Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department provides curricula leading to the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a concentration in Polymers and Coatings. Both degrees meet requirements for certification by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
The baccalaureate curriculum in biochemistry is based on a three-semester core sequence encompassing the central foundations of biochemistry, building upon required courses in general chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry. Advanced undergraduates choose courses that extend the foundations of biochemistry, including biochemistry laboratories, physical biochemistry, and advanced biology courses, in addition to courses in other areas of chemistry. The curriculum provides laboratory experience with the fundamental methods used in nucleic acid and protein chemistry, and allows for more advanced laboratory training in either of these areas. Furthermore, the program provides opportunities for independent research under faculty guidance, including a requirement for a capstone project. Under the department's cooperative education program, bachelor's degree candidates may work full-time in industry or government for one or two semesters, for pay and academic credit.
There are a number of career opportunities in the fields of biotechnology and polymers and coatings. Students completing a degree in biochemistry or a concentration in polymers and coatings are prepared for direct entry into these careers, as well as for postgraduate education in a professional specialty.
Concentrations
Polymers and Coatings
Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Students may select the Polymers and Coatings concentration instead of advanced approved biochemistry electives in Major Courses. The concentration includes the required courses in the biochemistry curriculum and electives in the area of polymers, coatings, surface chemistry and materials engineering. The concentration gives students the background and practical experience to move into a rewarding career in a wide range of fields including paints and coatings, resins, plastics, adhesives and sealants.
Program Learning Objectives
- Understand and apply the fundamental concepts of chemistry in the following areas: calculation and estimation, structure, and properties of atoms, ions and molecules, chemical bonding and chemical reactivity.
- Use techniques and modern tools to conduct, design, analyze, and interpret experiments in chemistry and biochemistry.
- Communicate effectively with the scientific community.
- Apply concepts of math, physical and biological sciences to chemical problems.
- Integrate the concepts, skills and attitudes from a general education with their major program to understand and explain the impact of chemistry, science and technology on issues in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
Note: No Major, Support or Concentration courses may be selected as credit/no credit. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| CHEM 1103 | Research Methods I | 1 |
| CHEM 1120 | Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A & 5C) 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1122 | Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity | 4 |
| CHEM 2201 | Undergraduate Research | 1 |
| or CHEM 2203 | Research Methods II | |
| CHEM 2242 | Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 3302 | Undergraduate Seminar II | 1 |
| CHEM 3330 | Foundations of Chemical Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 3352 | Biochemistry (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 3354 | Metabolism | 3 |
| CHEM 3356 | Genetic Information Processing | 4 |
| CHEM 3390 | Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences | 3 |
| CHEM 3391 | Physical Chemistry for Life Sciences Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 4453 | Molecular Biology Techniques | 2 |
| or CHEM 4454 | Protein Techniques | |
| CHEM 4461 | Senior Project I | 1 |
| CHEM 4462 | Senior Project II | 1 |
| Select from the following: | 2-3 | |
| Nutritional Biochemistry | ||
| Physical Biochemistry Methods and Applications | ||
| Chemical Biology | ||
| Chemistry of Drugs and Poisons | ||
| Neurochemistry | ||
| Select from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Principles of Animal Physiology | ||
| Neuroscience | ||
| Endocrinology | ||
| Bioinformatics Applications | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Hematology | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Concentration or Advanced Elective Courses | 17 | |
| (See Concentration below) | ||
| Advanced Electives 2,3,4 | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I: D-Block Chemistry | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry II: Group Theory and Spectroscopy | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Marine Chemistry | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Chemical and Biological Warfare | ||
| Foundations of Macromolecular Chemistry | ||
| Physical Chemistry I | ||
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates | ||
| Advanced Undergraduate Research 5 | ||
| Learning Assistant Seminar 6 | ||
| College Teaching Practicum | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry III: Transition Metals in Context | ||
| Instrumental Analysis | ||
| Advanced Techniques in Chemical Analysis | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry - Mechanisms | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry - Synthesis | ||
| Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Nutritional Biochemistry | ||
| Physical Biochemistry Methods and Applications | ||
| Molecular Biology Techniques | ||
| Protein Techniques | ||
| Chemical Biology | ||
| Chemistry of Drugs and Poisons | ||
| Neurochemistry | ||
| Special Advanced Topics | ||
| Special Advanced Laboratory | ||
| Polymer Synthesis and Characterization | ||
| Polymer Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory | ||
| Coatings and Formulations | ||
| Coatings and Formulations Laboratory | ||
| Functional Polymeric Materials | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience 6 | ||
| Surface Chemistry of Materials | ||
| Computational Chemistry | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience 6 | ||
| The Learn By Doing Lab Teaching Practicum 6 | ||
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| BIO 1151 | Life: Molecules and Cells (5B) 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1261 | Calculus I (2) 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1262 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MCRO 2224 | General Microbiology I | 4 |
| PHYS 1141 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 1143 | General Physics II | 4 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 30 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 7 | 3-4 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
Courses taken to meet a Major requirement cannot be double-counted in the Advanced Electives.
- 3
Consultation with advisor is recommended prior to selecting advanced electives; bear in mind your selections may impact pursuit of post-baccalaureate studies and/or goals.
- 4
A minimum of 5 units must be taken at the 3000-4000 level.
- 5
Maximum of 4 units may be applied toward Advanced Electives from CHEM 4401.
- 6
Maximum of 2 units may be applied toward Advanced Electives from the following: CHEM 4404, CHEM 4485, CHEM 4495, or SCM/ENGR 3302.
- 7
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
Concentrations
Polymers and Coatings
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| CHEM 3380 | Foundations of Macromolecular Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 4480 | Polymer Synthesis and Characterization | 3 |
| CHEM 4481 | Polymer Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 4482 | Coatings and Formulations | 3 |
| CHEM 4483 | Coatings and Formulations Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 4486 | Surface Chemistry of Materials | 3 |
| Total Units | 17 | |
General Education (GE) Requirements
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 13 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 30 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Support) | 0 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts | 3 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 3 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 3 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| 5B | Life Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) (1 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | 3 |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.