research opportunities in many different life science related fields. Graduates are also positioned to be successful in obtaining entrance to a number of professional programs, as well as employment in industry and government.

Students may enter this major in Semester 1 or any semester thereafter. A student wishing to declare the major may wish to consult the Faculty Advisor. The major will require the completion of at least 20.00 credits as indicated below:

Major (Honours Program)

Semester 1

BIOL*1090	[0.50]	Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM*1040	[0.50]	General Chemistry I
MATH*1080	[0.50]	Elements of Calculus I
PHYS*1080	[0.50]	Physics for Life Sciences
0.50 Liberal Education electives

Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS

Semester 2

BIOL*1070	[0.50]	Discovering Biodiversity
BIOL*1080	[0.50]	Biological Concepts of Health
CHEM*1050	[0.50]	General Chemistry II
MATH*1090	[0.50]	Elements of Calculus II
PHYS*1070	[0.50]	Physics for Life Sciences II

Semester 3

BIOC*2580	[0.50]	Introduction to Biochemistry
MBG*2040	[0.50]	Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
MICR*2420	[0.50]	Introduction to Microbiology
STAT*2040	[0.50]	Statistics I
0.50 Liberal Education electives

Semester 4

BIOC*3560	[0.50]	Structure and Function in Biochemistry
CHEM*2480	[0.50]	Analytical Chemistry I
CHEM*2700	[0.50]	Organic Chemistry I
MCB*2050	[0.50]	Molecular Biology of the Cell
MICR*2430	[0.50]	Methods in Microbial Culture and Physiology

Semester 5

BIOC*3570	[0.75]	Analytical Biochemistry
CHEM*2880	[0.50]	Physical Chemistry
CHEM*3750	[0.50]	Organic Chemistry II
electives or restricted electives to a maximum of 2.75 total credits

Semester 6

MBG*3350	[0.75]	Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology
electives or restricted electives to a maximum of 2.75 total credits

Semester 7

2.50 electives or restricted electives

Semester 8

BIOC*4540	[0.75]	Enzymology
electives or restricted electives to a maximum of 2.75 total credits

Restricted Electives

Students must take as part of their program: 4.00 credits from the following list, with at least 1.00 of these credits from BIOC*4520, BIOC*4580, MCB*4050.

BIOC*4520	[0.50]	Metabolic Processes
BIOC*4580	[0.50]	Membrane Biochemistry
BIOL*3300	[0.50]	Applied Bioinformatics
BIOM*3200	[1.00]	Biomedical Physiology
MBG*3040	[0.50]	Molecular Biology of the Gene
MBG*3080	[0.50]	Bacterial Genetics
MCB*3010	[0.50]	Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling
MCB*4010	[0.50]	Advanced Cell Biology
MCB*4050	[0.50]	Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
MCB*4500	[1.00]	Research Project in Molecular & Cellular Biology I
MCB*4510	[1.00]	Research Project in Molecular & Cellular Biology
MCB*4600	[0.50]	Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology
MICR*3230	[0.50]	Immunology
MICR*3330	[0.50]	World of Viruses
MICR*4330	[0.50]	Molecular Virology
MICR*4530	[0.50]	Immunology II
PBIO*3110	[0.50]	Crop Physiology
PBIO*4750	[0.50]	Genetic Engineering of Plants
STAT*2050	[0.50]	Statistics II
TOX*4590	[0.50]	Biochemical Toxicology

Students must take as part of their program: 0.50 credits from the following list:

PHYS*2030	[0.50]	Biophysics of Excitable Cells
PHYS*2240	[0.50]	Thermal Physics
PHYS*2330	[0.50]	Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS*2600	[0.50]	General Astronomy
PHYS*3080	[0.50]	Energy

Credit Summary (20.00 Total Credits)

4.50 - First year science credits

7.75 - Required science courses semesters 3 - 8

4.50 - Restricted elective (# 1 and # 2 in restricted elective list)

1.00 - Liberal Education electives

2.25 - Free electives – any approved electives for B.Sc. students

Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which a minimum of 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.