B.S. in Biochemistry, 2024-2025 Catalog
Four Year Degree Worksheet for: B.S. in Biochemistry - CSULB Catalog (2024-2025)
This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years.
This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. Students should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.
CSULB Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.
Major-Specific Degree Requirements
Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for CSULB Students.
Pre-Biochemistry first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 122 or higher within one year of matriculation and must complete CHEM 111B and CHEM 220A within 2 years of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.
Additional Notes
Students should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.
Year 1 - Semester 1
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111A | General Chemistry (5) | Appropriate Placement, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95A if needed | MSDR |
| MATH 122 (area B4) | Calculus I (4) | Appropriate Placement, MATH 111 and either 112B or 113 | MSDR |
| GE (area A2) | Written Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area C,D,E) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| NSCI 190A | Experience Success Program 1 (1) | Fall |
Year 1 - Semester 2
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111B | General Chemistry (5) | CHEM 111A; MATH 112B or higher; Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 95B if needed | MSDR |
| MATH 123 (area B4) | Calculus II (4) | MATH 122 | MSDR |
| GE (area A1) | Oral Communication (3) | MSDR | |
| GE (area A3) | Critical Thinking (3) | MSDR |
Year 2 - Semester 3
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 220A | Organic Chemistry I (3) | MATH 122, CHEM 111B | |
| CHEM 251; OR Elective | Quantitative Analysis (4); OR Approved Elective | CHEM 111B | |
| BIOL 211 | Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (4) | CHEM 111A | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 2 - Semester 4
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 220B | Organic Chemistry II (3) | CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 320L | |
| CHEM 320L | Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) | CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 220B | |
| BIOL 212 | Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4) | BIOL 211 and CHEM 111A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B | |
| PHYS 151 | Mechanics and Heat (4) | MATH 122, 123, or 224 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | GE (area C, D, and E) |
Year 3 - Semester 5
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 241 | Explorations in Biochemistry (2) | BIOL 212, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220A | |
| CHEM 441A | Biological Chemistry (3) | CHEM 320L and 220B, BIOL 212 | |
| BIOL 340 | Molecular Cell Biology (3) | BIOL 211 and 212 | |
| PHYS 152 | Electricity and Magnetism (4) | PHYS 151, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123 | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division (area B-UD, C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation |
Year 3 - Semester 6
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 361; OR ENGR 361 | Chemical Communications (3); OR Scientific Research Communication (3) | GE Foundation, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 220A, GWAR score of 11 or higher; OR GE Foundation, GWAR score of 11 or higher | |
| CHEM 441B | Biological Chemistry (3) | CHEM 441A | |
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) |
Year 4 - Semester 7
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 379 | Physical Chemistry for the Biosciences (4) | CHEM 111B, 220A, MATH 119B or 123, PHYS 152 | |
| Upper Division Lecture/Lab | UD Lecture-Lab (3-5) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division (area B-UD, C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation |
Year 4 - Semester 8
| Course # | Course Title (Units) | Prerequisites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 443 | Biological Chemistry Laboratory (4) | CHEM 441A and 361, department permit required | |
| CHEM 461 | Chemistry Capstone (1) | Must take in final semester, department consent required | |
| Upper Division Lecture/Lab | UD Lecture-Lab (3-5) | ||
| Upper Division Elective | Biochemistry (3) | ||
| GE (area C,D,E,F) | Other Exploration (3) | ||
| GE Upper Division (area B-UD, C-UD, D-UD) | Upper Division (3) | GE Foundation | |
| Elective | Elective |
