2008–2009 - Florida Institute of Technology

Career opportunities for biochemists are rapidly expanding in the
areas of agricultural research, biotechnology firms, governmental
laboratories, industrial research, and development and research
institutes, as well as university research and teaching. Far-reaching
advances in many areas of basic and applied research are projected
over the next few years. These areas include plant genetics;
the biochemistry of cell receptors for hormones and neurotransmitters;
the diagnosis and treatment of disease, particularly
inherited diseases; and toxicology. All require an understanding
of biochemistry and the use of biochemical techniques.
The course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in
Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary program jointly administered
by the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of
Chemistry. The curriculum has flexibility in that technical electives
can be selected to provide a strong emphasis in either biology
or chemistry, and prepare the biochemistry major for a variety
of careers. All students take a core curriculum of basic science
and mathematics during the first two years. During the junior
and senior years, students take many specialized courses that
reflect their choice of emphasis between biology and chemistry.
Students entering the biochemistry program as freshmen will
normally be assigned faculty advisers in the department of
chemistry. A student selecting an upper-division curriculum with
a biological emphasis should indicate this intention by the beginning
of the second semester of the sophomore year, at which time
a new faculty adviser in the department of biological sciences
will be assigned. A student’s request for a change of advisers from
chemistry to biology, or vice versa, will be honored at any time
during the program.
Admission Requirements
Students intending to apply for admission to study for a Bachelor
of Science in Biochemistry should complete at least one year
each of high school biology, chemistry and physics. Prospective
students should also have at least three years of high school
mathematics, including second-year algebra and trigonometry.
Florida Tech has articulation agreements with many of the community
colleges in Florida. Students contemplating transfer to
Florida Tech should consult with their counselors to determine
transferability of community college credits. If there is a question
regarding specific courses needed, either of the biochemistry
program chairs listed above should be contacted.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry must
complete the minimum course requirements as outlined in the
following curriculum that includes a strong biology emphasis. See
the Department of Chemistry for the program plan with a strong
chemistry emphasis. Electives are selected in consultation with
the faculty adviser to reflect the knowledge a student needs either
for employment or graduate school. Deviation from the stipulated
program may occur only under unusual circumstances and
requires approval of the chair. The bachelor’s degree in biochemistry
requires 129 credit hours for graduation.
Freshman Year
FALL CREDITS
ASC 1000 University Experience ..........................................................1
BIO 1010 Biological Discovery 1 ..........................................................4
CHM 1101 General Chemistry 1 ............................................................4
COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric ...................................................3
MTH 1001 Calculus 1 ............................................................................4
16
SPRING
BIO 1020 Biological Discovery 2 ..........................................................4
CHM 1102 General Chemistry 2 ............................................................4
COM 1102 Writing about Literature ......................................................3
MTH 1002 Calculus 2 ............................................................................4
15
Sophomore Year
FALL CREDITS
BIO 2110 General Genetics .................................................................4
CHM 2001 Organic Chemistry 1 ............................................................3
CHM 2011 Organic Chemistry Lab 1 .....................................................2
MTH 2001 Calculus 3 ............................................................................4
PHY 1001 Physics l ...............................................................................4
PHY 2091 Physics Lab 1 .......................................................................1
18
SPRING
BIO 2801 Biometry...............................................................................4
CHM 2002 Organic Chemistry 2 ............................................................3
CHM 2012 Organic Chemistry Lab 2 .....................................................2
HUM 2051 Civilization 1 ........................................................................3
PHY 2002 Physics 2 ..............................................................................4
PHY 2092 Physics Lab 2 .......................................................................1
17
Junior Year
FALL CREDITS
BIO 4010 Biochemistry 1 .....................................................................4
COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication ............................3
HUM 2052 Civilization 2 ........................................................................3
Restricted Elective (BIO, CHM) .........................................3
Technical Elective ................................................................3
16
SPRING
BIO 4110 Biochemistry 2 .....................................................................4
Humanities Elective .............................................................3
Restricted Electives (BIO, CHM) ........................................3
Technical Elective ................................................................3
13
Senior Year
FALL CREDITS
CHM 3001 Physical Chemistry 1 ...........................................................3
CHM 3011 Physical Chemistry Lab 1 ....................................................2
Liberal Arts Elective .............................................................3
Restricted Electives (BIO, CHM) ........................................6
Social Science Elective ........................................................3
17
SPRING
CHM 3002 Physical Chemistry 2 ...........................................................3
CHM 3012 Physical Chemistry Lab 2 ....................................................2
Free Elective ........................................................................3
Liberal Arts Elective .............................................................3
Restricted Electives (BIO, CHM) ........................................6
17
TOTALS CREDITS REQUIRED ...................................129
Restricted Electives
At least 12 credit hours must be selected from biological sciences
and at least six credit hours from chemistry.
Biological Sciences
BIO 2010 Microbiology ........................................................................4
BIO 3210 Mammalian Physiology ........................................................4
BIO 3220 Developmental Biology ........................................................4
BIO 4101 Molecular Biology ................................................................3
BIO 4120 Genetic Engineering Techniques .........................................4
BIO 4130 Nucleic Acid Analysis...........................................................4
BIO 4201 Immunology .........................................................................3
BIO 4210 Plant Physiology ...................................................................4
BIO 4301 Cell Biology ..........................................................................3
Degree Programs—College of Science 119