Directors: Professor David Alberg, fall and winter, Associate Professor Joseph Chihade, spring
Biochemistry Concentration (BICHM)
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. It serves as the link between the fields of chemistry and biology, and even as it flourishes at the interface of these subjects, it holds a strong position within the two traditional disciplines. Fundamentally, biochemistry seeks to establish an understanding of biological phenomena at a molecular level.
Requirements for the Concentration
The biochemistry concentration 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 concentration will major in either biology or
chemistry. To encourage breadth within the concentration, no more than
five six-credit courses from a student’s own major may be counted
toward the minimum requirements of the concentration.
Both the biology and chemistry departments
maintain vigorous weekly seminar programs, regularly bringing to the
college distinguished scientists, including many biochemists. Each
concentrator should make it a priority to attend relevant seminars
whenever possible. At the beginning of each term, concentrators 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. Concentrators 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:
BIOL 125 Genes, Evolution, and Development
BIOL 126 Energy Flow in Biological Systems
BIOL 380 Biochemistry
BIOL 381 Biochemistry Laboratory (or CHEM 321 Biological Chemistry Laboratory)
CHEM 123 or 128 Principles of Chemistry or Principles of Environmental Chemistry, respectively
CHEM 230 Equilibrium and Analysis
CHEM 233 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 234 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 320 Biological Chemistry
CHEM 321 Biological Chemistry Laboratory (or BIOL 381 Biochemistry Laboratory)
Upper Level Course Electives
(one course and one 2-credit laboratory are required):
BIOL 310 Immunology
BIOL 311 Immunology Laboratory
BIOL 382 Molecular Biology
BIOL 383 Molecular Biology Laboratory
BIOL 384 Oncogenes and the Molecular Biology of Cancer (not offered in 2007-2008)
CHEM 301 Chemical Kinetics Laboratory
CHEM 343 Chemical Thermodynamics
CHEM 350 Chemical and Biosynthesis