Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Students earning a B.S. in Biochemistry are not eligible to earn a B.S. or B.A. in Chemistry or Biology, a B.S. in Animal & Nutritional Sciences, or a minor in Biology.
Nature of the Program
The biochemistry curriculum prepares students for careers requiring a strong background in basic principles of the physical and life sciences. The program is a collaborative effort between the Divisions of Animal and Nutritional Sciences and Plant and Soil Sciences in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, and the Departments of Biology and Chemistry in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.
Students completing a biochemistry major are prepared for professional employment in the expanding fields of agricultural and environmental sciences, chemical industry, health-related industries and biotechnology-based industries. The curriculum provides students with the interdisciplinary background in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and molecular biology necessary as preparation for professional schools of human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, and pharmacy. It also provides strong preparation for graduate study in fields such as animal and plant agriculture, biochemistry, biology, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, chemistry, food science, nutrition and physiology. The curriculum is accredited by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The degree requirements for a American Chemical Society certified degree can be met within the framework of the program.
Minors
All students have the possibility of earning one or more minors; list of all available minors and their requirements. Please note that students may not earn a minor in their major field.
Admissions for 2025-2026
-
First Time Freshmen are admitted to the major directly. For the timely completion of the degree, it is recommended that students have a minimum MATH ACT of 22, a MATH SAT of 540, or an ALEKS score of 45.
- Students transferring from another major within WVU are admitted into the major if they have completed fewer than 30 credit hours and have earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. Students students who have completed 30 or more credit hours are admitted into the major if they have completed CHEM 115, CHEM 115L, BIOL 115, and BIOL 115L with a C- or better in each, and have earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. Students are encouraged to speak with a Biochemistry advisor to assess timely progression through the program.
- Students transferring from another institution are admitted into the major if they have completed less than 30 credit hours and have earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. Transfer students who have completed 30 or more credit hour are admitted into the major if they have completed CHEM 115, CHEM 115L, BIOL 115, and BIOL 115L with a C- or better in each, and have earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.0. Students are encouraged to speak with a Biochemistry advisor to assess timely progression through the program.
Major Code: 1201
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
- Writing Requirement; Biochemistry Bachelor of Science students fulfill the Writing and Communication Skills requirement by completing ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 (or ENGL 103), and at least two additional SpeakWrite Certified CoursesTM from: BIOL 115, BIOL 117, BIOL 219, BIOL 411L, CHEM 402.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 30 | |
| Biochemistry Program Requirements | 15 | |
| Biochemistry Major Requirements | 75 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 | 18 | |
| ANRD 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 11 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Biochemistry Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| STEM Foundations | 15 | |
| Calculus 1 (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Calculus 1a with Precalculus and Calculus 1b with Precalculus | ||
| Calculus 2 (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Elementary Statistical Inference | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Biochemistry Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirement | 5 | |
| Orientation to Biochemistry | ||
| Introductory Biochemistry (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Introduction to Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Biology Requirement | 11 | |
| Introductory Physiology and Introductory Physiology Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Biology and Cellular & Molecular Biology Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Advanced Cellular/Molecular Biology | ||
| Chemistry Requirement | 28 | |
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory and Introductory Analytical Chemistry and Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Organic Chemistry 1 (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Organic Chemistry 2 (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | ||
| Physical Chemistry: Brief Course | ||
| Physical Chemistry: Brief Course Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry 2 | ||
| Biochemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| A track is required. | 31 | |
Number of credits may vary depending on courses selected | ||
| Biochemistry Electives* | ||
| General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Soil Microbiology | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Undergraduate Research Experience 1 | ||
| Applied Biochemistry Literature | ||
| Undergraduate Research Experience 2 | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Research | ||
| Honors | ||
| Introduction to Animal Physiology | ||
| Growth and Lactation Physiology | ||
| Animal Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Physiology of Reproduction | ||
| Values and Ethics | ||
| Current Literature in Animal Science | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Research | ||
| Biometry | ||
| Introduction to Virology | ||
| Molecular Basis of Cellular Growth | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Cell Physiology | ||
| Neuroscience 1 | ||
| Neuroscience 2 | ||
| Plant Physiology and Plant Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Cell and Molecular Biology Methods | ||
| Introduction to Recombinant DNA Laboratory | ||
| Molecular Endocrinology | ||
| Epigenetics | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Experimental Biochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids and Proteins | ||
| Protein Structure and Function | ||
| Developmental Genetics | ||
| Molecular Biology of Cancer | ||
| General Animal Physiology | ||
| Comparative Anatomy | ||
| Molecular Basis of Disease | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Evolution of Infectious Diseases | ||
| Principles of Systems Neuroscience | ||
| Honors Investigation and Thesis | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Research | ||
| Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry 1 | ||
| Organic Syntheses Laboratory | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry 2 | ||
| Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Senior Thesis | ||
| Research | ||
| Principles of Entomology and Principles of Entomology Laboratory | ||
| Pest Management | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Food Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Forensic Biology and Forensic Biology Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Genetics and Principles of Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Genetic Engineering Technologies | ||
| Applied Developmental Genetics | ||
| Advanced Nutrition | ||
| Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 | ||
| Medical Nutrition Therapy 2 | ||
| Plant Propagation and Plant Propagation Laboratory | ||
| Plant Biochemistry | ||
| Research | ||
| General Plant Pathology and General Plant Pathology Laboratory | ||
| Animal Pathology | ||
| Veterinary Anatomy | ||
| Veterinary Anatomy Laboratory | ||
| Parasitology and Parasitology Laboratory | ||
| Capstone Requirement | ||
| ASBMB Track, select one of the following options: | ||
| Undergraduate Research Experience 1 and Undergraduate Research Experience 2 | ||
| Applied Biochemistry Literature | ||
| ACS Track, complete the following: | ||
| Chemistry Capstone: Chemical Literature | ||
| Total Hours | 75 | |
- *
Qualified Seniors interested in taking 500-level courses as part of their electives should contact their adviser.
American Chemical Society (ACS) Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 310 & 310L | Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 402 | Chemistry Capstone: Chemical Literature | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Inorganic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 497 | Research | 3 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory (Minimum grade of C-) | 4 |
| Biochemistry Electives (See list above) | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Suggested Plan of Study for the American Chemical Society (ACS) Track
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANRD 191 | 1 | AGBI 199 | 1 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | BIOL 117 & 117L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| BIOL 115 & 115L (GEF 2) | 4 | CHEM 116 & 116L (GEF 8)* | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 8)* | 4 | MATH 156 | 4 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | GEF 4 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 219 & 219L | 4 | CHEM 234 & 234L | 4 |
| CHEM 233 & 233L | 4 | STAT 211 | 3 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | 4 | PHYS 112 & 112L | 4 |
| ENGL 102 | 3 | Biochemistry Elective 1 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AGBI 410 & 410L | 4 | CHEM 462 & 462L | 4 |
| CHEM 215 & 215L | 4 | CHEM 322 | 3 |
| BIOL 310 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| GEF 6 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| 14 | 13 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CHEM 497 | 3 | CHEM 310 & 310L | 4 |
| Biochemistry Elective 2 | 3 | CHEM 402 | 3 |
| CHEM 341 & 341L | 4 | Biochemistry Elective 3 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Biochemistry Elective 4 | 1 |
| General Elective | 2 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 313 | Molecular Basis of Cellular Growth | 3 |
| or BIOL 410 | Cell and Molecular Biology Methods | |
| BIOL 423 | Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids and Proteins | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Research Experience 1 and Undergraduate Research Experience 2 | ||
| Applied Biochemistry Literature | ||
| Select one of the following sequences: | 8 | |
| Introductory Physics 1 and Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory and Introductory Physics 2 and Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory | ||
| General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory and General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry Electives (see list above) | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Suggested Plan of Study for the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Track
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ANRD 191 | 1 | BIOL 117 & 117L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | CHEM 116 & 116L (GEF 8)* | 4 |
| BIOL 115 & 115L (GEF 2) | 4 | MATH 156 | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 8)* | 4 | AGBI 199 | 1 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | GEF 4 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 219 & 219L | 4 | CHEM 234 & 234L | 4 |
| CHEM 233 & 233L | 4 | STAT 211 | 3 |
| PHYS 101 & 101L | 4 | PHYS 102 & 102L | 4 |
| ENGL 102 | 3 | Biochemistry Elective 1 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AGBI 410 & 410L | 4 | BIOL 313 or 410 | 3 |
| CHEM 215 & 215L* | 4 | CHEM 341 & 341L | 4 |
| BIOL 310 | 3 | CHEM 462 & 462L | 4 |
| GEF 6 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 423 | 3 | Biochemistry Elective 4 | 4 |
| Biochemistry Elective 2 | 4 | Capstone | 3 |
| Biochemistry Elective 3 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Degree Progress
- By the end of the second semester in the major (excluding summer), students must have, at minimum, completed MATH 126 with a minimum grade of C-.
- By the end of their third semester in the major students are expected to have completed BIOL 115 & BIOL 115L, BIOL 117 & 117L, CHEM 115, 115L with a minimum grade of C- in each course and an overall GPA of 2.0.
- Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 in the major and overall.
- All majors must attend an advising session with their Biochemistry advisor each semester.
Students who do not meet those benchmarks may be removed from the major.
Major Learning Outcomes
Biochemistry
Graduates will demonstrate a working knowledge in the following core concepts:
- Energy is required by and transformed in biological systems.
- Macromolecular structure determines function and regulation.
- Information storage and flow are dynamic and interactive.
- Discovery requires objective measurement, quantitative analysis, and clear communications.
- The pervasive role evolution and homeostasis play in shaping the form and function of all biological molecules and organisms.