Students in a biochemistry lab

The Biochemistry program at Carleton rests on the close cooperation between the departments of Biology and Chemistry. Emerging as a recognized discipline early in the last century, biochemistry has grown into a vast subject that spans several established disciplines. Fundamentally, biochemistry seeks to establish an understanding of biological phenomena at a molecular level.

Students in a biochemistry lab

Requirements for the Biochemistry Minor

The biochemistry minor requirements reflect the fundamental importance of the intellectual tools and structures of biology and chemistry to the study of all issues in biochemistry, and we ask students to get a grounding in both disciplines. It is likely that many students enrolling in the minor will major in either biology or chemistry. To encourage breadth within the minor, no more than five six-credit courses from a student’s own major may be counted toward the minimum requirements of the minor.

Both the biology and chemistry departments maintain vigorous weekly seminar programs, regularly bringing to the college distinguished scientists, including many biochemists. Each minor should make it a priority to attend relevant seminars whenever possible. At the beginning of each term, minors will be notified of the pertinent biology and chemistry seminars held that term.

Finally, both the chemistry and biology departments regularly offer integrative exercise experiences in biochemistry as an option for their majors. Minors who are biology or chemistry majors have the option of furthering their pursuit of biochemistry through a biochemical topic as the basis for their senior integrative exercise.

Course Requirements: 56 credits

Fundamental Coursework: 36 credits required

  • One introductory chemistry course chosen from CHEM 123 Principles of Chemistry I and Lab or CHEM 128, Principles of Environmental Chemistry & Lab
  • BIOL 125 Genes, Evolution, and Development and Lab
  • BIOL 126 Energy Flow in Biological Systems and Lab
  • CHEM 224 Principles of Chemistry II and Lab
  • CHEM 233 Organic Chemistry I & Lab
  • CHEM 234 Organic Chemistry II & Lab

Core Coursework: 14 credits required. BIOC 310 is a prerequisite for BIOC 311 and BIOC 331 and must be take prior to these courses.

Upper Level Course Electives: One course (6 credits) required

  • BIOL 310: Immunology
  • BIOL 332: Human Physiology
  • BIOL 338: Genomics and Bioinformatics
  • BIOL 370: Seminar: Selected Topics in Virology · not offered in 2023-24
  • BIOL 372: Seminar: Structural Biology
  • BIOL 383: Seminar: Illicit Pharmacology: The Biochemistry and Molecular Mechanisms of Recreational Drugs
  • BIOL 385: Seminar: Microbial Pathology · not offered in 2023-24
  • CHEM 343: Chemical Thermodynamics
  • CHEM 350: Chemical and Biosynthesis · not offered in 2023-24
  • CHEM 360: Chemical Biology · not offered in 2023-24

BIOL 332, BIOL 338 and CHEM 343 only count toward the minor if taken prior to 2022-23.

Biochemistry Courses

  • BIOC 301 Survey of Biochemistry

    This course applies the principles of chemistry to explore the molecular basis of biological processes. It provides students with a foundational knowledge of biochemistry, with an emphasis on the structure and function of biological macromolecules including nucleic acids and proteins. Topics include enzyme catalysis and kinetics, bioenergetics, and the organization and regulation of metabolic pathways. Biology majors must also complete BIOC 311 in order for BIOC 301 to count towards the Biology major.

  • BIOC 311 Biochemistry Laboratory

    This course introduces students to fundamental biochemical laboratory techniques important to studying protein structure and function, such as the manipulation of nucleic acids, electrophoresis, protein purification, and functional assays. Students will apply these techniques to scientific problems drawn from faculty research.

  • BIOC 331 Current Topics in Biochemistry

    An examination of one or more topics of current research interest in biochemistry, focused on reading, interpreting, and understanding the scientific literature. Specific topics vary from year to year but are chosen to illustrate the power of biochemical approaches to address important scientific questions. The bulk of the course will be spent in the close reading and discussion of recent research literature.

Other Courses Pertinent to Biochemistry

The college offers a number of related courses that would enhance the background of a biochemistry minor. The following courses are not part of the minor, but do support the program. In particular, we strongly encourage interested students to enroll in BIOL 240.