BIOCHEMISTRY

Our program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry is offered in two forms.  Students may choose the certified degree program, which is approved by the American Chemical Society.  The certified program includes a two-semester research project, which qualified students may take at INVEST. An additional opportunity for certified-program students connected with INVEST is the combining of the B.S. in Biochemistry with a minor in Business or Entrepreneurship, or with the Master's of Business Administration at Sage Graduate School. Another program, which is non-certified, is more flexible and may be suitable for students interested in non-research oriented careers. See also Chemistry.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOCHEMISTRY

The curriculum is structured to prepare a generalist in biochemistry, although the opportunity to delve deeper into a specific area of interest is available through your research project.  Successful completion of the Biochemistry Program prepares students for graduate school in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacy or molecular biology; admission to medical, dental or veterinary school; or entry-level positions in biochemical research.

Requirements for a Major in Biochemistry American Chemical Society Certified
Chemistry/Biochemistry Courses		Credits
CHM 111	General Chemistry I (NS)	4
CHM 112	General Chemistry II (NS)	4
CHM 201	Organic Chemistry I	5
CHM 202	Organic Chemistry II	5
CHM 205	Chemical Analysis	3
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis	4
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
CHM 304	Biochemistry II	3
CHM 305	Physical Chemistry I	4.5
CHM 306	Physical Chemistry II	4.5
CHM 313	Introduction to Experimental Biochemistry	3
CHM 404	Inorganic Chemistry	4
CHM 405	Advanced Lab Methods in Inorganic Chemistry	1
CHM 407/408	Research Project ‡	6
Subtotal of required chemistry courses		54
Supporting Courses
MAT 201	Calculus I (QR)	3
MAT 202	Calculus II	3
PHY 107	Physics I	4
PHY 108	Physics II	4
	Three courses in biology (BIO), selected by advisement	10-12
Subtotal of required supporting courses		24-26
Total credit hours required in the major		78-80
General Education Requirements not fulfilled by Major or required Supporting Courses
Core Requirements
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
WLD 120	Women in the World	3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
Humanities/Arts
	Language (may include cross-cultural requirement)	6
	Other humanities (may include cross-cultural requirement)	6
Social Sciences (may include cross-cultural requirement)		6
Cross-Cultural Course		0-3
Electives		7-12
Total credits required for degree		120

Note: If the Language Requirement is satisfied through proficiency or waived, then an additional 6 credits of other humanities must be taken.

‡ To apply for a project through INVEST, contact Dr. Tom Keane, Chemistry Department Chair, at (518) 244-2299 or e-mail keanet@sage.edu.All internship and senior research students are nominated by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Application portfolios are then submitted to Evident’s Human Resources Department after final approval by Sage’s Academic Liaison to INVEST. Final decisions regarding internships, research projects etc are made by Evident Technologies.

Time Requirements: generally requires a minimum of 8 hours per week in most cases with the specifics to be determined by the faculty advisor and/or mentor at Evident Technologies.

Duration: minimum of 1 academic semester for internship, 1 academic year for senior research.

Description: the internship/research project may include any or all of the following:

• Synthetic methodology, data collection and analysis.
• Presentation(s) of research findings to the R&D, Engineering, Quality Control and Manufacturing groups of Evident Technologies as well as departmental presentations as required by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

The applicant should be familiar with laboratory safety and chemical handling practices, have a background in analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis and in performing standard chemical laboratory procedures, have experience using/operating various types of analytical equipment and instrumentation, such as:

• pH meters
• FTIR
• NMR
• UV/Vis Spectrophotometers
• Fluorescence spectrophotometer
• HPLC
• GC and GC-MS

and the applicant should be proficient with MS Excel and MS Word.  Chemistry courses providing the appropriate background include:

• Chemical Analysis (CHM 205)
• Organic Chemistry with Lab (CHM 201, 201L, 202, 202L)
• Instrumental Analysis (CHM 302)
• Biochemistry (CHM 303, 304)

Ideally an applicant's background would also include both Physical Chemistry (CHM 305 and 306) and Inorganic Chemistry (CHM 404), which may be taken concurrently with the internship/research project. A minimum GPA 3.2 in chemistry with 3.2 overall GPA is required of all applicants. Supporting documentation will include an official transcript and three letters of recommendation from faculty, one being from the Academic Liaison to INVEST.

Students connected with INVEST can combine the study of Biochemistry with Business or Entrepreneurship, through choice of minor or through the Master's in Business Administration at Sage Graduate School. The decision to pursue either minor option should be made by the end of the first year, since not all of the courses are offered every year. Students wishing to enter the MBA program do so in their senior year, upon meeting the criteria for accelerated admission to Sage Graduate School including a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. Eligible students may take two graduate courses during their senior year for graduate credit, with advisor approval and permission of the Dean of Sage Graduate School.  Count the credits carefully! These courses may satisfy undergraduate requirements, or if they are completed beyond the 120 credits required for the baccalaureate degree, may satisfy graduate requirements. Undergraduate students hoping to enroll in graduate coursework should be aware of the restrictions on the policies that support acceleration.  No undergraduate degree can be completed with fewer than 120 credits. The graduate degree must include a minimum of 30 credits beyond the 120 required for the baccalaureate degree.  Students in undergraduate programs should seek advisement from their program advisor and from the graduate program to which they will apply, to ensure that the courses selected apply to the appropriate programs. An application to the accelerated MBA program must be completed.

Requirements for a Major in Biochemistry Non-Certified
Chemistry/Biochemistry Courses		Credits
CHM 111	General Chemistry I (NS)	4
CHM 112	General Chemistry II (NS)	4
CHM 201	Organic Chemistry I	5
CHM 202	Organic Chemistry II	5
CHM 205	Chemical Analysis	3
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis	4
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
CHM 304	Biochemistry II	3
CHM 305	Physical Chemistry I (lecture)	3
CHM 306	Physical Chemistry II (lecture)	3
CHM 313	Introduction to Experimental Biochemistry	3
Subtotal of required chemistry courses		40
Supporting Courses
MAT 201	Calculus I (QR)	3
MAT 202	Calculus II	3
PHY 107	Physics I	4
PHY 108	Physics II	4
	Three courses in biology (BIO), selected by advisement	10-12
Subtotal of required supporting courses		24-26
Total credit hours required in the major		64-66
General Education Requirements not fulfilled by Major or required Supporting Courses
Core Requirements
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
ENG 220	College Research and Writing	3
WLD 120	Women in the World	3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
Humanities/Arts
	Language (may include cross-cultural requirement)	6
	Other humanities (may include cross-cultural requirement)	6
Social Sciences (may include cross-cultural requirement)		6
Cross-Cultural Course		0-3
Electives		21-26
Total credits required for degree		120

Note: If the Language Requirement is satisfied through proficiency or waived, then an additional 6 credits of other humanities must be taken.

Suggested Course Sequence for Students in the BS in Biochemistry
(first two years)

During the first two years all Biochemistry majors follow the same suggested course sequence.  The following is a general schedule for the Biochemistry major during her first two years. In general, major requirements must follow this basic schedule, but one can introduce flexibility into this recommended sequence by shifting general education slots around to allow one to pursue other courses of personal interest or compensate for scheduling conflicts. 

		Semester
First Year		1st	2nd
FYE 101	First Year Experience	1
ENG 101	Language and Community	3
WLD 120	Women in the World		3
CHM 111	General Chemistry I	4
CHM 112	General Chemistry II		4
MAT 201	Calculus I	3
MAT 202	Calculus II		3
	Humanities:  Language	3	3
	Electives	3	3
		17	16

 

Second Year		1st	2nd
CHM 201	Organic Chemistry I	5
CHM 202	Organic Chemistry II		5
PHY 107	Physics I	4
PHY 108	Physics II		4
CHM 205	Chemical Analysis	3
BIO	Biology course by advisement	3-4	3-4
ENG 220	College Research and Writing		3
		15-16	15-16

The suggested course sequence to complete the Biochemistry major depends upon whether or not the student is going to pursue
the ACS certified degree AND (since course offerings rotate) upon what her graduating class year is. 

Suggested Concluding Course Sequence for Students in the BS in Biochemistry, ACS Certified,
even-numbered class year

		Semester
Third Year		1st	2nd
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
CHM 304	Biochemistry II		3
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis		4
BIO	Biology course by advisement	3-4
	General Education: Social Science	3	3
	General Education:  Humanities	3	3
	Electives	3	3
		15-16	16

 

Fourth Year		1st	2nd
CHM 305	Physical Chemistry I, with lab	4.5
CHM 306	Physical Chemistry II, with lab		4.5
CHM 407	Research Project	3
CHM 408	Research Project		3
CHM 313	Experimental Biochemistry	3
CHM 404	Inorganic Chemistry		4
CHM 405	Advanced Lab Methods in Inorganic Chemistry		1
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
	Electives	3	3
		16.5	15.5

Suggested Concluding Course Sequence for Students in the BS in Biochemistry, ACS Certified,
odd-numbered class year

		Semester
Third Year		1st	2nd
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
CHM 304	Biochemistry II		3
CHM 305	Physical Chemistry I, with lab	4.5
CHM 306	Physical Chemistry II, with lab		4.5
CHM 313	Experimental Biochemistry	3
CHM 404	Inorganic Chemistry		4
CHM 405	Advanced Lab Methods in Inorganic Chemistry		1
	General Education:  Social Science	3	3
	General Education:  Humanities	3
		16.5	15.5

 

Fourth Year		1st	2nd
BIO	Biology course by advisement	3-4
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis		4
CHM 407	Research Project	3
CHM 408	Research Project		3
	General Education:  Humanities	3
WLD 420	Women Changing the World		3
	Electives	6	6
		15-16	16

Suggested Concluding Course Sequence for Students in the BS in Biochemistry,
Non-Certified, even-numbered class year

		Semester
Third Year		1st	2nd
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
CHM 304	Biochemistry II		3
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis		4
	General Education:  Social Science	3	3
	General Education:  Humanities	3	3
	Electives	6	3
		15	16

 

Fourth Year		1st	2nd
CHM 313	Experimental Biochemistry	3
BIO	Biology course by advisement		3-4
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
CHM 305	Physical Chemistry I, lecture	3
CHM 306	Physical Chemistry II, lecture		3
	Electives	6	9
		15	15-16

Suggested Concluding Course Sequence for Students in the BS in Biochemistry, Non-Certified,
odd-numbered class year

		Semester
Third Year		1st	2nd
CHM 303	Biochemistry I	3
CHM 304	Biochemistry II		3
CHM 313	Experimental Biochemistry	3
CHM 305	Physical Chemistry I, lecture	3
CHM 306	Physical Chemistry II, lecture		3
	General Education:  Social Science	3	3
	General Education:  Humanities	3	3
	Elective		3
		15	15

 

Fourth Year		1st	2nd
WLD 420	Women Changing the World	3
BIO	Biology course by advisement	3-4
CHM 302	Instrumental Analysis		4
	Electives	9	12
		15-16	16