Biochemistry Concentration
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
Students must take one introductory chemistry course chosen from Chemistry 123 Principles of Chemistry or Chemistry 128, Principles of Environmental Chemistry; one biology course chosen from either version of Biology 125 Genes, Evolution, and Development. Students must take all of the following courses: Biology 126, Energy Flow in Biological Systems, Biology 380, Biochemistry, Chemistry 230, Equilibrium and Analysis, Chemistry 233, Organic Chemistry I and Chemistry 234 Organic Chemistry II. Students must take one laboratory course from Biology 381 Biochemistry Laboratory or Chemistry 320/321, Biological Chemistry Laboratory.
Upper Level Course Electives
(one course is required)
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Other relevant courses
The college offers a number of related courses that would enhance the background of a biochemistry concentrator. The following courses are not part of the concentration, but do support the program. In particular, we strongly encourage interested students to enroll in Biology 240.
BIOL 234 Microbiology with Laboratory (Not offered in 2015-2016)
BIOL 240 Genetics
BIOL 280 Cell Biology
CHEM 301 Chemical Kinetics Laboratory
PSYC 318 Psychopharmacology (Not offereed in 2015-2016)