Biochemistry Major
Biochemistry is a highly interdisciplinary science that focuses on the study of the chemistry of living systems and understanding their structure and function at the molecular level. In particular, biochemistry lays the foundation for deciphering the mechanisms involved in many diseases that plague the world. Students will learn how biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, fats, lipids, and carbohydrates interact in biological processes, and how structures of these biomolecules relate to function and regulation of metabolic pathways in cells, tissues, and organisms as a whole.
The biochemistry major will prepare students to be the next generation of scientists with a broad range of career options in biotechnology, molecular and cellular biochemistry, medicine, bioengineering, and pharmacology, as well as in allied health fields, including clinical biochemistry, forensic science, the physician associate profession, cosmetics, food technology, and nursing.
The program will also lay a foundation for students to compete for positions in top graduate programs and professional schools in medicine, biomedical engineering, and biomedical sciences.
Learning Goals and Expected Outcomes
The biochemistry program provides students with a solid foundation to pursue a career in medicine/dentistry or other allied health related professions; pursue research at a top ranked graduate school; forensic science; cosmetic chemistry and beyond. For the major, students can pursue a track of their choice (American Chemical Society track or General track). The biochemistry minor also helps students develop an in-depth understanding of fundamental biochemical concepts and techniques.
- Learn about the structure, and function of biological building blocks such as amino acids, lipids and fats; carbohydrates and their implications in metabolism and disease.
- Students should be able to decipher how biomolecules interact chemically and biologically; and understand their key role in molecular interactions at the cellular level.
- Understand basic concepts of drug design.
- Apply thermodynamic and kinetic principles to elucidate molecular driving forces in biochemical reactions and mechanisms of enzymes.
- Learn about biological pathways implicated in diseases including cancer, diabetes and obesity; and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Be able to work on a research plan/ proposal, conduct investigations and perform analyses. Students will learn to analyze and interpret data, including critically analyze experimental design and data interpretation in the biochemical literature.
- Develop effective biochemical laboratory skills and design experiments that entail the use of biochemical/biophysical and bioanalytical methods.
- Become familiar with the use instrumentation in modern biochemistry.
- Be able to demonstrate quantitative analysis and biocomputational skills.
- Effectively communicate the language of biochemistry through written and oral communication skills.
CIP Code
26.0202 - Biochemistry.
You can use the CIP code to learn more about career paths associated with this field of study and, for international students, possible post-graduation visa extensions. Learn more about CIP codes and other information resources.
The biochemistry major is offered in two tracks: an American Chemical Society (ACS)-certified track and a general track.
Students interested in pursuing courses with an emphasis on chemistry in relation to physical, analytical, and advanced structural and molecular aspects of biochemistry may choose to opt for the ACS track. On the other hand, students inclined more toward cell, molecular, and structural aspects of biochemistry in addition to biocomputational and physiological approaches may pursue the general track. Both tracks require students to participate in research.
Students interested in pursuing more in-depth organic chemistry laboratory coursework have the option of taking CHEM 2531 Organic Chemistry Lab I for Chem Majors and CHEM 2532 Organic Chemistry Lab II for Chem Majors in lieu of CHEM 2541 and CHEM 2542.
Research courses (CHEM 1990 Introduction to Research, CHEM 3990 Directed Research, and CHEM 4990 Independent Research) are available. Students should contact specific faculty for research opportunities based on their research interests.
Chemistry majors and biological sciences majors may not double major in biochemistry, but they may pursue a biochemistry minor. Integrative neuroscience majors pursuing a concentration in systems/computational neuroscience or in cognitive neuroscience may double major in biochemistry. However, integrative neuroscience majors pursuing a concentration in cell and molecular neuroscience may not double major in biochemistry.
A minimum grade of C or higher is required in the following foundational course sequences (lecture and lab) listed below: general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, and mathematics.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | ||
| General Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take CHEM; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 6 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I and General Chemistry I Recitation | ||
| General Chemistry Lecture I and General Chemistry Lab I | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take CHEM; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 6 | |
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Lab II and General Chemistry II Recitation | ||
| General Chemistry Lecture II and General Chemistry Lab II | ||
| Biology | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 5 | |
| Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology Lab I | ||
| General Biology Lecture I and General Biology Lab I | ||
| Concepts in Biology Lecture I and Concepts in Biology Lab I | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 5 | |
| Introductory Biology II and Introductory Biology Lab II | ||
| General Biology Lecture II and General Biology Lab II | ||
| Concepts in Biology Lecture II and Concepts in Biology Lab II | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take CHEM; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 6 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I and Organic Chemistry I Recitation | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I for Chem Majors and Organic Chemistry I Recitation | ||
| Organic Chemistry Lecture I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take CHEM; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 6 | |
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II and Organic Chemistry II Recitation | ||
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II for Chem Majors and Organic Chemistry II Recitation | ||
| Organic Chemistry Lecture II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | ||
| Mathematics 1 | ||
| MATH 1206 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 1207 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Physics | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take PHYS; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 4 | |
| General Physics I and Physics I Lab and General Physics I Recitation | ||
| Introduction to Physics I and Physics I Lab and Introduction to Physics I Recitation | ||
| Physics I and Physics I Lab and Physics I Recitation | ||
| General Physics Lecture I and General Physics Lab I | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take PHYS; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 4 | |
| General Physics II and Physics II Lab and General Physics II Recitation | ||
| Introduction to Physics II and Physics II Lab and Introduction to Physics II Recitation | ||
| Physics II and Physics II Lab and Physics II Recitation | ||
| General Physics Lecture II and General Physics Lab II | ||
| Track Courses 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| General Track | ||
| ACS Track | ||
- 1
Students interested in the ACS track should complete Calculus I (MATH 1206) and Calculus II (MATH 1207) as early as possible in their studies. A score of 4 or 5 in AP Calculus AB or BC, or an IB HL Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches) score of 6 or 7, fulfills the Calculus I requirement.
- 2
Consult the Tracks section for the required and elective courses that comprise each track.
Availability
The major in biochemistry is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill and at Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Students in Fordham's School of Professional and Continuing Studies may major in biochemistry only if they receive the approval of their advising dean and/or department, and their schedules are sufficiently flexible to permit them to take day courses at the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campuses. Students should note that many of the courses that comprise the major are offered only at the Rose Hill campus.
General track
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 4221 & CHEM 4231 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHEM 4222 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3141 | Methods of Biochemical Research (also fulfills Eloquentia Perfecta 3 requirement for the Core Curriculum) | 3 |
| CHEM 4251 | Physical and Computational Models of Biochemical Systems | 3 |
| CHEM 4030 | Chemistry Seminar (taken in both semesters of junior and senior years, four times total) | 0 |
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 3 to 5 | |
| General Genetics and General Genetics Lab | ||
| Genetics Lecture | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 3 to 5 | |
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular Biology Lecture and | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 to 12 | |
| Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | ||
| Cell Biology (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI) | ||
| Introduction to Virology | ||
| Cancer Biology and Signaling | ||
| Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry Lab I 1 | ||
| Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry Lab II 1 | ||
| Quantitative Analysis | ||
or CHEM 3722 | Instrumental Analysis | |
| Biomimetic Chemistry | ||
| Bionanotechnology and Introduction to Nanomedicine | ||
| Neurochemistry | ||
- 1
Only one Physical Chemistry sequence (CHEM 3621 Physical Chemistry I and CHEM 3631 Physical Chemistry Lab I or CHEM 3622 Physical Chemistry II and CHEM 3632 Physical Chemistry Lab II) may count towards the major.
American Chemical Society (ACS) track
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 4221 & CHEM 4231 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry Lab I | 4 |
| CHEM 4222 | Biochemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 3721 | Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| or CHEM 3722 | Instrumental Analysis | |
| CHEM 4422 | Inorganic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 4030 | Chemistry Seminar (taken in both semesters of junior and senior years, four times total) | 0 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 6 | |
| Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry Lab I | ||
| Physical Chemistry II and Physical Chemistry Lab II | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 3 to 5 | |
| General Genetics and General Genetics Lab | ||
| Genetics Lecture | ||
| Select one of the following (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI): | 3 to 5 | |
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular Biology Lecture and | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 to 5 | |
| Human Physiology and Human Physiology Lab | ||
| Cell Biology (Rose Hill students take BISC; Lincoln Center students take NSCI) | ||
| Introduction to Virology | ||
| Cancer Biology and Signaling | ||
| Methods of Biochemical Research (also fulfills Eloquentia Perfecta 3 requirement for the Core Curriculum) | ||
| Biomimetic Chemistry | ||
| Physical and Computational Models of Biochemical Systems | ||
| Bionanotechnology and Introduction to Nanomedicine | ||
| Neurochemistry | ||